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I have a B&S V twin that has a small oil leak at the front of the engine when going downhill. Everything else with this engine is excellent. Could it be the engine breather since that sets at the front of the engine?

Could be the breather, intake gasket or head gasket. The oil to come to the front of the engine and drip on the muffler when going downhill. I suggest you clean and degrease and dry the engine and then watch to see where the oil is coming from.

Leaks are much easier to find when the engine is clean and an UV tracer dye is used. Many leaks are not where you expect them.

I use the old fashion farmer method. Clean and dry the area I suspect and throw flour or spray powder all over that area. Run the unit and you can back track the oil to its source. This works extremely well when you have hydraulic or other clear fluids. Shows my age.

Same story from me as Rivets , cement dust , face powder any fine dust you can get on there.

These engines are notorious for sump gasket leak under the right hand cylinder when facing the cylinder heads. Good advice above on checking for sure where the leak is. IF sump leak, expensive gasket set to fix ~ $30 - $35. I can send you a Service Manual IF you like, address below, put in proper format and remind me engine model number and what you want.

Walt Conner
wconner5@frontier.com

KInda strange I never had one to leak there.

I just make getting the service manual easier.

Briggs V-twin OHV service manual

StarTech said:

Leaks are much easier to find when the engine is clean and an UV tracer dye is used. Many leaks are not where you expect them.

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UV tracer dye? Are we back to the space shuttle again? LOLOLOLOL

What??? Haven't you ever used or heard of the UV dye that you put in the engine's oil to find oil leaks. The one I use needs a 465 nM ultra violet light source to light it up. I have engines where the oil appeared to be behind the flywheel to only for to be somewhere else like the oil cap seal. It also can be left in the engine. This really help on a pressure washer that developed a secondary oil a week later I found the initial leak. Oil was a secondary leak from the pressure pump instead of the engine as no UV dye wasn't present in the new oil puddle.

There also a version for the coolant systems which is why I know where my truck engine is leaking antifreeze. Some idoit used RTV and didn't it cure before putting the water/antifreeze back in so I got an intake manifold leak.

One thing about this is the light pen and glasses they provide in the kits is worthless. I had the UV wavelength light source that was strong enough to light the UV dye in full sunlight.

StarTech said:

What??? Haven't you ever used or heard of the UV dye that you put in the engine's oil to find oil leaks.

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Nope. I've always just cleaned them and look for the oil.

When I was still teaching one of the shops we worked with used the UV method, which worked very well if you had the time. Problem was when you are away from the shop many times you had no power for the light. Other problem was hydraulic systems which needed a lot of tracer dye to get through all the hoses and cylinders. At my age I can’t justify the cost, when I can get the same results with a can of baby powder.

The UV light handheld is power by a 3.7v lithium rechargeable battery so it very portable. or if I want a weak light 1.5v alkaline battery. Personally as far as to costs go here the customer gets billed for the dye. Just got it is output the right wavelength light. Many AC techs use these in the field.

We didn’t have those available back then. Star, I know you are just trying to teach this old dog a new trick, but at my age, the toolbox is full and the brain can only handle so much. Just talked my better half into getting a couple of new air tools, as my guns were getting weak. Her comment: HOW MANY TOOLS DOES A MECHANIC NEED? You can guess my answer.

Yelp, As many as it takes.

I had a Campbell Hausfeld impact that was a gutless wonder, even the cheap off the wall Chinese one had more power. I finally was able to afford an AirCat 1150; boy what a world of difference. I did however had to replace all my air fittings with V style, those M's just doesn't have enough air flow.

Rivets said:

We didn’t have those available back then. Star, I know you are just trying to teach this old dog a new trick, but at my age, the toolbox is full and the brain can only handle so much. Just talked my better half into getting a couple of new air tools, as my guns were getting weak. Her comment: HOW MANY TOOLS DOES A MECHANIC NEED? You can guess my answer.

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Did you tell her that was a stupid question?
Mine gave up years ago.

No, after 45 years we just know when the battle isn’t worth fighting. It’s like telling some members on this forum they’re in over their heads. They don’t listen, just keep on talking. Now if either of us want something most of the time we just buy it and tell the other two weeks later that we’ve lost the return receipt. Saves a lot of headaches.