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How do I figure out where this oil leak is comming from?
I assume all of that dust is stuck to oil that has leaked from the engine?

Might clean the block cooling fins while you are at it. Remove the top engine cover and get to cleaning. This is a yearly item in your engine manual.

So Im thinking a leak at the valve cover? I guess I clean the engine up, run it once and see where the new oil is?

it does not leak when it is sitting.

By the looks of it could also be that valve cover itself may have a small hole in it due to the rust. I would do a good clean up first and then run it for a while to see if the leak shows up and then go from there.

The rocker cover is what I would suspect. But a good engine cleaning otherwise is in order too. Please if you replace the rocker cover transfer the model, type, and date code to the new cover by either stamping or engraving them. I prefer stamping vs engraving as it embosses the numbers. This make it easier the next time parts are need for the engine otherwise it is a guessing game as which parts are right.

I took the rocker cover off cleaned it up and put it back on. The bolt in the lower right position in the photo was not as tight as the other ones. Hopefully that fixed the leak.
I'm very impressed with the foam spray engine degreaser from Walmart. Only took about 10 minutes to clean the engine. I tried to be careful spraying it off, but a lot of stuff got wet.

Do I let it air dry or start it up and let it heat up and dry?

On a side note, Why doesn't this board spell check?

maybe because most browsers have build-in spell checkers. But even if the forum had auto correct correctly spelled misspelled words would this get posted as entered.

It's spellchecking now. you can right click and turn it on.

So did you also remove the engine cover (Blower housing ) & clean the whole engine.. Very good maintenance to keep engine from overheating & dying.

7394 said:

So did you also remove the engine cover (Blower housing ) & clean the whole engine.. Very good maintenance to keep engine from overheating & dying.

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What did you say?

7394 said:

So did you also remove the engine cover (Blower housing ) & clean the whole engine.. Very good maintenance to keep engine from overheating & dying.

Click to expand...

I couldn't hear you!!

7394 said:

So did you also remove the engine cover (Blower housing ) & clean the whole engine.. Very good maintenance to keep engine from overheating & dying.

Click to expand...

Ah okay, so I need to remove the engine cover and clean the block and fins? Probably a yearly item right? LOL

Might use a good rust converter like Corroseal, primer and a little paint too.

Well even Briggs is ridiculous priced the rocker it is still better to replace as costs about the same a bottle of that rust convertor. Plus don't developing a hole in that thin metal later from the continuing rusting.

But of there folks that will spend 10x as much trying to avoid buying the correct parts.

If the op want to remove the rust he could use electrolysis method. Here I use a 60W solar panel and white vinegar. Brings it down to bare metal. Then you clean off the vinegar, air dry with a blower, and then paint it with Rust-Oleum paint.

StarTech said:

If the op want to remove the rust he could use electrolysis method.

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If you want to remove rust just sand it down or wire wheel it.

Once converted spray away. Could use Corroseal on other projects too

Better to get a new cover no doubt.

7394 said:

So did you also remove the engine cover (Blower housing ) & clean the whole engine.. Very good maintenance to keep engine from overheating & dying.

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I have to say that I half assed it. I couldn't get to the nut in the back that holds the engine cover on, so I gave up. i did pry the cover up and spray degreaser behind it.

Yep, that is half assed, you gotta know if the fins & engine is clean & free from say any mouse houses etc..

Just agreeing with you is all. Clean those fins all day long.

slomo said:

Might clean the block cooling fins while you are at it. Remove the top engine cover and get to cleaning. This is a yearly item in your engine manual.

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