Removing motor oil from lawnmower petrol tank?
Idiot23 asked:
I’ve doen something idiotic. Was mowing the lawn for an elderly relative and in an early morning stupor put motor oil in a half-filled petrol tank rather than unleaded petrol! Subsequently it won’t start. I was too embarassed to admit my mistake and the relative (who’s pride and joy is his lawn) is now really worried. How can I empty the petrol tank safely - and will any damage have been caused by the motor oil?
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I’ve doen something idiotic. Was mowing the lawn for an elderly relative and in an early morning stupor put motor oil in a half-filled petrol tank rather than unleaded petrol! Subsequently it won’t start. I was too embarassed to admit my mistake and the relative (who’s pride and joy is his lawn) is now really worried. How can I empty the petrol tank safely - and will any damage have been caused by the motor oil?
January 11th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
There is probably no damage. Empty the tank by tipping the mower over and draining the contaminated fuel into a container (a bucket?). Flush the tank with some clean fuel and tip that out too. If you can’t tip the lawn mower over, syphon the fuel out with a hose.
Then remove the spark plug and clean it with some clean fuel. Replace the spark plug, fill the tank with clean fuel and the problem is solved. Good luck. brucedemm
January 14th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I know you should’nt do this, but if it was me I would take the mower to waste ground, but away from any rivers, turn it upside down and let it drain fully.
Bugs in the ground will eventually gobble up the liquid.
Put unleaded back in tank and remove spark plug and clean, turn over many times to expel oil. Replace plug and try to start, you may have to clean plug several times. xenon
January 15th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
ok the main this to remember is that you must always tilt a mower to the side the exhaust is on or else you will cause damage.
there will most likely be a hose clip on the underside of the tank, remove this, many mower petrol tanks can simply be pulled off,
flush with petrol,
the key is to take out and replace or clean the spark plug as this will be the reason for not starting as they clog easily.
its that simple orfeo_fp
January 16th, 2010 at 2:08 am
All good answers….., but theres no real need to flush the tank out with fresh gas…. just fill it up after completely draining it… whats left will be minor and not affect a thing…
now…. if it has a float type carb (carb isn’t mounted to tank, its has a bowl on the carb at the bottom) take that off and drain that… as oil has probabally filled it…., I’d also take the plug out and dry it off if its wet with oil….
Use a little gas down the carb to get it started and keep it running, it will smoke alot but will clear up…. 572ci.