Good job on keeping up on the maintenance!
When you check the oil, the engine must be off.
Regarding how often you should check it, well, more often the better. It's good practice to do it once every two or three times of use in my opinion. It's a bit of a touchy subject and the hardcore guys will tell you "everytime you use it, it must be checked" but in reality if it's a machine that you know is not buring oil (Not going to be your brand new Honda!), then you can relax a little. A lot of it really depends on how often and how long it's used each time. For example, if it's used daily say 2 hours a day then you'll want to be checking it frequently throughout the week. If it's only used say once a week for an hour each time, then check it maybe once every two or three weeks. Use your discretion.
During break-in time, in my opinion the sooner the better. Sometimes during the break-in period there can be small metal particles that get into the oil simply from the process of it breaking in and you don't want those shavings getting transferred around in your engine.
After break-in, follow the manufacture's recommondation for oil change intervals and if anything or in doubt, it never hurts always change it a little on the soon side of things.
When you check the oil, the engine must be off.
Regarding how often you should check it, well, more often the better. It's good practice to do it once every two or three times of use in my opinion. It's a bit of a touchy subject and the hardcore guys will tell you "everytime you use it, it must be checked" but in reality if it's a machine that you know is not buring oil (Not going to be your brand new Honda!), then you can relax a little. A lot of it really depends on how often and how long it's used each time. For example, if it's used daily say 2 hours a day then you'll want to be checking it frequently throughout the week. If it's only used say once a week for an hour each time, then check it maybe once every two or three weeks. Use your discretion.
During break-in time, in my opinion the sooner the better. Sometimes during the break-in period there can be small metal particles that get into the oil simply from the process of it breaking in and you don't want those shavings getting transferred around in your engine.
After break-in, follow the manufacture's recommondation for oil change intervals and if anything or in doubt, it never hurts always change it a little on the soon side of things.
