Maintaining your engine, Warning – Cub Cadet 18M User Manual
Page 18

18
Oil Change
IMPORTANT: Be sure to check engine on a level surface 
with the engine stopped. Drain the oil while the engine is 
still warm to assure rapid and complete draining.
1. Remove oil fill cap and drain oil by either removing
drain plug or turning mower on its side (air cleaner side 
up) and allowing oil to drain into a suitable container. 
See Figure 10-1.
WARNING: Before tipping engine or 
equipment to drain oil, drain fuel from 
tank by running engine until fuel tank is 
empty.
2. Reinstall the drain plug (if removed), and tighten it
securely.
3. Refill with the recommended oil (see Operation
section) and check the oil level. See Figure 10-1.
4. Reinstall the oil fill cap securely.
10
Maintaining
Your
Engine
WARNING
Shut off the engine
before performing any
type of maintenance.
To prevent accidental
start-up, disconnect 
the spark plug boot.
WARNING: Shut off the engine before 
performing any maintenance. To 
prevent accidental start-up, disconnect 
the spark plug boot.
IMPORTANT: If engine must be tipped to transport 
equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep spark 
plug side of engine up. Transporting or tipping engine 
spark plug down may cause smoking, hard starting, 
spark plug fouling, or oil saturation of air cleaner.
Periodic inspection and adjustment of the engine is 
essential if high level performance is to be maintained. 
Regular maintenance will also ensure a long service life. 
The required service intervals and the kind of mainte-
nance to be performed are described in the table below. 
Follow the hourly or calendar intervals, whichever occur 
first. More frequent service is required when operating in 
adverse conditions.
Maintenance Schedule
† Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.
†† If operating under heavy load or high ambient temperature.
Oil Service
• Check oil level regularly.
• Be sure correct oil level is maintained. Check every 
five hours or daily before starting engine. See oil 
checking procedure in the Operation section.
Before tipping engine
or equipment to
drain oil, drain fuel
from tank by running 
engine until fuel tank 
is empty.
IMPORTANT: Be sure 
to check engine on a 
level surface with the 
engine stopped. Drain 
the oil while the engine 
is still warm to assure 
rapid and complete 
draining.
Check Engine
Oil
First 5 hours
Tasks
Each use or
every 5 hours
Every season
or 25 hours
Every season
or 50 hours
Every season
or 100 hours
Service Dates
Change Engine
Oil
Check Air 
Cleaner
Service Air
Cleaner
Check Spark 
Plug
Service Spark
Plug
Clean Finger 
Guard
Clean Around
Muffler
Level
Oil Fill Cap
Drain
Plug
Figure 10-1: Changing the oil.
