Oil leaking

[mwhitnell]

My mower stopped

 

[Auto Doc's]

Will it crank back up or is it locked? The description sounds like catastrophic engine failure.

 

[Rivets]

Or it could be that the float needle is stuck open and the crankcase is now filled with gas. Pull the dipstick and check to see if it is above the full mark and smells like gas. Also, remove the spark plug, ground the plug wire, put a rag in front of the spark plug hole And turn the engine over. If fuel comes spraying out we’ve found the problem. Report back your findings before proceeding.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Or it could be that the float needle is stuck open and the crankcase is now filled with gas. Pull the dipstick and check to see if it is above the full mark and smells like gas. Also, remove the spark plug, ground the plug wire, put a rag in front of the spark plug hole And turn the engine over. If fuel comes spraying out we’ve found the problem. Report back your findings before proceeding.

Would a hole in the pump diaphragm cause this too?

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hello M,

If you are making a habit of running your mower dry for Winter storage, don't. All that does is dry out the needle and seat and create left over chalky fuel deposits in the carburetor as the remaining fuel evaporates.

Keep the tank full but use a mid-grade E-10 with Ethanol shield additive mixed in the fuel before filling the tank. Run it for a few minutes so the mixed fuel gets in the carburetor well.

 

[StarTech]

You are on the ball...righto. This has occurred to me on another kohler cv22. My crankcase in full of fuel. Will drain and fill with new oil. Thanks, shall try and remember this...it should be a sticky. I will remove plugs and clean out what in the cylinders.

IF this is the case it will refill with fuel if you don't repair the carburetor. And if this the carburetor with fuel pump attached which most of the Opposed had, it can have a bad diaphragm allow fuel to leak into the crankcase via the impulse hose.

 

[slomo]

I live in Florida, hence I cut grass 12 months. I use av gas in all my small engines, so I dont have to worry about the main jet getting fouled so I dont turn off fuel valve.

Fella, doesn't matter if you run Diesel or Coleman fuel. You will still get grass, bugs, dirt dobbers, leaves, grit, water and so on in the tank. Look in the bottom of your fuel can. Every fill you pass trash to the carb. With all the humidity in FL, carb is probably full of water.

 

[StarTech]

I live in Florida, hence I cut grass 12 months. I use av gas in all my small engines, so I dont have to worry about the main jet getting fouled so I dont turn off fuel valve.

As said it doesn't matter as even with Avgas, it can at times have water in it. That why we as pilots on pre-flight inspections we are required to do a test fuel drain of each tank to check for water. And I have found water in the tanks several times over the years. Just don't want to the engine(s) dying because of water. Besides we can't just pull over and park in mid air.