Petrol Lawnmower

[noviceman1]

Hi all
I have purchased a petrol lawnmower about a year ago,all my others have been electric ones.I have put petrol in as required,but have not put any oil in it since new.I must admit i know very little about 2 stroke engines.My question is how often do these things need topping up with oil,I bought some when it was first purchased but so far have not used any.Do I need to
check it at this stage....i have used it about a dozen times or so.
Any helpful advice will be much appreciated.

[tonyav]

Do you mean the oil that mixes with the petrol ?.

[noviceman1]

Sorry,yes thats the stuff.

[coccinelle]

If it's a two stroke engine you should be mixing the oil and petrol and adding as you need it. If it's a 4 stroke engine the petrol and oil are put in two different places and there's a guage in the oil one to let you know when more oil is to be added. If it is a 2 stroke, are you still running your lawn mower on that first mix?

[tonyav]

You should be mixing the petrol and oil every time you fill the petrol tank, if you don't the engine will seize up.

[coccinelle]

Sorry just re-read your question. For a 2 stroke, you need to be mixing the oil and petrol together and adding when needed if not your engine will seize up. Personally, I didn't realise they did 2 stroke mowers, it must make a hell of a noise! Just thought they did strimmers, chainsaws and other lighter machinery.

[coccinelle]

tony, snap!

[buildersmate]

I doubt that it is a 2-stroke mower. I've never heard of such a thing either and it would have seized by now as T has said.

I'll bet it is actually 4-stroke. What is it exactly? (make/model).

[Chipchopper]

If it is a two stroke, you have there, make sure to use proper two stroke oil that self mixes with the petrol before filling the tank!

[noviceman1]

Well....firstly I never knew I had so many friends.
I have read all your answers,and just nipped into my garage to see what info I could find on the lawnmower.
Low and behold I have discovered the following details.
The machine is a MTD 46 SPB,450,148cc. and it is a Briggs and Stratton
The oil that was supplied was 4 stroke oil.
I need to apologise for misleading you all....I guess thats why I am called Noviceman 1,the above info will no doubt cast rather a different light on to your answers.Thanks to all.