Lawn Mower Maintenance (mistakenly mixed the oil with the gas)?

I just purchased a Craftsman MRS 650 a couple weeks ago. I was getting ready to use it for the first time, and mistakenly put the 4-Cycle Small Engine Oil in the gas tank, and then put gas in on top of it. Since I thought I had put the oil in the oil compartment I tried to start the mower but it did not start. I then realized what I had done. Is this a situation where I can just pump out the fluid in my gas tank, or should I take it to the service center. I am thinking that since I was unable to run the mower little if any damage could have been done to it.

Any help/advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Comments

4 Responses to “Lawn Mower Maintenance (mistakenly mixed the oil with the gas)?”

fyrfytersabre79 says:

July 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm

I would drain the fuel system, complete to the carbuerator, refil it with gas and try to run the mover, it’ll probably smoke a bit until the mixed gas that was in the carbuerator burns away, maybe you lucked out, if it was a new mover, there might be a chance that there was a shut off valve in the fuel line, that by some amazing chance may have been shut off, check that and if it is shut off, all you have to do is unclamp the hose and drain out the mixed gas through that, and then flush it with regular gas letting in also run through the fuel line, replace the line and it should work fine.
vissoctl says:

July 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm

If you’re comfortable with removing the gas tank, you should empty the gas/oil mix into another gas can, or fuel approved container. Then put tank back on and fill up with fresh gas. If it starts at that point, it will smoke ALOT, until the oil is burned off. If it does not start, you may have to pull the carburetor off as well and clean it out with carb cleaner.

You might be able to get the mower to fire and run long enough to displace the oil in the carb by using starting fluid. But, be careful. Starting fluid is not to be used repeatedly.

Hope that helps. Oh, you might need to replace the spark plug if it becomes oil fouled.
Hogfan11 says:

July 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm

I would think if you tell them what you did it will void the warranty.You have a fuel line you can unhook and drain the tank but the oil won’t hurt it it might smoke some for a while.Fill the engine with oil as required and pull the wire off the plug after you have drained the gas tank and turn the engine over to oil the crank where it can’t start.Then refill the gas tank and you should be fine unless you locked up the engine.A few of the mowers have sensors to stop it from starting without oil just for this reason.
JT B says:

July 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm

Remove ,empty gas rinse with new gas , Put tank back on, Remove spark plug replace with new one or spray off with craburetor cleaner, Now after you have replaced all the parts , Take the crab, Cleaner and spray crab, it will dry up any excess, Now spray a little in carb, turn on and start mower, good luck