Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

This may be a dumb question, but someone once told me that there's no such thing! 

Anyway, I'm about to do my first oil change on my new Ariens. I've been through the owner’s manual numerous times and, while it steps you through the motions, it doesn't actually show you where the drain plug is located. A visual check of the machine makes me think that the plug is at the end of a silver colored rod that protrudes to the left of the recoil starter. Can anyone confirm this for me? Thanks.

Chuck1

Thanks for all the feedback folks!

I just finished the job. I did what others said to do on this forum – drain oil, refill with cheap 5W30, warmup again, another drain, then filled with Mobil 1 synthetic 5W30.

This is a great site folks. I really helped me make my decision to buy the Ariens in the first place - I was seriously looking at the Toro (the one that CR gave the nod) before I happened to find this forum.

Keep up the good work!

Chuck1

Chuck1...


Stick around and participate if you want...

Be glad havin' you here...


Dave...

Chuck, Welcome!

Dumb question? No.

I have always done most of my own maintenance on my vehicles, OPE, bikes, boats, etc. Years ago, I went to change the plugs on my wifes new little Oldsmobile Cutlass Calias International series. It had Olds' little Quad Four engine and was a very quick and fun to drive car, the would haul! Anyhow, I raise the hood, which I had done before for various maintenance things, go looking for the spark plugs and can't find them. Hell, I can't even find spark plug wires.

Now, i have always been a little proud and just just coulnd't fathom the idea that I couldn't find these plugs! I stroll over to my neighbors house and interupt my neighbor having a 12 pack, I make a gentlemans bet that he can't find my spark plugs within 5 minutes. He proceeds to tell me that he can find anything on a car within 5 minutes but was also embarressed when he couldn't find them. It made me feel like I wasn't a dumb ass, that or I was just as drunk as he was.

Well, as you know today, the plugs were under a plate on top of the engine and didn't use plug wires but rather used contact points/plugs. Bottom line, just how we dumb we really are depends on what are experiences have been. If you've never changed the oil on that engine before, you isn't aint dumb, you just ain't not nervah done dat befo.