B&S Intek big single-oil leak?

[dwendt44]

Just got a lawn tractor with a 14.5 HP Briggs Intek single.
2000 model year (summer of '99 engine build)
It was pretty oily, mostly on the head and the right side.
Are these engines pron to leak? and where?

It could be sloppy oil fill by original owner, but I can't be sure. No obvious leaking at the moment. Only had it running a hour so far.

 

[JimPghPA]

Those engines have a vent on one side. If you tilt it too much so that side is low, the normal gas that gets past the piston when it is running will force the oil (instead of the blow by gas) out the vent. Could be that the privious owner tilted it too much when using it. It is an easy mistake to make.

 

[dwendt44]

UP DATE:

A rather time consuming cleaning and look over found that the dip stick didn't have it's seal. Took waay to long to get one from Briggs. Also found that the bolts holding the two halves of the crankcase together weren't very tight. I gave each one a bit of extra torque. So far, no leaks or seepage.

So far so good.

Got my fingers crossed.