Oil & Air Filter:
Each Honda mower is filled with oil at the factory, test run for a few seconds, then the oil is extracted from the engine. However, a trace amount may be left in the crankcase, so if the mower was tipped over on its left side or turned upside down, that small bit of oil could have flowed into the air cleaner and then soaked up by the paper filter. This can also happen if TOO much oil is added to the engine. If you filled the engine with the small bottle of oil included in the box, there is no risk of overfill. Double check and make sure the level is between the hash mark at the tip of the dipstick, and not filled too high. See your owner's manual for details on how to properly check/add oil. Use only SAE 10W-30 oil with this mower. Even a partially-soaked air filter can restrict air flow to the point of creating an incorrect air/fuel mixture, causing poor running and/or starting performance. A new filter is pretty cheap and I'd go ahead and get a couple and, of course, trash the soaked one. You need Honda Part Number
17211-Z8B-901, list $3.90. Google any part number to find a Honda Dealer selling it online, or use this link to find a Honda Dealer in your area:
Find A Honda Dealer
Frame Serial Number, Registration and +1 Year Warranty Offer
Look on the back upper area of the mower deck for the serial number sticker; it looks like this:
Fill out and mail in the registration card, be sure to date it before May 31, 2014, and you will automatically
get +1 year of extra factory warranty. You MUST register to mower (mail in or use this link
Register Your New Honda Online to get the extra year of warranty.
Re-jet for High Altitude
Honda suggest switching out the main jet if running the engine above 5,000 feet. As you are right there, it may or may not significantly affect the performance of your mower. Might try it with the stock jet for a while, but if you feel the power is reduced or have other concerns, swapping out the main jet might be the way to go. While this is not a difficult job, if you've never worked on a carburetor before, probably best to have the dealer do the job. To R&R (remove and replace) the jet requires removing the carburetor, and a large number of gaskets, spacers, guides, rods and springs. Not for the mechanically faint-of-heart. I need the frame serial number to get you the correct jet part number, as the were a number of different carburetors and jets used during the production of the VKA model.