Could it be a head gasket?[/QUOT
Could be, what do your plugs look like?
Walt Conner
The plug on the left looks like normal use, but when I got the mower the plug on the right was completely carbon covered and was running on one cylinder. I put two new plugs in and it runs great but using oil and a small amount of white smoke. The bottom valve was bad lose and I adjusted it and now it starts without a hesitation .
I tried this and there was no restriction blowing or sucking.
I would look for the hose between the crankcase breather and the air filter air box, disconnect it from the air box find away to alternately suck and blow on this hose still connected to crankcase breather. You should be able to suck freely but quickly change over to very restricted blowing. IF that is the way it works, the crankcase breather is working OK. Probably not it but costs nothing, no tear down and eliminate that.