B&S Intek smokes at start-up

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I have a B&S Intek (yes, I know), with 250 hours. It smokes when I start it up. It's on a Cub Cadet RZT50 (yes, I know) lawn mower. Im running Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30 in it. I've been checking the oil level every time, right before I mow, and it's been right on. Could it be valve guide seals? Or the oil? Should I go back to 30W dino? I live in Kansas (yes, I know), and the summers get fairly hot. From 70-100+. Anyways, any suggestions would be great.
 
Originally Posted By: kasedian
I have a B&S Intek (yes, I know), with 250 hours. It smokes when I start it up. It's on a Cub Cadet RZT50 (yes, I know) lawn mower. Im running Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30 in it. I've been checking the oil level every time, right before I mow, and it's been right on. Could it be valve guide seals? Or the oil? Should I go back to 30W dino? I live in Kansas (yes, I know), and the summers get fairly hot. From 70-100+. Anyways, any suggestions would be great.

Had a similar issue in two smaller Brigs that I have. I changed the oil to Amsoil ASE and even after sitting for over a month, the engines start smoke free and run fine. This appears to be a fine oil for the money in these machines.
 
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I've been checking the oil level every time, right before I mow, and it's been right on


Maybe not oil if the level is staying full but probably fuel. Judging from my Intek powered stuff these things seem to run very rich whenever you need to use the choke/primer to start them, at idle the ones i have run a rich mixture also.
 
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I'm also thinking it can be the fuel mix and not burning oil. I remember many years ago throwing those engines together in a small engine repair class. On very rare occasions the splits in the piston rings can align, and cause oil use and smoke on start up. When the rings are installed the splits are supposed to be staggered. The split in the ring can change position from use and line up with the split in the other rings. Then with more use become staggered again and oil use stops. A shop teacher told me that years ago and it made sense??????? If the oil level is staying exactly the same it is safe to say the machine is not burning oil.
 
The 22 horse Briggs Intek in my JD lawn tractor smokes like a house fire on startup if it has sat more than a week. I park it pitched down so it doesn't take so long to pump fuel into the carb, which probably aggravates the issue. I use some old Mystik 10w30 SJ synthetic in it, and just assumed it was oil burning off, never thought about it being fuel.
 
Try parking it on a grade with the cylinder high side. On some engines, if parked with the cylinder lower than the crank case, oil can seep into the cylinder. If that doesn't cure the problem, I'd suspect it could be valve seals.
 
Isn't smoke caused by an excessively rich mixture generally black and smoke caused by burning oil blue/gray? That's the way I was taught to determine the source of exhaust smoke.
 
Thanks for the input. I park it on a level grade, and it usually sits for a week or more between startings. I do have to pull the choke to start it. The smoke only lasts about 10-15 seconds after starting it. Im leaning towards the fuel issue. Anyways, next time I get it out to mow, Ill park it on a grade withe the cylinders higher than the crankcase. See if that makes a difference. Thanks again.
 
Originally Posted By: engineerscott
Isn't smoke caused by an excessively rich mixture generally black and smoke caused by burning oil blue/gray? That's the way I was taught to determine the source of exhaust smoke.


Color and smell is how I was taught.
 
Sounds like this isn't your case, but like said, if this ZTR is ever parked arse-down, the valve covers will fill with oil from the crankcase and more often than not, on startup, this oil is temporarily blown through the breather line right into the carb giving you the smoke.

Other than that, vertical shaft OHV engines are very sensitive to oil level. If you've got a smoker, you need to drop the oil level to right between "Full" and "Add", preferably a tad towards the "Add" line.

Joel
 
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Originally Posted By: JTK
Sounds like this isn't your case, but like said, if this ZTR is ever parked arse-down, the valve covers will fill with oil from the crankcase and more often than not, on startup, this oil is temporarily blown through the breather line right into the carb giving you the smoke.

Other than that, vertical shaft OHV engines are very sensitive to oil level. If you've got a smoker, you need to drop the oil level to right between "Full" and "Add", preferably a tad towards the "Add" line.

Joel
+1 The shed floor is a bit off level I get a good fog of oil smokeupon start up.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: engineerscott
Isn't smoke caused by an excessively rich mixture generally black and smoke caused by burning oil blue/gray? That's the way I was taught to determine the source of exhaust smoke.


Color and smell is how I was taught.


Yep, forgot to add the olfactory aspect. Burning oil definitely smells different than partially burned gas from a too rich mixture.
 
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