The Type Of Oil You Don't Want To Use To Keep Grass From Sticking To Your Lawn Mower

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You're about to tackle that lawn mowing job you've been avoiding, and the grass is particularly long, maybe even damp. You already know what a mess the cuttings will make on the underside of the mower, so you look for something to lubricate the deck and blade to prevent grass from sticking and clumping. The idea strikes you to make use of that used motor oil you've got sitting in the garage, since it's something you should not put in the trash. The idea of applying a non-stick coating is a good one, but it shouldn't be motor oil — especially not used oil. It's not good for the mower, the grass, or you.

Have you ever gotten used motor oil on your hands? If you have, you know it's pretty sticky. That's because it contains sludge — caused by the oil itself breaking down into a sort of tar while doing its job in a car engine. It's debatable whether it will make the grass easier to remove (it may cause it to stick even more), but even if it does, the job is going to be a lot messier than it would be without the oil, and the time you save scraping will be spent dealing with oil-soaked grass, which is an obvious fire hazard. It's also harder to apply than spray oils and lubricants, requiring a brush, cloth, or other applicator, which is now covered in used motor oil.

New motor oil doesn't contain sludge, but there's another reason you should avoid using it as a mower hack: motor oil is bad for the grass. It's a petroleum product that clogs the soil, hinders the even dispersal of water and nutrients, and stops grass from getting the oxygen it needs. The result is brown patches on your lawn. Instead of motor oil, there are better ways to keep grass from gumming up your mower's undercarriage.

First of all, you often don't need to apply anything to your lawn mower to prevent grass from sticking if you keep the grass short and mow when it's dry. The rotating blade does a pretty good job of blowing out small, dry cuttings. A small amount of buildup is inevitable, but it's unlikely to interfere with mower performance, and it's easy to remove during the regular cleaning you do to extend a lawn mower's life. However, if you want to avoid even that amount of build-up, a number of products can help that are better and safer than used motor oil.

One tried-and-true method is to spray the underside of the mower with a vegetable oil like Pam original no-stick cooking spray. It's designed for hot conditions, such as those generated by a spinning blade, and it won't hurt the grass. Another product that works well is a silicone spray lubricant, which is better than oil because it clings and deflects water. There's even one especially for lawnmowers that isn't vegetable oil or a conventional spray lubricant. In either case, thoroughly wash and dry the underside of your mower before liberally applying a nonstick spray.