OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Power Equipment...Mishaps and Funny Stuff "Oil is a waste of money"

About a year ago, a kind lady gave me a li'l ol' mower, Briggs & Stratton engine. The handle was busted from fatigue, so it had done a bit of work. When I got it home, the first thing I did was check the oil. There wasn't any. Never had been any. After taking off the oil filler tube, I could see the bottom of the crankcase-spotlessly clean alloy. No trace of oil. I filled it up and put some petrol in it and it started first pull and ran nicely. A bit down on power, but it's still goes and cuts grass!
Peter.

Its plausible....New engines come with a small amount of fine grade oil. Ive run an engine with this quantity for approx 10 mins before it overheated and siezed. Let it cool completely then repeated the process until it siezed again. My point is who knows...if she had a small lawn its possible. Or someone put some STP in it as it will run for much longer with a small amount, as it coats the parts and stays on them...Anyways interesting:)

We have heard of no oil being added to new engines before, but never with a good result.
It would not auger for a good conclusion, but as you say....all very interesting.

maybe she didn't know it was a petrol mower and tried using it as old push mower, hence worn handles. And gave it away from cutting poor results!!

I have sold a electric lawn mower to some one a while ago, and she kept asking where to put the fuel and oil. After explaining it 3 times she finally got it....I think!