Briggs engine, lots of white smoke, oil.....

Jay87T · May 20, 2013

Hey guys, I have a Ridding lawnmower with a briggs & stratton 15.5 hp engine in it, just recently it started to blow lots of white smoke and I notice it leaks oil If i leave it parked in a spot overnight. what can this be a bad head gasket? also seems like oil actualy spewed out the exhaust. I have yet to tear it down a bit to see where the oil is from, I just would like to know your opinion
Thanks for any info.

Lake guy · May 20, 2013

If this is a ohv vertical shaft motor, pull the head and check for a leaking head gasket between the cylinder and the push rod passage. Be sure to set the valve clearance to engine spec or you will experience hard starting due to the compression release being built into the valve clearance.

old · May 20, 2013

Common problem on the ones with an over head valve set up. They have a weak area where the valves and cylinder area meet. So if that is what you have very likely to be a blown head gasket

guido · May 20, 2013

Hello Jay87T,

Before you tear into the engine, check 2 things. Oil level and quality, and air cleaner. Also make sure that you have GAS in there not diesel or kerosene. Any of the above can be the culprit. Who knows, you might get lucky! Let us know how you make out. Good Luck..................

Guido.

Bob - MI · May 21, 2013

You may have the carb leaking gas into the crankcase and raising the oil level to the point where it is over-full. This will cause smoke and oil seepage. It will cough oil into the breather sometimes and the air cleaner will get soaked. Clearly bad for the engine as well to be running diluted oil.

As already mentioned, check the oil and the air filter. If you detect gas in the oil you can replace the float needle and seat as well as consider an in-line fuel shut off for maximum assurance that it can't happen again.

My daughter has one of these and they are frustrating. Have you had to re-set the valve clearances to get the compression release to work again?

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2013

Hi Jay. A couple of years ago I came home from work and my dad said the Cub Cadet blew a big puff of smoke and quit. It had alot of oil out the exhaust and all over the deck. When I took it apart the oil slinger had a plastic gear that ran off a metal gear on the camshaft. The teeth had all worn off that plastic gear after 20 years of use and slinger wasn't turning so starved for oil. That was just my experience. Your problem is probably different so go with suggestions from the other guys.

Jay87T · May 22, 2013

Its my weekend job to trouble shoot with the tips you guys gave me, Thanks again, I will let you all know when I look at it more closely.

Briggs engine, lots of white smoke, oil.....

Jay87T

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Lake guy

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old

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guido

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Bob - MI

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Anonymous-0

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Jay87T

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