I'd have major problems if I didn't do all my neighbor's small engine service for free. Especially when I start up a mower that's been turned upside down or overfilled with oil.
17.5 HP B&S Smokes on Start-up
- Thread starter Turk
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I have the 18.5 horse briggs v-twin. Smokes on start up also. It's 'cuz the oil weeps past the rings while sitting for a week or three (doesn't take much to smoke) in the horizontal cylinder. I've heard Honda Goldwings and BMW Boxer twins do the same thing if parked on their sidestands. However, doesn't seem to burn a drop between changes.
On older engines, 15w40 works great, but can be used on newer stuff too, especially if you are working your engine hard in hot weather. PCMO 10w30 SM starburst oil is not the ideal oil for most air-cooled engines in hot weather/heavy use. Kohler does specify 10w30, but it is a heavier 10w30 with more antiwear adds and higher viscosity than current SM 10w30 starburst oils- more like a 10w30 HDEO. They use 10w30 due to the hydraulic lifters in their engines. I've seen brand new vertical crankshaft engines smoke on startup after sitting a while. I like to use synthetic oil in my engines because I work them hard. My current favorites are the dual rated Amsoil 10w30/SAE 30 "commercial" oil for gas engines under warranty that require a 30 weight, and Schaeffers 5W-40 for gas or diesel engines. I run both of these year round with no worries and very little if any smoke or consumption. My engines range from new to 30+ years old in the mowers, riders, generators, and tillers. Granted you will have to go to some effort to find/get these oils since they are not often found in the retail market. Regular old 15w40, such as Delo, Delvac, and Rotella, is my second choice and works very well, too. Schaeffers and Amsoil have other oils that work well in these types of engines, too.
its a lawnmower, i would be surprised if it didnt send out a cloud of smoke
Update!
This B&S kept smoking worse, so this morning I went to Walmart & picked up 2 Qts. on 15w40 Delo and an Air Filter (as both were mentioned here to try.......).
Installed the Air Filter (old one was ultra dirty) and drained out the 10w30 PCMO, then put in the 15w40 Delo.
Let it warm up real good, let sit and the smoke was almost gone. Let it sit a couple hours, started it up and there was NO Smoke at all!!!
Don't know for sure which one it was, but I bet it was the Oil.
Woo-Hoo! Thanks Guys for the recommendations......
This B&S kept smoking worse, so this morning I went to Walmart & picked up 2 Qts. on 15w40 Delo and an Air Filter (as both were mentioned here to try.......).
Installed the Air Filter (old one was ultra dirty) and drained out the 10w30 PCMO, then put in the 15w40 Delo.
Let it warm up real good, let sit and the smoke was almost gone. Let it sit a couple hours, started it up and there was NO Smoke at all!!!
Woo-Hoo! Thanks Guys for the recommendations......
Well, Dang.
I put in the new Delo 400 & the new air filter as per my previous post.
It sat for a while, I started it up today and sure enough, it smoked like crazy for about 30 seconds, then nothing after that.
You may be right, the oil is weeping past the rings (???)
I put in the new Delo 400 & the new air filter as per my previous post.
It sat for a while, I started it up today and sure enough, it smoked like crazy for about 30 seconds, then nothing after that.
You may be right, the oil is weeping past the rings (???)
You could try my trick with oil level. It will not hurt anything if it is in the range "approved" by Briggs.
You could also try parking the thing with the head up. That way oil does not flow into the combustion chamber while sitting. If this helps, your oil level is too high. Maybe the dipstick is bad.
Or, it could simply be worn out.
Chris
You could also try parking the thing with the head up. That way oil does not flow into the combustion chamber while sitting. If this helps, your oil level is too high. Maybe the dipstick is bad.
Or, it could simply be worn out.
Chris
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