How Much Oil Does a Honda Lawn Mower Hold

Oil Capacity

• Honda manufactures four engine models for its gas-powered lawn mowers at time of publication: the GCV 160, GXV 160, GCV 190 and GSV 190. All are air-cooled, four-stroke engines that use the splash oil lubrication system where a dipper scoops up oil from the oil pan and splashes a fine mist into the engine . The GXV 160 has a .69-quart oil capacity. All of the other models have a .58 quart capacity.

Oil Type

• Honda recommends using four-stroke car engine oil only, whether it’s conventional or synthetic. Regardless of what type, the oil viscosity and service classification must be rated for SJ or later and have the ILSAC certification marking on it. If you are mowing under varying weather conditions, 10W-30 weight is acceptable. If you tend to mow in colder ambient temperatures (32 degrees Fahrenheit and below), use 5W-30 weight. For warmer air 50 degrees and up, utilize 30-weight oil.

Oil Maintenance

• Honda recommends changing oil after the first month or five hours of use, which is the typical break-in period for engine parts. Afterward, change oil every 50 hours or more frequently if you live in a dusty area. If you haven’t reached 50 hours by the end of the season, change the oil so that any contaminants don’t settle inside the engine while in storage.

Checking Oil

• Check the oil on your Honda mower before daily use while the engine is still cold. That ensures all the oil has returned to the reservoir for accurate measurement. The filler cap is on the left side of the engine and contains a dipstick. Open the cap, pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean on a napkin or cloth. Re-insert the dipstick and slowly pull it back out without touching the filler cap rim. The dipstick has upper and lower limit markings on it. Add oil as necessary to meet the upper level limit without overfilling.