Export thread

Hi folks!

I have a Toro 20374 recycler with a no name engine. At first I was getting frothy/foamy oil out of the breather tube. Now it just looks like regular oil coming out. There is a small amount of smoke too.

Oil level is correct at 20oz. Do you folks have any ideas as to what the problem may be? Carb is tight, muffler not clogged next step for me is checking the head gasket.

Yep head gasket

Also, check the oil level to see if it is overfilled before tearing the head off.

20 ounces sounds over full like Rivets said on a small push mower. I would love to see someone put 20 in and be exactly full. Most of the time you are lucky to get 15 in.

Also could be water in the oil. Is the mower kept outside in the weather? Getting warm in the day and cool/cold at night now. Condensation alert.

slomo

Let me guess...
You just took it out of winter storage and started it. That's when the problem surfaced. Is that correct ???

If so, then you left fuel in the mower and the manual fuel shutoff was left in the ON position, OR the automatic fuel shutoff has failed. You CANNOT leave fuel in the tank of any small engine over winter. Some fuel has entered the engine where it has diluted the engine oil, AND raised the oil level to the height that some was pushed out the breather.

Do Not start the engine again !! Change the oil and filter IMMEDIATELY !!!

>> If you have an automatic fuel shutoff, then you should add a manual shutoff to the fuel line and start using it RELIGIOUSLY. You can get these at ANY lawn equipment store, Home Depot, or Amazon for $6-$8.

bertsmobile1 said:

Yep head gasket

Click to expand...

Checked and it's fine.

Rivets said:

Also, check the oil level to see if it is overfilled before tearing the head off.

Click to expand...

Manual says 20oz. Dip stick shows perfect level.

Born2Mow said:

Let me guess...
You just took it out of winter storage and started it. That's when the problem surfaced. Is that correct ???

If so, then you left fuel in the mower and the manual fuel shutoff was left in the ON position, OR the automatic fuel shutoff has failed. You CANNOT leave fuel in the tank of any small engine over winter. Some fuel has entered the engine where it has diluted the engine oil, AND raised the oil level to the height that some was pushed out the breather.

Do Not start the engine again !! Change the oil and filter IMMEDIATELY !!!

>> If you have an automatic fuel shutoff, then you should add a manual shutoff to the fuel line and start using it RELIGIOUSLY. You can get these at ANY lawn equipment store, Home Depot, or Amazon for $6-$8.

Click to expand...

You couldn't be more wrong. But thanks.

slomo said:

20 ounces sounds over full like Rivets said on a small push mower. I would love to see someone put 20 in and be exactly full. Most of the time you are lucky to get 15 in.

Also could be water in the oil. Is the mower kept outside in the weather? Getting warm in the day and cool/cold at night now. Condensation alert.

slomo

Click to expand...

I got it from a guy, and it most likely sat outside for at least 3 years. I hear ya on the oil level but I double and triple checked the engine specs. 20 ounces.

The correct oil level is just below the sump gasket
Lots of mowers end up with the wrong dip stick in them
There are really only 3 reasons why oil will blow out of the dip stick tube.
Noting that when running it should spit a bit.
In order of my experience
1) sump too full
2) blown head gasket ( includes busted rings & holed pistons )
3) faulty crankcase breather

Some oil vapor coming out of the breather tube is normal in most cases. spitting oil would indicate a stuck/broken ring and 16-20 ounces of oil would be normal for a push mower depending on brand. Tecumseh came in 16 ounce bottles, Briggs was 20 ounce and later changed to 18.

ILENGINE said:

Some oil vapor coming out of the breather tube is normal in most cases. spitting oil would indicate a stuck/broken ring and 16-20 ounces of oil would be normal for a push mower depending on brand. Tecumseh came in 16 ounce bottles, Briggs was 20 ounce and later changed to 18.

Click to expand...

Thanks. This is a steady drip. I tried to post pictures, but it's not working for me.

themikesell said:

Manual says 20oz. Dip stick shows perfect level.

Click to expand...

Correct. But isn't that AFTER the engine threw out ALL the excess ?

Wasn't that the first run of the season ?

Wasn't fuel left in the mower over winter ?

Several necessary questions aren't being answered.

No it was not, that was recommended from about 2010 until 2017, the dropped to 14-18, depending on engine brand.

