What keeps vertical crankshaft engines from oil flooding while sitting?

[Fordiesel69]

I have noticed quite a few of my honda GXV and GVC engines puff some smoke on first start and others can sit for years and not. Never can figure out why.

But the pistons have rings, and no set of piston rings can hold back liquid oil. So I always just wondered.........

 

[Tman220]

unless you overfill or have the engine angled while sitting the oil in the sump should be lower than the cylinder

 

[carviewsonic]

I need to keep the oil level slightly below the full mark in the Honda mower, or it will smoke when first started. The 30 year old Tecumseh powered mower can be overfilled a bit and it has never smoked on start-up.

 

[JRay’07]

I always assumed this was from the rings sticking momentarily. Our 16 year-old GCV will puff a little smoke for a couple of seconds after the first start of the season but is fine after that. Oil level kept exactly at the full mark.

 

[Lubener]

Using a lighter oil than recommended contributes to smoke out the exhaust on the first cold start.