Oil line failure

[cmosier1]

Sorry if this is long but the details seem important. I took my ex mark laser Z 60 inch mower to the shop to have the blade engage switch repaired. I had them do a general service, including an oil change as well. I had an oil leak that I asked them to look at during the service.

They said that the part that the oil filter screws into seemed to be the issue. They replaced it and put in a new O-ring. Once I got it back, I mowed my lawn, put it in the barn. No oil leak visible. No oil on the floor after a couple of weeks.

About a month has passed and I got it out to use it again. Pretty sure this was the 1st mow since the day I got it back. About an hour into my mow it started running rough. I thought that it was bogging down due to high grass so I upped my throttle a little bit and after about a minute or two of it, not getting any better, I parked the mower and got off to see what was going on. There was a large amount of oil on the back of the mower and before I could move to turn the mower off the engine died.

I called the repair company and had them take it back in to see what happened. They are saying that the oil line going to the oil cooler burst due to rubbing, which is what caused all of the oil to go out of the machine. The engine is now toast and will have to be replaced.

I’m just having a hard time reconciling the idea that with no visible leaks on the mower before I started using it, and showing full oil on the dip stick, that this oil cooling line would just spontaneously explode with no warning so badly that it killed my mower. Has anyone experienced this before any thoughts?

 

[Auto Doc's]

Sorry if this is long but the details seem important. I took my ex mark laser Z 60 inch mower to the shop to have the blade engage switch repaired. I had them do a general service, including an oil change as well. I had an oil leak that I asked them to look at during the service.

They said that the part that the oil filter screws into seemed to be the issue. They replaced it and put in a new O-ring. Once I got it back, I mowed my lawn, put it in the barn. No oil leak visible. No oil on the floor after a couple of weeks.

About a month has passed and I got it out to use it again. Pretty sure this was the 1st mow since the day I got it back. About an hour into my mow it started running rough. I thought that it was bogging down due to high grass so I upped my throttle a little bit and after about a minute or two of it, not getting any better, I parked the mower and got off to see what was going on. There was a large amount of oil on the back of the mower and before I could move to turn the mower off the engine died.

I called the repair company and had them take it back in to see what happened. They are saying that the oil line going to the oil cooler burst due to rubbing, which is what caused all of the oil to go out of the machine. The engine is now toast and will have to be replaced.

I’m just having a hard time reconciling the idea that with no visible leaks on the mower before I started using it, and showing full oil on the dip stick, that this oil cooling line would just spontaneously explode with no warning so badly that it killed my mower. Has anyone experienced this before any thoughts?

Hello C.

I don't buy the story either.

Did the engine lock up? I suggest the engine low pressure switch is what shut it down, that's why they have one.

The shop needs to put the new oil cooler lines on it, fill it with oil and verify the condition from there.

I am not afraid to say that shops these days will condemn the most expensive part(s) because they have not tested anything. Many have very little experience.

When I was service manager for a JD dealer, I had to verify everything my techs were claiming because I am/ was already certified by multiple manufacturers. They hated when I would have them prove what they were claiming. If they did not know, I would teach them.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Sorry if this is long but the details seem important. I took my ex mark laser Z 60 inch mower to the shop to have the blade engage switch repaired. I had them do a general service, including an oil change as well. I had an oil leak that I asked them to look at during the service.

They said that the part that the oil filter screws into seemed to be the issue. They replaced it and put in a new O-ring. Once I got it back, I mowed my lawn, put it in the barn. No oil leak visible. No oil on the floor after a couple of weeks.

About a month has passed and I got it out to use it again. Pretty sure this was the 1st mow since the day I got it back. About an hour into my mow it started running rough. I thought that it was bogging down due to high grass so I upped my throttle a little bit and after about a minute or two of it, not getting any better, I parked the mower and got off to see what was going on. There was a large amount of oil on the back of the mower and before I could move to turn the mower off the engine died.

I called the repair company and had them take it back in to see what happened. They are saying that the oil line going to the oil cooler burst due to rubbing, which is what caused all of the oil to go out of the machine. The engine is now toast and will have to be replaced.

I’m just having a hard time reconciling the idea that with no visible leaks on the mower before I started using it, and showing full oil on the dip stick, that this oil cooling line would just spontaneously explode with no warning so badly that it killed my mower. Has anyone experienced this before any thoughts?

The way the oil cooler is mounted, it is impossible for the oil lines to rub and leak. Plus, all you have to do is inspect them and see what kind of shape they are in.

 

[StarTech]

Well without the model and serial numbers it is only going to be guesses. There is 11 Lazer lines with many models and many different engine setup.

The oil pressure may only operate a light or operate a kill circuit. Without being able to look model specify wiring diagram it is impossible to know which it is.

But if the engine is locked up I would assume it only operates a light.

 

[txmowman]

Well without the model and serial numbers it is only going to be guesses. There is 11 Lazer lines with many models and many different engine setup.

The oil pressure may only operate a light or operate a kill circuit. Without being able to look model specify wiring diagram it is impossible to know which it is.

But if the engine is locked up I would assume it only operates a light.

Low oil cannot shut down an engine that is carrying an operator.

 

[txmowman]

@cmosier1 What brand and model of engine do you have?

 

[StarTech]

Low oil cannot shut down an engine that is carrying an operator.

All depends on how the system is wired. I personally can wire one to shut down the engine if oil drops too much. Now of course when you do then the oil pressure got to be built up like on some JD ZTRs.

 

[VegetiveSteam]

Low oil cannot shut down an engine that is carrying an operator.

True. I don't know of anyone killing an engine due to low oil if it has a person also being moved by that equipment. Plus, these work on oil pressure, and this engine will keep good oil pressure with as little as half a quart of oil which we all know is not enough oil. Most oil warning systems on non-stationary equipment are designed to warn the operator of no engine oil at start up by not letting the oil light go out. Most do nothing to protect the engine once it's running and by design there is really no way for them to do that. Just like an automobile. By the time the light comes on, there is usually already damage.

Something the OP mentioned bothers me. They said they were in high grass so they throttled up. I guess my question would be, why weren't you running at full throttle to begin with as designed? Not running at full throttle is starving an air-cooled engine of much needed cooling air. The goal is to keep the oil as cool as possible. Not do things that increase the oil temp.

Was the engine oil cooler engine mounted or remote mounted? I think it would be hard to rub through a hose on an engine mounted oil cooler, but I guess not impossible depending on what was rubbing it. Hydro line maybe? Although I wouldn't think a hydro line would be close to that area. My guess is the oil filter could have come loose but at this point there is no way you will ever know for sure. Did they show you the damaged cooler line? Their previous repair would have probably had them working on that exact part.