Oil Filter or No Oil Filter?

During a recent trip to my local "non-Big Box Store", I was looking under the hoods of various riding lawnmowers.  This was a dealer of yard equipment and I always enjoy looking at the various display pieces.  I was with a friend and I lifted the hood and there was a Briggs & Stratton 31000 series engine securely tucked under the hood.  It was the same series engine (31P700) that I under the hood of my riding lawn mower.  There was something oddly different about the engine.  I finally identified what was missing.  The oil filter assembly was not a part of this series engine!  I was floored - how could an upscale equipment manufacturer produce a product without an oil filter?

The Hunt for an Oil Filter!

The B&S (Briggs & Stratton) engine series (31000) has two sump part numbers.  Part Number 697106 is the sump without an oil filter assembly.  Part Number 697188 is the sump with an oil filter assembly.  My original IPL (illustrated parts list) did not list the sump with no filter. The updated IPL did reflect the changes for the sumps with/without a filter assembly.  I enjoy the 31000 series engines and was looking on Ebay for an engine.  One selling item has three pictures, but I could not clearly see the oil filter.  I ran the engine numbers under the IPL and confirmed my suspicions...this engine did not come with an oil filter assembly.

In fact, the entire range of 31000 series engines (31A000 through 31N000) may or may not have an oil filter assembly.  In another words, you may buy an 18.5 horsepower engine and the only thing you may have to do is change the oil.  There may not be an oil filter. 

Is This a Problem?

Is this truly a problem?  Technically, the answer would have to be 'no'.  B&S makes these engines according to manufacturer's requests and demands.  Hence, one engine may come with an oil filter assembly and another another won't.  Does the engine without a filter have less of a life span than one with a filter?  Again, the answer would have to be 'no'.  No matter what, if proper maintenance is being performed, an engine with or without an oil filter should not make a difference to the average consumer. 

What's the Concern?

The concerns are for the buyer who would like to re-power their equipment and doesn't know this slight difference.  The buyer could readily purchase a replacement engine and get a model with or without an oil filter assembly.  In one aspect, the operator may be use to changing the oil and filter and may feel 'cheated' when the engine does not arrive with an oil filter assembly.  Conversely, purchasing an engine with an oil filter assembly, while expecting no such thing, may complicate the installation of the engine. 

I would suggest that you get a copy of your IPL (illustrated parts list) from the B&S web site.  It's a free download and it will be in the Adobe(tm) format.  You will get the most recent version of the IPL for your engine.  With the IPL in hand, you'll see the series/code numbers that reflect each sump (oil filter/no oil filter).  You can use this data to help search for your replacement engine.  Granted, pictures are nice - but when buying on Ebay, the engine's numbers off the data plate are more reliable. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this guide.

Terry