If your lawn mower isn’t running quite as well as it did when you bought it, you might not need to rush to the repair shop just yet. Your lawn mower engine might just be in need of a DIY tune up.

If you’ve never done a lawn mower tune up before, you’ll be glad to know that the team over at Repair Clinic have put together an awesome infographic to walk you through what to do. If you can’t see the image below, or you prefer to read text instead, here’s our quick overview:

7 Simple Ways To Tune Up a Lawn Mower Engine

1. Replace the oil

Just like it matters what oil is sitting in your car, it matters what oil is sitting in your lawn mower. For optimal performance, your lawn mower oil should be golden or amber in colour and should be checked every 8 or so hours of use. (Unfortunately, unlike your car’s regular servicing where someone checks it for you, you’ll need to remember to check it yourself.) For professional lawn mowers, you’ll probably want to check the oil once or twice a week. For weekend lawnmowers, you might like to mark your calendar to check the oil every one or two months.

2. Check tire pressure

Uneven pressure leads to uneven cutting, so it’s important to check the pressure on your lawn mower’s tires regularly as well.

3. Clean underneath

Lawn mower companies will tell you to clean the undercarriage of your lawn mower with a hose after every use, to clear it of unwanted debris and grass clippings. To me, that advice sounds a bit like dentists who suggest you floss your teeth every time you clean them. It’s a great goal, but it’s not always going to be done that regularly. I think the message here though is that the cleaner you keep your mower, the more chance it will run well. So it’s up to you how often you want to clean your mower and how well you want it to run!

4. Check the mower blade

Sharp blades cut really well. Dull blades tear the grass and don’t cut well at all. If you find bends or dents, it’s best to replace the mower blade as soon as possible.

5. Use a clean fuel filter

Replace (don’t clean) your fuel filter once per season for weekend mowers, or more regularly for lawn mowing professionals. It will help keep your lawn mower running as smooth as possible.

6. Use a clean air filter

A clean air filter on your mower is important because it helps protect your mower’s engine from unwanted dirt and debris that can clog your engine and affect its performance. So, remember to clean or change your mower’s air filter either once per season for weekend mowers, or around every 25 hours of mowing for mowing pros.

7. Replace the spark plug

As time goes on, spark plugs deteriorate and therefore need more fuel work properly (plus they give out increased emissions). So it’s a good idea to replace your mower’s spark plug on a regular basis, even it hasn’t stopped working.

Now it’s your turn.

Good luck!