YARDMAN 5 h.p. B&S push ; smokes like crazy ...

[odie]

after sitting idle for a week . Could this be due to the use of 5w30 PLATINUM synthetic ? It's smoked since day one whenever started up when not in use for awhile . Sometimes less , others much more for 2 > 4 minutes . Replaced spark plug and airfilter within past 2 weeks . Would it be better to replace with leftover PENNZOIL 30 H.D. or 10w-30 PLATINUM ? Or are these engines prone to this ? Ain't what they used to be . The mower is 6 yaers old and was bought at WAL-F*RT . Thanks

 

[yeehaw1960]

Is it overfull of oil? Do you turn it over on it's side to clean the bottom?

 

[jorton]

Tonight mine smoked like crazy too. That's after using it for 3 hours Saturday and Sunday with no smoking at all. I don't know. Oil is John Deere 10w-30.

 

[odie]

yes , turn it on its side to clean deck . Oil is at full level .

 

[nitehawk55]

If you turn them on the side to scrape the deck it's common for oil to get into the cyl sometimes moreso if the engine is starting to get some wear . . Always tip carb side up too .

 

[odie]

thanks for the tip , literally

. Smoked as if on fire for the first few moments

. Diminished little while after .

 

[zddp77]

odie change the oil too SAE-30 and see what happens. I never would use 5w30 in an air cooled engine. Make sure you get all the 5w30 out, report back and let us know how you make out. Make sure the SAE-30 is a high quality oil and not an API SA oil.

 

[odie]

it's the PENNZOIL HD SAE 30 . Have 20 ounces leftover from oil change for new BOLENS riding mower with the 13.5 H.P. B+S engine . Do have a gallon jug of PLATINUM 10w-30 as well . Flip a coin for next weight ?

 

[yeehaw1960]

Tecumseh - carb and muffler side up
Briggs Tank Mounted - muffler up though gas spills out of tank
Briggs Quantum and others - muffler side up after turning off gas, or clamping fuel line and running it dry.
Honda - your guess is a good as mine...carb up I think...I've had problems both ways. I always turn off the gas and run it dry though.

 

[Nick R]

If you tilt a B&S flathead with the exhaust downward, oil will fill the valve spring chamber and overflow through the PCV into the carbeurator, and from there into the engine. That is what probably is happening.

 

[yeehaw1960]

I clean up 20 a year where that's the only problem. More oil filters die that way.

 

[odie]

you were right . It smoked due the way I tipped the mower when cleaning the deck . No oil use thus far with SHELL 5w30 synthetic . THANKS .