Gas in Oil

[jojojeep]

I have a Lawn Boy Mower with a Honda GCV160 Engine on it.

Loaned it to my neighbor only to find out that his Bozo of a wife accidently poured gas into the oil spout. She then mowed with it for some period of time. How long I don't know.

I don't see how she could have put much gas into it as there surely was not much room to add the gas.

Anyway when the neighbor found out he dumped the oil-gas mixture and replaced it with 10W-30 oil. This is the weight called for in the manual.

My question is do you think this operation with some gas in the oil has damaged the engine? If so how can I tell. It seems to run OK when I start it up. But, I have not used it to actually mow the yard with yet as I am trying to determine if it would have caused any damage.

 

[Bill Kapaun]

OF COURSE "SOME" damage has occured!
It's pretty hard to tell how much though.
Do you spend basically the price of a new engine in labor charges to tear it down and find out it was still in pretty good shape?

HOW long did she run it with HOW much gas added? If a minute or 2, damage MIGHT be relatively slight. If it started making noise.....

 

[80caprice]

yeah it would if it was a considerable amount....as long as it runs, check for metal particals, etc. i don't think it would've hurt much as long as it wasn't run long, (hope it wasn't a nice sized yard)..... exactly the reason, i never, never loan anything out unless its me using it....thats why i usually tell em to go buy their own **** mower... and i throw it in about the ones they sell at walmart...hardly more then a 100 bucks for a little dependable briggs powered murray pushmower. also i'd change that oil after a couple more hours, to make sure all the gas is out....

 

[Steve S]

I would ask the neighbor to buy a new mower for you if there is a problem.If you rented a lawn mower and ruined the engine you would be responsible.

 

[80caprice]

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve S:
I would ask the neighbor to buy a new mower for you if there is a problem.If you rented a lawn mower and ruined the engine you would be responsible.

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exactly, or atleast pay for repairs....and get him to teach his wife a little more about em....

especially whats what, oil there and gas here.......

 

[Steve128]

[ September 09, 2005, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: Steve128 ]

 

[Steve128]

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve128:
First off, she isn't a "Bozo" for making a mistake.

And if her husband would have mowed the yard, this never would have happened.

There may not be any damage! Why not wait and see before taking action on a mower maybe not damaged and being a "Bozo"? I do hope your mower is fine as you were very nice to loan it out.

FWIW, I mowed my neighbor's yard more than once when he was too busy. He gave me a set of keys to his 05' Vette for when I want. Sometimes being a good neighbor brings blessings. Actually not keys but some sort of computer module.

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[Steve128]

Double post. Dang.

 

[wileyE]

putting the wrong stuff in the washing machine gets me out of doing the laundry

 

[wileyE]

did she use 710 fuel? sorry, old joke

 

[Steve S]

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve128:

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve128:
First off, she isn't a "Bozo" for making a mistake.

And if her husband would have mowed the yard, this never would have happened.

There may not be any damage! Why not wait and see before taking action on a mower maybe not damaged and being a "Bozo"? I do hope your mower is fine as you were very nice to loan it out.

FWIW, I mowed my neighbor's yard more than once when he was too busy. He gave me a set of keys to his 05' Vette for when I want. Sometimes being a good neighbor brings blessings. Actually not keys but some sort of computer module.

---

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I didn't say bozo, I would cover my mistakes that is how I am,'cause even I make mistakes.

 

[Cujet]

We add gasoline to the engine crankcase oil in cold weather aircraft operations. It thins out the oil for easier starting. Actually it makes starting possible in very cold weather. The gasoline evaporates quite rapidly once engine temps come up to normal.

I understand this is not the same situation, but it is safe for piston powered aircraft. Also, is is known to not affect engine wear. It is likely that the lowly lawn mower engine is just fine.

Consider this also, 2 stroke engines run on a 50 to 1 mix of gas/oil with sufficient lubrication. Once again, not the same situation. However it is likely that the gasoline did not reduce the lubrication quality much. And Yes, there are some 2 stroke engines with plain bearing connecting rods.

Also think about this one for a bit. Engine flush is generally a solvent base of some sort. Often times with no lubricant qualities whatsoever! Adding this to an engine is common practice.

Those lawn mower engines are so lightly loaded that I fully expect no damage has been done. One reason for this is that the evaporating gasoline keeps the oil cooler and hence, thicker.

Chris