Clean the foam pre-cleaner every 25 operating hours.

Replace the paper air filter once per season or after 300 hours of operation.

In dusty conditions,more frequent cleaningand replacement may be necessary.

Black lawn mower with cleaned yellow air filter and cover removed

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Wait for all moving parts to fully stop and cool down before handling.

Warning

Do not operate the mower without an air filter as serious engine damage can occur.

Disconnect the Spark Plug

Disconnect the spark plug wire before removing the cover to the air filter.

Materials and tools to clean a lawn mower air filter

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Remove the Air Filter

Remove the air filter, and inspect it.

For a paper filter, gently tap it on a flat surface to remove any loose dirt.

Examine the filter, and hold it up to a bright light source.

Black lawn mower turned off on lawn

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Simply replace it with a new one.

If it’s still in good shape, you’ve got the option to proceed to clean it.

A hybrid has a foam pre-cleaner that needs to be inspected.

Spark plug turned off under lawn mower air filter cover

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Use dish detergent to cut the grease and help remove dirt.

Dry the Foam Filter

Before oiling the foam filter, thoroughly dry it.

First squeeze the foam with paper towels or dry cloths.

Lawn mower shroud removed from dirty air filter

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Then sit the foam in the sun for about an hour to further dry.

Oil the Foam Filter

After the foam is bone dry, oil it.

Be sure not to add excess oil because you do not want it dripping into the mower.

Dirty lawn mower air filter removed and inspected with black gloves

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Blot up excess oil by patting the foam with a clean paper towel.

Do not use solvents, as they can damage the air filter element.

Reinsert the Air Filter

Replace the air filter into the fitting.

Yellow foam filter from lawn mower cleaned in bucket with soapy water

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

ensure it fits well and there are no gaps.

Never force the shroud back into place.

If it does not reassemble easily, you’ve probably inserted the new filter element incorrectly.

Damp yellow air filter squeezed and drying out

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Yellow foam lawn mower filter covered with oil with black gloves

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Lawn mower air filter fitting cleaned with blue dry cloth

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Cleaned yellow air filter reinserted into lawn mower fitting

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Lawn mower shroud covering cleaned air filter on fitting

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

Spark plug wire reconnected and turned back on for lawn mower

The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham