SCAG 48" WB Hydro with the Kawasaki FS541V 18 HP engine.
Been a great machine but its been burning a bit of oil since I bought it. Currently have 40 hours on the machine. Its not a ton but I have had to add about `1/2 QT maybe 3/4 QT since the first oil change.
I only ask because I have a FH series Kawasaki 16hp on my 36" with about 70 hours and doesn't burn a drop of oil
Thanks
Matt
#2
reynoldston
With only 40 hours I can't understand why the engine would be worn out, unless it was ran without a air cleaner in dirty conditions. I would say take the engine apart and you will find something wrong.
What is the actual time on this machine? Did you buy it new? If the engine is still under warranty, then I would bring the machine to a quality Kawasaki servicing dealer for diagnostic checks.
Engine oil has basically two places to come from to get into the combustion chamber to get burned. 1st, By the piston rings, 2nd, in the cylinder head, by the valve guides or another cylinder head issue as engine oil is supplied to the heads of an overhead valve engine thru the pushrod chambers and returns back thru the pushrod chambers.
Mad Mackie in CT
Maybe the oil consumption problem was the reason he sold it.
Depending on what the sale date is on the original bill of sale if it is still available, there may still be warranty on the engine as some have a 24 month or longer warranty period.
It could be something simple like the wrong dipstick causing you to overfill the crankcase, or the crankcase breather not functioning correctly.
The spark plug coloration and/or buildup can give an indication of excessive oil consumption. It could also have fuel contamination from a leak in the fuel pump or a slightly flooding carb which will thin the engine oil and cause excessive oil consumption. It could also be oil pooling in a valve cover of a cylinder where the oil is not returning back to the crankcase and going by the valve guides. Is the choke plate fully open when the lever is pulled fully back? Look at the inside of the tailpipe on the muffler, what color is it? Many possibilities, but these are the fairly easy ones that you may be able to do yourself.
The major ones are compression testing, dry first then wet. A leakdown test with the correct tester. An oil pressure check with the tool that fits onto the oil filter adapter. A valve adjustment is another area, however affecting performance more than oil consumption. Are you using the correct Kawasaki oil filter?
Some thoughts from Mad Mackie in CT
#7
reynoldston
Could it be that the person you bought it from knew it burned oil and that is the reason he sold it with only 10 hrs. on it.
smoking? Could be overbored, but not expected from Kawasaki. In ultra high perf engines max safe piston to bore is often set on the outside tolerance to assure lubrication at hight rpms, e.g. Porsche, Mercedes, but rings seat within 10K typically. That is hardly the case here. MadMac views correct. How about initial set up missing oil??
No the guy before me would have never known about the oil burning issue cause it really only shows up after 30 or so hours. Its a very small amount. I'm only noticing it cause I am very anal about my machines.
Smoke. Only really smokes a small small amount on start up when its warm and is very unnoticeable.
One thing I did notice was when I did do my first oil change, I put the required 1.9 qts in and it was reading low. About half way low. I am using very high grade oil.
If this machine sat for a while it may need some run time to stabilize the engine. Get some Sea Foam fuel additive and give the tank a dose at the recommended ration on the can.
Note that on Kawi and other foreign engines, that to check the oil level, the dipstick is only setting on the tube and not tight but must be tightened after checking the level. When one pours engine oil down thru the dipstick tube, some time must be allowed to permit the oil to clear the tube to give one a correct oil level indication on the dip stick.
Condition of the air filter?
Mad Mackie in CT
If it sat all that time with fuel in it, then it needs a dose of Sea Foam fuel additive. This engine had a 24 month warranty and it just passed by on the 13th!!!!
I recommend 30 Kawi engine oil, give it a dose of Sea Foam in the fuel tank, if it is surging at high RPM then it probably has a fuel problem in the carb from sitting. Run it and get back to us!!
My equipment is stored in my cargo trailer and if I go thru a slow period of lawn mowing of as short as three weeks, the fuel in the carbs can start to turn sour and need a dose of Sea Foam. I also use Star Brite fuel additive and a carbon softening additive when mixing fuel for my 2 stroke equipment.
Mad Mackie in CT
Been using Sea Foam fuel/oil additive for 5 years, just don't mix it stronger than the initial dose recommendations on the can. As I previously mentioned, I also use StarBrite fuel additive which is for a different purpose and sometimes I forget to use it when I'm busy and running my machines on long days, then I have to use Sea Foam to clean up the fuel system again if the machines sit for a while. StarBrite is an enzyme additive that reduces the negative effects of ethanol in the gasoline and prolongs storage life.
When you encounter a surging engine either at idle or full throttle, slowly pull in some choke to see if the added fuel clears up the surging. If it does, then use Sea Foam and usually the problem will clear up.
Mad Mackie in CT
I need to make a correction!! StarTron is the enzyme fuel additive that reduces phase separation in the ethanol gasoline and prolongs storage life of the fuel. It is made by Star Brite.
Both StarTron and Sea Foam are sold at auto parts stores. Sea Foam is also sold at Walmart stores.
