A pump oil change should be done every 3 to 5 months to keep your equipment running smoothly. You may be wondering what you need to do in order to change the pump oil and the steps you need to take to lubricate it.
Put simply, you must run the machine for a few minutes which then warms up the older, used oil. Warm oil traps dirt better, and flows a lot quicker than cold oil. Then you are ready to remove the old oil and replace that with new oil. The new oil will lubricate your pressure washer pump.
In order to keep a pressure washer pump lubricated, you need to replace the oil often. We are going to go over the steps you need to take to replace the oil and how to dispose of the old, used oil from your pressure washer. Lets dive right in!
Preforming a Pump Oil Change in 8 Simple Steps
1. Knowing When to Change Your Pump Oil
Before changing the oil in your pressure washer pump, you must know when it’s time to change you pressure washer oil. It’s recommended that you keep track of how many hours you have used your pressure washer and read your owners manual regarding this subject.
You will know that your pressure washer needs an oil change when you notice a regular oil leak from the pump. If you notice a leak, you should also look for a milky color in the oil. If your oil looks a little bit cloudy, then it’s a safe bet that it’s time to change the oil.
2. Tools and Equipment Needed
It’s very important that you have the proper tools needed in order to change the oil in your pressure washer pump, quickly and effectively.
The first tool you need to change your pump oil is an oil catch. An oil catch is something that can catch the oil as it exits the pump casing. You can use anything from a BBQ tray to an actual oil tray to catch the oil.
Next, you will need a wrench if your pressure washer has bolt access. You will also need a funnel to avoid spilling pump oil as you are refilling the pump assembly with oil.
The last thing you need in order to preform an oil change is an oil storage container. You can use almost any container for this. You can use anything from a 2 liter soda bottle to an old oil bottle.
3. Preparing your Equipment
There’s a couple more things you must do to make your life a lot easier before you remove the oil from your pressure washer.
You will want to let your pressure washer run for a few minutes before trying to remove the old oil because this will warm up the oil, which then traps dirt. Warm oil also flows much quicker than cold oil making it a lot easier to remove the oil from your pressure washer.
4. Removing the Old Oil
Now that you have prepared your equipment for an oil change, you are ready to remove the old oil inside your pressure washer.
The first thing you need to do is remove the pump oil reservoir access bolt to relieve the pressure inside your pressure washer. Then you need to make sure to place your oil catch under the pump oil drain. Then you are ready to grab your wrench and loosen and remove the reservoir drain bolt.
After you’ve removed the bolt, the oil will then spill into your catch container. Let the oil flow out of your pressure washer until there is no more oil left.
5. Storing the Old Oil Properly
Once you’ve removed the oil from your pressure washer, you need to know where to store the old oil.
You can use any type of container like a larger soda bottle or an old oil container to store your oil. You may want to make sure you have a funnel to avoid spilling the oil everywhere.
6. Knowing What Kind of Oil to Use
There are many different types of oils out there which may lead to to be confused as to which oil you are supposed to use for your pressure washer.
The first thing you will want to look for when purchasing the oil is an “ND” designation. “ND” stands for non-detergent. It will say non-detergent right on the bottle. It will also say “pump oil” on the bottle.
There are many recommended brands to choose from:
- CAT Pumps
- Mi-T-M
- Briggs and Stratton
- Simpson
- BE
7. Replacing the Oil
Now that you have completed all of the previous steps, you are ready to replace the old oil with new oil.
You will need to open your non-detergent pump oil and then put your funnel where the pump assembly is to avoid spilling. You are then ready to fill your pressure washer oil chamber. Make sure to only fill it about 3/4 full.
Then you will place the bolt back onto the pump and tighten. Make sure to clean up your area. You are then ready to fire up your pressure washer!
8. Where Do I Put My Drained Pump Oil?
There are many options when it comes to getting rid of your drained pump oil. The two main choices are either recycling or disposing.
Pump motor oil can be used more than once if it is cleaned or refined, so it would be the best option to take it to an area that recycles oil near you.
There are a few places that will accept your used oil:
- Jiffy Lube
- Costco
- Walmart
- Home Depot
- Local mechanics shop
If you are not able to recycle your used oil, you can dispose of it by taking it to your local dump. It’s a good idea to call your local dump or check their website before bringing the oil there.
Changing the oil in your pressure washer is a very simple task when you follow these 8 steps carefully. Now there’s no need to haul your pressure washer to a specialist to get the job done.