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while cutting engine started smoking badly. shut off the engine and later found most of the oil had apparently burned out through the exhaust. I can turn the engine less than one turn by hand. felt like maybe something inside the engine is broke. the oil level was filled to normal. the smoke was greyish white. the mower is twelve yrs. old with many hrs. it has been well maintaned. is it possible a ring broke and will not let the engine turn freely? my wife was operating the mower at the time so this is her story. im just trying to figure out if its worth takeing it apart or not. what is the estmated life for a 17 hp. inteck ohv engine. any help would be appreciated. thanks

Your engine prob threw a rod. The grey oil is aluminum mixed with the oil from the cylidet bore. The motor is no good. U can replace for about 5 hundred depending on alternator

thanks for your reply. what oil that was still in the engine was normal color and smell. are you talking about alumnium in the smoke.

You say when turning the engine by hand it stops.
Does it stop with a clunk like metal object clunk or does it feel bouncy and with a bit of effort it might turn?

I misread ur post. Grey white smoke could be fuel in the crankcase combined with oil.

pugaltitude said:

You say when turning the engine by hand it stops.
Does it stop with a clunk like metal object clunk or does it feel bouncy and with a bit of effort it might turn?

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stops with a hard clunk and will not turn any further. it will turn back a half turn and stop again with a clunk. thanks for your reply

cap88 said:

stops with a hard clunk and will not turn any further. it will turn back a half turn and stop again with a clunk. thanks for your reply

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Sounds internal damage has been done like craigo1208 posted.
The only way to find out is stripping down the engine or just buying a new one.

thanks pug. when I get some time I will tear it down and see.

find a donor first

I have the exact same mower. In fact, I have that mower and the john Deere it's copied from. Both have been replaced by a new husqvarna. They gave some good years. Now they're just for parts. But if you want to bring back that old mower from the dead. Yep it's almost a given that it's dead. The motor anyhow. I would start with a compression test. Probly tell you all you need to know. If you still want to go ahead with it, as a project, for example. You are gonna want to first find a donor, or at least a good engine. That one is likely ruined. Now unless I miss my guess. You're probly just looking to get a couple more years outta that mower. I did the same thing when my Scott's bent a valve. The Deere needed less work. So I fixed it instead. Got me through until I could afford a new one. Now that one is my backup. I have bout seven acres cleared that has to be mowed. So,a backup is handy. Anyhow, good luck. And happy mowin!