Briggs Intek 540/ 21 hp random smoke bellow

[mower540]

OP here.

Everything should be good now, thanks for the replies.

After having drained that oil, there is zero evidence of contamination with gasoline. Even checking the dipstick, that oil is perfect. The gas shut off valve idea is a good one, I'll look into it and if it's an easy install which I reckon it is, I'll do it myself.

As far as the wrong dipstick suggestion , I highly doubt this. The engine is pretty "new school" (from 2006) compared to a lot of older mowers I've used. It has a specific locking mechanism at the top that ensures it's pretty much only for that engine. No redneck replacement would fit, it has to be a Briggs one for that model engine. And when it was new the oil always read exactly full from factory oil. Never had issues. Not proud to admit the oil was changed for the first time in 2014, but this mower never had the smokey issue until after I changed it and apparently overfilled it.

Runs fine again after draining the excess...

 

[ILENGINE]

Walt, I did the initial 5 hour oil change on that engine in my prior post when it was new. Drained about 64 ounces of oil out. So if it is the wrong dipstick, it would be incorrect from the factory, Discussed the 64 versus the 80 ounces difference with my Briggs distributor techs. And basically confirmed the difference in oil can be chalked up to the oil not draining from certain parts of the engine, like the oil cooler.

 

[mower540]

Correction to my previous post.

There may be gas in the crank case. The initial excess I drained out is pretty darn black, but I didn't suspect any gas in the oil then. I haven't actually needed to cut the grass since I drained the excess so all I did was run it for 15 seconds or so after I drained the excess.

What makes me suspicious is the oil right on the dipstick. As soon as I take the stick out, the oil runs off and drips ALL over the place like water. Yet, it doesn't smell like gas, it smells the same way when I used to do the oil changes on my old car - like old used oil. But it is only year old oil. Why is it so watery?

Please tell me it only happened because I had a lot in.... and if I do another oil change and be super careful about filling it Ill be fine?

I don't even want to dig in and fix the carb if that is the problem but I have no choice. Does anyone know what I need to look for, what I need to do? I don't know anything about carbs, let alone I am no mechanic, I'm just really technical and hands on but lack vital experience past changing the spark plug, air filter and oil on this mower. Chances are if I do the research online though I would probably be 100% fine.

 

[Tinkerer200]

Well I told you what to do then got scoffed at. Put in a darned inline gas shutoff valve and use it. I can send you a Service Manual for your engine IF you like. Address below, put in proper format and remind me what you want, engine model number.

Oil only a year old? Is this a serious post or a troll?

Walt Conner
wconner5 at frontier dot com

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Check the watery thin oil on the dipstick for gas with a Bic.

Then fix the carburetor and add a fuel shut off valve and use it every time as a long term shut down procedure.

 

[mower540]

Well I told you what to do then got scoffed at. Put in a darned inline gas shutoff valve and use it. I can send you a Service Manual for your engine IF you like. Address below, put in proper format and remind me what you want, engine model number.

Oil only a year old? Is this a serious post or a troll?

Walt Conner
wconner5 at frontier dot com

I appreciate the kind offer however I believe I have the manuals still in our tool box. Plus I found a few pretty good resources online.

Also, what constitutes as a troll post. I'm sorry but I didn't come here to troll people who know more about my problem than i do.