Troy Bilt 42" with 17.5 Intek engine, leaking or blowing oil on right foot

[MalContent]

Anybody know the most likely cause of this leak? I haven't done much investigation but figured someone here may know. Head gasket seems to be at the front of the mower, so I assume it must be something else. (It's not because the oil stick is loose, I did check that)

 

[slomo]

Inteks are know for head gasket failures. Run the engine for a few minutes. Stop the engine. Remove the oil dipstick. Look for smoke coming out of the dipstick tube. Also run the engine and remove the stick again. Feel and look for oil mist blowing out of the same dipstick tube, engine running.

slomo

 

[bertsmobile1]

Engine turns clockwise which blows the cooling air to the right so no matte r where it is leaking from the oil ends up on your right foot .
Take the blower housing and the cooling shroud off the engine then degrease it.
Give it a good dusting of talcum powder and the leak will usually become apparent
If not run the engine for a minute or two.

 

[Tinkerer200]

Inteks are know for head gasket failures. Run the engine for a few minutes. Stop the engine. Remove the oil dipstick. Look for smoke coming out of the dipstick tube. Also run the engine and remove the stick again. Feel and look for oil mist blowing out of the same dipstick tube, engine running.
slomo
[/QUTE]

While they are known to have a leaking head gasket problem they do not leak to the outside, blow oil to the outside, they leak between the cylinder and the push rod gallery, internally.
Walt Conner

 

[slomo]

So true Walt. We don't know if his block vent hose that goes to the carb is even connected proper. Could be blowing out the muffler or other areas.

slomo