Briggs & stratton model 445777 23 hp blowing blue smoke and burning oil

T

tonyh

Forum Newbie
My Briggs & Stratton 23 HP riding mower engine, model 445777, has begun to blow blue smoke, especially when under a load and is burning half quart of oil plus per tank of gas. There is no indication of an oil leak externally. Mower is also slow to start. Engine is abt 9 years old. Any help appreciated. Does this sound like head gasket issue?
 
Could be a head gasket issue, but could also be a case of a dropped intake push rod, or for some other reason that it isn't firing on one cylinder. The last two things listed could also explain the hard to start, but a bad head gasket could cause that issue to. The hard to start may be caused by a separate issue.
 
Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I've never had to perform any maintenance other than general servicing on my mowers and I'm at a loss on where to start with this one. Guess I'll attempt to replace the head gasket first as that seems to be the general consensus on the blue smoke and burning the oil - the oil consumption really bothers me as I can't see where the oil is going :smile:




ILENGINE said:
Could be a head gasket issue, but could also be a case of a dropped intake push rod, or for some other reason that it isn't firing on one cylinder. The last two things listed could also explain the hard to start, but a bad head gasket could cause that issue to. The hard to start may be caused by a separate issue.
Click to expand...
 
tonyh said:
Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I've never had to perform any maintenance other than general servicing on my mowers and I'm at a loss on where to start with this one. Guess I'll attempt to replace the head gasket first as that seems to be the general consensus on the blue smoke and burning the oil - the oil consumption really bothers me as I can't see where the oil is going :smile:
Click to expand...

Head gaskets are about a 1/2 to 1 hour job if there is no silicon to clean off.
The trick is to remove the muffler but only undo the carb at the manifold and push it to one side
Then it is only 4 bolts & the rocker cover comes off then another 8 to 10 bolts & the head comes off
Clean both faces, rotate the engine a couple of times to check the bore then back on with the head, poke in the pushrods, confirm they are seated properly by rotating the engine a few times , set the valve lash replace the rocker cover, carb & muffler and the job is done.
It is always prudent to run the engine for a couple of minutes then change the oil when you have finished.
 
Thank you, you've made me feel better about tackling this job. I appreciate the easy to follow directions.
:thumbsup:

bertsmobile1 said:
Head gaskets are about a 1/2 to 1 hour job if there is no silicon to clean off.
The trick is to remove the muffler but only undo the carb at the manifold and push it to one side
Then it is only 4 bolts & the rocker cover comes off then another 8 to 10 bolts & the head comes off
Clean both faces, rotate the engine a couple of times to check the bore then back on with the head, poke in the pushrods, confirm they are seated properly by rotating the engine a few times , set the valve lash replace the rocker cover, carb & muffler and the job is done.
It is always prudent to run the engine for a couple of minutes then change the oil when you have finished.
Click to expand...
 
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