Small Engine feature just “check and add” engine oil
In recent years, small engine manufacturers like Briggs and Stratton and Kohler have introduced consumer class engine series touting a feature called “Check and Add” engine oil rather than changing the engine oil. In this post I would like to explore the pros and cons about this feature. Whether it’s a play on the fact that many owners of such equipment don’t change the oil anyway and thus the engine life is shortened and they’re able to sell you another one sooner or that truly this advancement of engine technology has extended the life of such engines.
For example, the EXI engine series from Briggs and Stratton that they claim has been reengineered and improved to accommodate this exciting new feature, the EXI engine series looks identical to the series before it that did not include this feature. Thus, their claim that it has been improved and reengineered for this feature is hardly provable as being legitimate.
An air cooled engine runs much hotter than a water cooled engine. Its engine oil plays a part in cooling the engine. The oil in an air cooled engine also breaks down much quicker then in a water cooled engine.
The engines that feature the “just check and add” engine oil do not have an oil filter. There is no way the engine oil in these engines is being cleaned or filtered and thus we know that the oil contaminants exist in the oil and never get trapped or filtered out. Rather the contaminants are always freely circulating within the engine.
The engines featuring the “just check and add” engine oil as needed all typically hold an oil capacity of 20oz. This is not much oil in terms of protecting the engine. Imagine the contaminants that build up in these engines crankcase a few years into its life. You’re never getting rid of any dirty oil, you’re just adding new oil over the life of these engines. You’re no longer doing the traditional letting them warm up and circulating and suspending the contaminants and then draining them from the engine. On these new “just check and add” featured engines you’re just pouring in more engine oil as it’s burning or expelling the oil out of the muffler. Scientifically, common sensely the sludge is accumulating on the bottom of the crankcase as it has no way of ever being expelled like it does during an oil change. This sludge buildup in the crankcase of the engine continues throughout the engine’s life. Every time the engine runs its circulating this sludge throughout the engine, resulting in more engine wear and further shortening the engines life. This sludge is constantly being mixed with new incoming oil whenever you are “checking and adding” more oil to the engine and thus even newly added oil to the engine is having its own lubricating properties compromised throughout the life of the engine.
What is the motivation behind this exciting new feature called “just check and add” oil as needed? In my opinion it’s an advertising ploy in a gray area so to speak. They can’t change or motivate the customer to change the engine oil in their small engine equipment. And if they did encourage the customer to change the oil, it would result in fewer sales of new equipment thus they have chosen to play the other side of the coin so to speak. They are encouraging the customer to not change the oil because not changing the oil results in the engine not having as long a life as if you were changing the oil in it. Shorter engine life equals more engine sales. It’s simple economics. Its business brilliance on their part as their in the business of selling engines. From a legal standpoint, it’s safe as well as; how can you prove that what they’re selling and telling you is prematurely wrecking your engine? You can’t. Most such engines never get their oil changed anyway thus the majority of these engines have a 5 year life cycle anyway. Their new feature is merely increasing the number of engines that fall into this 5 year life cycle bracket.
What happens to the oil in the ‘check and add” engines? Is the engine burning it or expelling it? If it’s burning the oil, that’s creating additional soot and carbon build up in the combustion chamber, on spark plug, on valve head, exhaust port and muffler of the engine. Soot and carbon build up leads to engines needing repair or rebuilding.
If the engine is expelling the oil, where is it expelling it too? It’s most likely expelling it on the deck of the lawn mower or whatever equipment the engine is powering. Making additional messes to clean up, discoloring, damaging the finish of the mower deck or equipment.
Are there any pros to the “check and add” feature? From the customer’s experience, they are not having to change oil. This saves them money or does it? No oil changes saves you money initially, but not really. You’re still ‘checking and adding’ oil as the engine is using it or expelling it. Then you end up with a shorter engine life and you’re buying a new engine sooner. So you’re not really saving money after all. The dealer selling the equipment with this amazing technology called ‘check and add” they get to sell you a new lawn mower or engine sooner. So from their perspective this feature is benefiting them and the manufacturer. The only person who isn’t benefiting is you, the customer. You’re the one ponying up the money for another engine or lawnmower when your current mower or such engine powered equipment goes bad.
What can you do to extend the life of such an engine if you own such an engine? You can continue changing oil in it like you have always done. Even if it doesn’t feature a drain plug, you may remove the air filter from the engine, clamp the fuel line so that fuel doesn’t flow to the carburetor when you tip it on its side. Then remove the dipstick or drain filler cap and tip mower on its side and let it drain out the engine oil properly. Refill with new oil and happy extended life of your engine.