Is there a gasoline additive I can use to clean a lawnmower engine.

Question

A lady friend of mine has been running her lawnmower with about a quart too much oil and it has fouled up the spark plug and the engine.

Now it runs about ten seconds and dies.

I'm going to change the spark plug and the oil.

Is there a way I can clean the engine without taking it apart.

Answer 1

No need to 'clean' the engine.The oil there has splashed its way past the rings. There is no need to cleanout the cylinder, just give the starter rope a couple tugs to aerate things when the spark plug is out. Just run it with the correct oil level, fresh fuel, and  a new spark plug. While you are doing all this,change the air filter too.

Answer 2

The oil has simply gotten into the cylinder above the piston..fouling the plug out...once you get the spark plug out ..pull the starter rope 10 or 12 times and you will see the oil splatter out of the spark plug hole..once this is done sqirt a little gas in the cylinder with a spray bottle..try to spray it not pour it in...let it set about 30 seconds..pull the rope a few more times..clean the plug..and put it in..it will fire right up..it will smoke for a couple of minutes untill all the oil residue is burnt off..but it will be fine...make sure when your splattering the oil out to be away from garage walls, sidewalks, plants etc..you don't need to coat them..