Honda HRC216 Commercial Lawnmower Oil Change The RIGHT Way

Doing the first oil change on my new Honda HRC216 Commercial self propelled push mower. These instructions should be similar for most lawn mowers. Replaced oil with Amsoil 100% Synthetic 10W-30 Small Engine Oil. The first oil change service is due after 20 hours or one month.

[@enriquecastellon6524]

Greatest small engine ever coupled with the arguably best oil ever... that mower is gonna last a very long time.

[@chrisw.3077]

Thank you!

[@carlloftin2850]

Thank you for stating the refill amount !!

[@Madskills810]

Great mower. I have had mine since 2003 and it has been a beast.

[@BrokeDown724]

The "oil" you drained out looked like water! I've never seen oil drip and ripple like that when draining! I'm sure its much happier with that AMSOIL in it!

[@bmwbaker]

I agree...it seem to be a very very low viscosity and it also look like there might be some water in there.

[@crisprtalk6963]

Best mower on the planet. A tank.

[@mjot2360]

You don't check the oil that way. You should unscrew the dipstick, clean it, then insert it without screwing it down. That will give the proper reading.

[@chrisw.3077]

Good thing I measured out the oil needed instead of relying on a dipstick. As I mentioned, nearly impossible to see the almost clear oil on the dipstick anyway.

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

I use Motul oil. I use it in my Honda 1000RR and now my HRC216. It’s red and really easy to see. Just if you are interested.

[@ericlafrance6350]

Amsoil is the best small engine oil for sure

[@jeremiahalcorn8325]

Great video I was curious if there was a different way of changing the oil on this commercial mower same as I’ve always done so that’s great and you’re using Amsoil you know what you were doing

[@ronaldjerrimmy4659]

Thanks for the info good man 1200 is what I paid also good mower

[@maydanlex]

Looking to purchase either the residential Honda mower or the commercial one. Seems as though you’re happy with your commercial model. It also seems like you understand one heck of a lot more about the Honda lawn mowers than I do. Can you recommend one model over the other? I’m looking at the following two engines in the Honda mower line....GCV200 or GCV190. Thanks for post your video.

[@chrisw.3077]

So the GXV160 is a true commercial engine. The GCV series of engines is a cheaper built, but still good engine. If you take care of this GXV160 in the HRC, this would likely be the only lawnmower you’ll ever need to buy in a residential setting since you’re using it so much less than a pro lawn care guy who would still get years out of a machine like this even using it every day all day. The sale of gas mowers will likely be banned if you’re in a blue state before you’d ever need to think about buying a new one. If the price difference isn’t an issue and you’re okay with a heavy mower, then you can’t go wrong with the HRC, plus if you ever did want to sell it, you’d have no problem whatsoever getting a good chunk of the money you spent back. I think you’ve just given me a good video idea.

[@maydanlex]

@@chrisw.3077 Thanks for not only the quick reply but the solid breakdown of the two models. I don’t imagine the weight will be an issue as the property is very flat and the mower won’t be transported anywhere. The self-propelled function should negate the weight issue as well. I asked the original question because I’d been hearing that the GCV line now had models that gave the same torque as the commercial GXV engine. Figured the lighter body would just be, overall, more appealing. I don’t understand why Honda doesn’t put the lighter body on the commercial line... perhaps they know it wouldn’t hold up to the daily grind. Either way thanks again.

[@we177b]

The whole point of using the sump drain plug on the GXV160 engine is to make sure you get all the sludge and swarf out of the sump. It might be messy but a bit of oil pouring over the deck isn't going to do it any damage. Your way will not fully drain all the heavy deposits right at the bottom. Same with the suction method. Think about your car engine - would you settle for draining the oil out the dipstick hole rather than using the sump plug? The GCV160 drains the way you recommend as it doesn't have a sump plug but the GCV160 isn't a commercial grade engine.

[@chrisw.3077]

Heavy deposits? This is a lawn mower. The oil and the deposits will flow out of the dipstick just like they would from the drain plug. In fact, my method is exactly the way the manual specifies how to change the oil, including putting the cardboard under the the side of the mower.

