Hello
I am looking at a neighbors John Deere L130 It has a Koehler CV23S 75569 engine a V Twin style and according to the tag on the blower housing in was made April 13 2004. What I found was the engine would not start l sprayed some starter fluid into the carb got it to run. I found it was very very low on oil and I added close to a quart and a half of oil. It seemed to run okay for a while then it began to spew smoke and oil was leaking from the muffler onto the muffler shield. The neighbor told me it had been leaking oil onto the floor of the shed he keeps it in for some time.
I am suspecting that there is a blown head gasket, I have replaced head gaskets on 17-19 hp Briggs engines before never a V Twin or any Kohler.
I guess what I really need is advice on the steps I should take to verify its a blown head gasket or identify what might be the issue. I have not pulled either head and that might be where I need to start? If the head gasket is bad on one side is it smart to replace both? Any advice appreciated
Spit
Hello C.,
Kohler manuals online are pretty easy to find. Don't wild guess this job without printed repair data.
This sounds like an engine that has been run until it just would not run anymore. That is not a good thing. The dry connecting rods likely shut it down, then it cooled down enough so it would crank again.
A quart and a half low of oil basically means run empty of oil.
This is a 50/50 call if it can be saved for any length of time due to the current condition. My honest advice is look for a good used replacement engine or a new one.
I know you are trying to help a neighbor, but they need to pay for parts up front. 2 head gaskets, valve cover gaskets if needed along with oil and filter is a basic estimate.
Yes, the heads need to be leveled on a tempered glass surface with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper to get them releveled properly.
Keep in mind that the piston rings may be worn out from all the low oil and neglected oil changes.
There are some that just cannot be saved when these conditions exist. I've had them blow a connecting rod through the block not long after trying to save them.
A well-maintained machine sudden shutdown is clearly different than one that has been nursed and neglected for years, and it repeatedly quit multiple times before it just would not run anymore.