Shut off valves are band aids, not repairs. Once you forget to shut it off you’re back to square one. Best to fix it right the first time. Done by people who are not responsible for their repairs on other peoples equipment.

Born2Mow said:

Correct. But isn't that AFTER the engine threw out ALL the excess ?

Wasn't that the first run of the season ?

Wasn't fuel left in the mower over winter ?

Several necessary questions aren't being answered.

Click to expand...

Nope, fresh gas, and fresh oil.

I think I'm just going to drain it again, and try running it with 17 ounces of oil.

Side note, I don't leave gas in engines over the winter. Or in my snowblower over the summer. And this mower was given to me because it didn't work.

If the engine has the proper amount of oil and does not have a blown head gasket or excessive ring blowby then you probably have a problem with the crankcase breather. All small 4 stroke engines have a crankcase filled with oil mist (not vapor) and positive pressure when the engine is up to temp and running. The crankcase breather is designed to collect and precipitate out the oil and return it to the crankcase and vent the pressure out of the crankcase. Usually into the carb. On some briggs engines if the breather is installed upside down it will vent oil out the breather tube. I have no idea what the design of the breather on the engine is but it sounds like it is not working properly.

Hammermechanicman said:

If the engine has the proper amount of oil and does not have a blown head gasket or excessive ring blowby then you probably have a problem with the crankcase breather. All small 4 stroke engines have a crankcase filled with oil mist (not vapor) and positive pressure when the engine is up to temp and running. The crankcase breather is designed to collect and precipitate out the oil and return it to the crankcase and vent the pressure out of the crankcase. Usually into the carb. On some briggs engines if the breather is installed upside down it will vent oil out the breather tube. I have no idea what the design of the breather on the engine is but it sounds like it is not working properly.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your insight. Inspection of the breather is next.

themikesell said:

Hi folks!

I have a Toro 20374 recycler with a no name engine. At first I was getting frothy/foamy oil out of the breather tube. Now it just looks like regular oil coming out. There is a small amount of smoke too.

Oil level is correct at 20oz. Do you folks have any ideas as to what the problem may be? Carb is tight, muffler not clogged next step for me is checking the head gasket.

Click to expand...

drain the oil at sometime water got in the oil and makes that foam

themikesell said:

Thanks for your insight. Inspection of the breather is next.

Click to expand...

Yes, my 20 year old briggs started leaking through the breather tube. It ran fine but made a mess. I pulled the breather of and found the gasket was split. I didn't have one so i used some rtv and no leak ever since.

themikesell said:

I got it from a guy, and it most likely sat outside for at least 3 years. I hear ya on the oil level but I double and triple checked the engine specs. 20 ounces.

Click to expand...

I hear you. Again try to get a measured 20 in there. Most spec at 18. Long as the little fella' is full, you are good.

slomo

themikesell said:

Checked and it's fine.

Click to expand...

How did you check it?

Rivets said:

Shut off valves are band aids, not repairs. Once you forget to shut it off you’re back to square one. Best to fix it right the first time. Done by people who are not responsible for their repairs on other peoples equipment.

Click to expand...

I agree mostly but for me, I don't want my oil contaminated with gas. I'm a cheap POS, LOL. I recommend a shutoff on every mower. Simple insurance......

slomo

themikesell said:

Hi folks!

I have a Toro 20374 recycler with a no name engine. At first I was getting frothy/foamy oil out of the breather tube. Now it just looks like regular oil coming out. There is a small amount of smoke too.

Oil level is correct at 20oz. Do you folks have any ideas as to what the problem may be? Carb is tight, muffler not clogged next step for me is checking the head gasket.

Click to expand...

You either have a bad head gasket, or too much oil/ needle valve sticking and allowing gas to sink down into the crankcase. Also, once in a blue moon your air filter will be so dirty that instead of pulling fresh air through the filter, it will take the path of least resistance and pull through the crankcase breather.

slomo said:

I hear you. Again try to get a measured 20 in there. Most spec at 18. Long as the little fella' is full, you are good.

slomo

How did you check it?

Click to expand...

Measured out in a measuring cup.

Ranamow said:

Yes, my 20 year old briggs started leaking through the breather tube. It ran fine but made a mess. I pulled the breather of and found the gasket was split. I didn't have one so i used some rtv and no leak ever since.

Click to expand...

If the air filter gets plugged up, it can and will pull from the breather tube. Make sure the air filter is premo.

slomo