[@DanielCValot]

I am a commercial landscape contractor I’ve been in business since 1991 and I have used Honda mowers exclusively all this time I just took possession of an HRC216K3HXA I had to wait seven months for it because I’m here in Southern California by the beach but the way he shows to do this is absolutely correct we’ve never once pulled the drain plug from the bottom because when it drains down it makes a mess in the floor and I don’t wanna take any risk of getting any oil on the clutch assembly underneath just to be perfectly safe The new lawnmower compared to the old ones they don’t even come close, mine came with a bent blade control handle that when it was pressed over the dye it was visibly crooked and the idiot technician at Honda installed it anyway and round the pin through it and put it in the box so because of that and the fact that the holes weren’t lined up for the handle supports on the right side on the bottom where the deck and the bracket need to have the bolts gone through to hold the bottom support arm the company that is representing Honda gave me a $200 credit back to my credit card which will more than cover the new blade control handle and I just threw away the brackets for the support and made my own out of 1/8“ x 1“ cold rolled steel sandblasted and painted those for a much stronger support I’m amazed at the comments I see on here and I’m not doing around but 31 years of experience I’ve done a lot of the maintenance on all of our lawnmowers because I just like mechanics, I build small block Chevy‘s with blowers, I have every kind of TIG welding plasma cutter and I’m amazed at the people that boast and say that they’ve had a company for 10 years and they’re micro in size to the one my brother and I have It’s similar to when you go to Home Depot and the guy that works at Home Depot basically tells you how to burn the house down electrocute yourself when installing a main panel, they don’t always know what they’re talking about either but kudos to the man who made this video the only reason I was looking quickly is because I wanted to know the oil capacity for this new mower and like him I always use 10/30 weight fully synthetic it makes a huge difference, my personal lawn more that I use even to this day is 18 years old and the only damage to it is the clutch is getting old and it’s rattling and scraping so that’s why I bought this new one but I will more than likely drive the old one until it actually gives out At any rate, great video and I agree with you trying it on the side the only thing I’ll add to this is it’s good when the motors hot because it does in the oil a little better and if you keep the oil changed regularly there will be no sludge buildup

[@hixnada8278]

Where did you find that Amsoil? I've not seen it available commercially anywhere?

[@chrisw.3077]

On their website.

[@jamesbreeze8809]

Well I think that was water in that change you can see the washer at the bottom of the pan. if it was oil you wouldn't be able to see it. Motors bulletproof🤔

[@projectseventyone]

lol, thats perfect oil and you probably flodded the carb with gas. Plus why not use the drain plug?

[@chrisw.3077]

Why would I want to get oil all over my deck when I can just tilt the mower on its side, unscrew a cap, and let it harmlessly run out into a drain pan? As far as gas in the oil, how would I have flooded the carb? This thing starts on the first pull every time and the carb is on the opposite end of the mower than the side facing downward. Think about what you are writing before you write it.

[@kevina4674]

The right way would be go to Lowe’s and get you one of those suction pumps. You pump it 15-20 times put the tube down the dipstick and open the sucker. All the oil gets drawn into the bottle. You can do probably 10 or so changes before you will need to empty it. It’s less then 20 bucks too! Easy.... timesaver.... cleaner....

[@chrisw.3077]

Kevin A I think my way worked fine. I didn’t spill any oil and gravity did a fine job getting essentially all the oil out of the mower. Took 15 minutes total, but I’d agree with your way on a larger unit that can’t be tipped as easily.

[@Jerry-me1fy]

I hear it doesn't mulch grass very well

[@chrisw.3077]

Compared to what? A goat? This mower is excellent in every measurable way vs. just about every walk behind on this planet.

[@Jerry-me1fy]

@@chrisw.3077 all the information that I've been finding on KZbin says the residential version mulches grass better than the commercial version but the commercial lawn mower bags grass better

[@Jerry-me1fy]

I'm just trying to figure out which lawn mower to buy because the cheap $250 ones don't bag grass at all. All they do is clog up every 10 feet.

[@chrisw.3077]

@@Jerry-me1fy maybe the residential one is better, but we’re talking excellent vs. slightly more excellent likely due to the extra power the residential version has. It’s not like the HRC isn’t good at mulching though.

[@Jerry-me1fy]

@@chrisw.3077 I think the commercial ones more powerful even though the engine smaller

[@trumpwon8231]

That was water

[@javi111488]

I know which vid you were talking about 🤦🏿

[@izzyavila6735]

would you sell me this mower????

[@chrisw.3077]

Absolutely not

[@Nczz8vsz]

That’s not the right way

[@chrisw.3077]

Go take a look at the service manual and then tell me it’s not the right way. Then come back and delete your comment when you are inevitably wrong.