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Pressure Washer Recommended Oil & Guide

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pressure washer oil

I had a request from a reader recently. He wanted to know what the recommended oil was for use in the Subaru power washer 3100 PSI.

When it comes to all small engines they are all very similar and for this guide I will use the Subaru 189cc OHC engine, but this will be almost exactly the same for a Honda GX, Honda GC, and other pressure washer engines.

Here are a few tips/tricks that you should follow:

  • Check and refill engine lubricant or oil each time you use your pressure washer. You do not want to try and start the engine if it has low oil.
  • Initial lubricant change should be performed after first 20 hours of operation.
  • After the initial oil change, you should change your oil every 50 hours. The oil that I recommend you use is 4-stroke engine lubricant (SAE 30 or SAE 10W30 oil) The brand that I like the best is: Royal Purple 01130 API-Licensed SAE 10W-30 High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil. I use it in my lawnmower, weed whacker, chainsaw, and snowblower. It has over 150 5 star reviews on Amazon, so you know other people love it as well.

How to Change to oil in a pressure washer?

  1. Run your pressure washer for about 5-10 minutes to warm the engine oil up. Warm oil will flow better and make it easier to drain.
  2. Place your pressure washer on a flat, level surface. Do not tilt it yet.
  3. Find the drain plug and place an oil catch pan under it.
  4. Unscrew the drain plug and let the oil drain out. You may need to tip the machine to get out as much as possible.
  5. Screw the drain plug back in.
  6. Unscrew the Oil Cap and insert a funnel. Pour in your new oil to the recommend amount found in your engine manual. Do not overfill. Overfilling the crankcase may cause excessive smoke and engine damage.
  7. Now you will want to check the oil level and add more if you didn’t get enough in.
  8. Wipe dipstick clean and re-seat in hole; do not rethread
  9. Remove dipstick again and check lubricant level. Lubricant level should fall within the hatched area on the dipstick
  10. If level is low, add engine lubricant until the fluid level rises to the upper portion of the hatched area on the dipstick.

It is actually pretty easy to change the oil in these machines, but if you need help don’t be afraid to ask or hire a professional.