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Kohler 15.5hp Gas in oil.

#1

O

onan38

Hi,Everyone first time poster. I have a Craftsman with a Kohler 15.5 Model # cv15s. Last year at the end of the mowing season i noticed when i choked the mower i was getting gas out of the muffler and a little smoke which cleared up quickly after starting. This year before the mowing season changing the oil it had alot of gas mixed with the oil. It has a Walbro carb So i took the bowl off and cleaned and took float and needle valve out and also cleaned. (noticed the needle had a red rubbery tip.) So i went to local repair shop to get a carb repair kit Craftsman 12-757-03s .The guy at the repair shop told me that leaving gas in the carb year round with todays ethanol gas probably damaged the carb and it would need a new one plus it would need the head gasket changed due to the gas getting in with the oil or it would blow in the future. Question is does it need a new carb and head gasket? Any help would be appreciated.


#2

sean'sengines

sean'sengines

A head gasket is not a big job, and I doubt that you'll need a new one anyway. The carburetor will not need to be totally replaced, I keep gas in my carbs year round, but I do put some of that blue stabilizer in my gas. You should just clean out the jets, down where the needle closes off the valve, and the bowl, and you'll be back in business. Just put in new oil and gas (add stabilizer) and you're good to go. :)


#3

J

jross

If there is room, installing a $5.00 shut off valve in the fuel line will insure it doesn't happen again. Of course one has to remember to close it when done using the machine.


#4

W

wildbill

First off, whomever told you that a new carb and head gasket was needed was likely a parts changer and not a mechanic with your financial welfare in mind.

A month ago I was repairing a 42" Murray that had been sitting for 2 years. The first thing I did was to remove the plug to see if it had a spark. SURPRISE!!! Gas gushed out of the spark plug hole! There was even more when I removed the oil drain plug! The reason, the needle on the carb float was stuck open. So, when the owner poured in a tank of gas, it just kept going and flooded into the engine.

A new carb is 99% of the time NOT needed. And, the head gasket will not be a problem either.

Your carb just needs a real good cleaning, all the pieces. The only moving part is the float and the float needle. Use some carb cleaner, about $4 at NAPA.


#5

F

fredhargis

I had that same problem quite some years ago with a Briggs. All I did was fix the carb (float was sticking open) and ran the dang thing another 4 years with no problems. I did put a fuel shutoff in the line for winter storage, as someone mentioned.


#6

G

greggn

Also running with non-ethanol premium gas helps a lot.


#7

L

Lawnranger

greggn said:
Also running with non-ethanol premium gas helps a lot.
Click to expand...

This is very true but unfortunately non-ethanol fuel is not available in most cities. Where do you find non-ethanol fuel?


#8

W

wildbill

The ethanol in gas will go bad in a couple months making for some crappy deposits in the carburetor. However, if you add an appropriate amount of (my favorite) Sta-Bil in your gas supply can, everything will be fine. Then, when the mower sits for a period of time, not longer than 3-4 months, the gas left in the mower will perform fine.

At the end of the mowing season, I put Sta-Bil in my mower and run it for a while. In April, it fires right up. I do the same thing with my cruiser and my outboard with success. I pour the extra gas left over in my gas can into my vehicle.


#9

O

onan38

I did have to take the mower for repairs last season,The carb was shot and had gas in with the oil.So my mower guy put a new carb on and had to replace the head gasket,he told me since gas got in with the oil that it would soon blow the head gasket i also had him put a cutoff valve in the gas line.That was the 12th season for the mower.So far this 13 season its running great and no problems but when checking the oil before i start it now i always smell it for gas smell before i start it.Guess i'm paranoid now. LOL!


#10

W

wildbill

Just wondering, how much was the carb and what did your guy charge for the labor?


#11

G

greggn

Lawnranger said:
This is very true but unfortunately non-ethanol fuel is not available in most cities. Where do you find non-ethanol fuel?
Click to expand...

Here in Canada most premium/hi test/super blends are non methanol.:thumbsup:


#12

G

greggn

check out youtube CRC phaseguard4


#13

L

Lawnranger

greggn said:
Here in Canada most premium/hi test/super blends are non methanol.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That explains it. Wish we had some non-ethanol fuel here.


#14

P

possum

Pure Gas shows 91 gas stations with ethanol free in Texas.


#15

L

Lawnranger

possum said:
Pure Gas shows 91 gas stations with ethanol free in Texas.
Click to expand...

Never heard of Pure Gas. Is that the name of the gas station, a website or something else?


#16

I

IdahoPuma

EASY PATCH ( do not let people complicate it )
When off , some gasoline is seeping through carb into cylinder pass the rings into the case . Get enough gas in the oil , it gets sucked up in the crankcase vent going back to the carb thus bogging the motor .
1. Install a cheap plastic shut-off valve in the fuel line before the carb
2. Change the oil
3. Shut off fuel everytime mower is not being operated
It is a common issue with gravity fed fuel systems to the point many newer models have fuel shut-off valves standard
( PS , it also means remember to turn on before running as I brain fartedly forgot )




onan38 said:
Hi,Everyone first time poster. I have a Craftsman with a Kohler 15.5 Model # cv15s. Last year at the end of the mowing season i noticed when i choked the mower i was getting gas out of the muffler and a little smoke which cleared up quickly after starting. This year before the mowing season changing the oil it had alot of gas mixed with the oil. It has a Walbro carb So i took the bowl off and cleaned and took float and needle valve out and also cleaned. (noticed the needle had a red rubbery tip.) So i went to local repair shop to get a carb repair kit Craftsman 12-757-03s .The guy at the repair shop told me that leaving gas in the carb year round with todays ethanol gas probably damaged the carb and it would need a new one plus it would need the head gasket changed due to the gas getting in with the oil or it would blow in the future. Question is does it need a new carb and head gasket? Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...


#17

exotion

exotion

IdahoPuma said:
EASY PATCH ( do not let people complicate it )
When off , some gasoline is seeping through carb into cylinder pass the rings into the case . Get enough gas in the oil , it gets sucked up in the crankcase vent going back to the carb thus bogging the motor .
1. Install a cheap plastic shut-off valve in the fuel line before the carb
2. Change the oil
3. Shut off fuel everytime mower is not being operated
It is a common issue with gravity fed fuel systems to the point many newer models have fuel shut-off valves standard
( PS , it also means remember to turn on before running as I brain fartedly forgot )
Click to expand...

While it works its only a band aid fix... Carb should stop fuel give her a good cleaning and make sure its operating correctly then an in line shut off is not a bad idea


#18

I

IdahoPuma

exotion said:
While it works its only a band aid fix... Carb should stop fuel give her a good cleaning and make sure its operating correctly then an in line shut off is not a bad idea
Click to expand...

True , but I never referred to it as a fix either . Meant only as a patch without having to get into anything major which I felt was better to work on going into winter then coming into spring .

I actually had the exact same issue on my 15.5 Craftsman 4 years ago . It was meant as merely a patch going into spring . Of course , I still have not gotten around to repairing it and all the newer items I have purchased with gas motors have their own inline fuel shut-offs


#19

Carscw

Carscw

I put a inline valve on everything.

When a mower is on a trailer bouncing around the float goes up and down letting gas in to the engine.


#20

exotion

exotion

Carscw said:
I put a inline valve on everything.

When a mower is on a trailer bouncing around the float goes up and down letting gas in to the engine.
Click to expand...

No kidding :) my trailer bounces on the smallest bump its ridiculous...


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