Oil & Fuel Oil Change Trick

[OldMachinist]

I read many posts here with complaints about the drain hoses on the Kohler engines. I just wanted to share a little trick I do to change the oil on my Z-Force 50 with the Kohler Command engine. They put a nice rubber drain hose on these but it take a long time for the oil to drain so what I do is take out the dipstick and place a air gun in the tube and lightly seal it off with a rag. I screw a extension on the drain hose and put it in a one gallon jug. I apply a little pressure from the air gun and the oil is drained in seconds. I leave the hose in the jug while I change the filter to let the last little bit of oil drain.

I've not seen what kind of hose setup they have on other mowers to know if this will work on them. I know it works with this setup where the drain hose is threaded into the crankcase.

The air gun I use is one of those OSHA appoved ones that produce a maximun nozzle pressure of 30 PSI.

 

[JTKub]

Not a bad idea. Worst case, if you got too 'aggressive' with the air, you'd blow oil out of the breather and into the air cleaner and make a mess, or you'd blow out the crankshaft seal.

Joel

 

[OldMachinist]

I only lightly hold the rag to seal off the dipstick tube so that any excess pressure will escape there and with the drain cap off it shouldn't build up enough pressure to do any damage. I've been doing it this way for a couple of years with no problems. But I could see someone blowing 120 psi in there and doing all kinds of damage.

 

[Dave01]

I don't find it takes all that long to drain the oil, I usually pull the plug and take care of a few other small tasks, then change the filter, by that time the oil is drained. By speeding it up I wonder if you get less total oil out as you don't allow the residual oil on metal parts to drain as well, but not sure. Do you warm the engine up before draining, I don't know why it would be so slow?

 

[micman32]

I don't find it takes all that long to drain the oil, I usually pull the plug and take care of a few other small tasks, then change the filter, by that time the oil is drained. By speeding it up I wonder if you get less total oil out as you don't allow the residual oil on metal parts to drain as well, but not sure. Do you warm the engine up before draining, I don't know why it would be so slow?

I do the same Dave. I grease the deck and clean it up while the oil is draining.

Michael

 

[Doc_Bob]

I go eat dinner while the oil drains.
Bob

 

[firstcub]

Based on how OldMachinist described his trick. I like it and think it is a great solution to the issue he had.

My slt 1554 drains quite quickly or I would probably try it.

 

[Rickstir]

I'd like to find someone with fingers much smaller than mine to turn the dang oil drain. I can't always have my grandson around when I want to change oil.