This engine is Kohler CV20S Series 65594. It has about 350 hours on it and has developed a leak in the area of the oil filter . I thought initially that it was coming from the filter itself but further inspection shows that it is coming from behind the filter and other research leads me to think it may be the sump gasket. I am including a photo of where it is showing up, for reference, you can see a little of the oil filter in the upper right of the photo, you'll see one of the bolts that hold the engine sump on and the oil leak coming down the casting. I am planning on stripping the shroud off so I can verify where the leak is coming from. I have only added oil once since I changed it about 30 hours ago but the drip is showing up on my garage floor now. I'd like to nurse this until winter if possible. I only mow about 6 hours a month with this mower, so maybe 30 more hours before tear down. I am wondering how much oil is left in the sump below this joint, and if I check the oil level diligently (hourly) and add if needed if I can get by. Also, there seems to be some discrepancy whether this joint has a gasket at all or just was sealed with RTV. I'd like to have a gasket on hand if there is one when I take it apart. I also will be replacing the shaft oil seal. Are there any other parts I should have on hand. Are there any "gotchas" I need to watch for? Thanks in advance for input and advice.
Kohler shows a pan gasket for your spec number on that engine. Part number 24 041 54-s. using a sump gasket is something that has went back and forth with the command engines. with the use of the gasket being the newer spec if I remember correctly.
It has an oil cooler for the hydro but not the engine. Although it doesn't make sense to me, this leak went away after I changed the oil filter. The location of the leak didn't seem like it could have been the filter, and I had tightened it without any success. It may have been a defective seal on the previous filter. I now have a head gasket which I hope o never use. :laughing:
I was asking about the oil cooler because I have had a leak there on 2 different mowers. The threaded barrel that the oil filter screws onto also holds the oil cooler on if the engine has one - if it loosens up it will cause the gasket behind the oil cooler to leak. I always check it for tightness each time I replace the filter during an oil change. The oil cooler gasket also becomes brittle over time and leaks.
Thanks for the tip, I may need it on a different engine in the future. The schematic I have for my engine actually shows this cooler, but mine does not have it. My leak still hasn't shown back up so I have to assume a defective seal on the filter I ended up replacing.
