Your old, rusty lawnmower could get you some extra cash if you sell it to a recycling facility. Taking a few preparatory steps will ensure you get the best price for your scrap metal. Here’s how to drain the mower’s hazardous fluids before bringing it to the center.

Setting Up Your Workstation

First, gather all of the materials. You need several plastic containers (empty milk jugs work well) to store used oil and gas. Also, get a shaker siphon to remove the liquids. If you’ve used it before, there might be moisture in the lines. To prepare the tool, hold the brass end of the siphon up, leaving the tube pointing down to get rid of any trapped condensation.

When you’re ready, park the lawnmower on a flat surface. If you have a riding mower, activate the parking brake.

Draining Gas & Oil From a Lawnmower

To remove the gas, unscrew the gas cap. Place the brass siphon in the tank and the clear tube in one of the empty containers. Shaking the siphon vigorously creates the draining action. Switch to a new container after the first one gets three-quarters full to prevent spills. After draining all of the gas, clean the siphon by placing its brass end in a bowl of water and repeating the siphon process. Idle the engine until it stops to remove any remnants of fuel.

To drain oil, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the pipe cap. Place a container underneath the drain pipe to catch the fluid. With a walk-behind mower, you may need to remove the dipstick and tilt the mower to the side to drain the oil. Dispose of the fuel and oil at a hazardous waste recycling center.

If you want to get rid of a lawnmower, Metalico Rochester will turn your scrap metal into cash. With three locations throughout New York, their team purchases and recycles many types of metal, helping the environment and your wallet. They offer fair prices for your unwanted items. Visit them online to learn more about preparing your scrap metal, or call (585) 436-0713 with any questions.