Get Your Lawn Mower or Tractor Ready for Mowing Season

“Running it for a minute or two is unlikely to cause damage,” says Mike Visconti, who heads CR’s home improvement testing team. “It could lead to problems, though, if you use it to cut for more than a few minutes.”

With other models, you’ll need to change the engine oil entirely. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on replacing oil. Typically, you can position an auto-style drain pan beside the mower on the side with the dipstick cap, remove the cap, and tip the mower over the pan to drain the oil. (Make sure the fuel tank is either empty or tightly capped to prevent leakage when you tilt the mower.) Then refill the tank with new oil to the dipstick marking.

A tractor needs an oil change only as specified in your manual. Most riding mowers and tractors also have an oil filter that should be replaced at each oil change.

Visconti says it’s best to change the oil when the fuel tank is empty. “There’s less chance of spilling gas when you tip the mower over to drain the oil,” he says.