Hello, hoping someone here might be able to help me figure out what is going on w/ my mower. First, a little info about it:
- Toro Recycler 6.5 hp GTS (model 20016)
- Tecumseh model LV195EA engine
- About nine years old
- In good shape, garage-stored, but oil never changed before this issue (I know, I'm an idiot)
About a week ago the wife is using it. I get home and she says something is wrong with it.....engine started surging, sputtering while she was using it, similar to how it acts when running out of gas, but much louder (though plenty of gas still in it), and also claims dipstick cap popped up a little bit out of the fill tube. Strange. I go take a look at it, cord won't pull. I take spark plug cap off, manually rotate the blade and eventually get the cord to pull like normal but engine won't turn over. Test for spark, have spark. Order new carburetor off amazon, go to home depot and buy Toro tune-up kit and new blade. Carb arrives, I drain what little oil is left in engine, install new blade, air filter, fill w/ 18oz SAE 30 oil, and replace carb. Put in some fresh gas and after maybe 30 pulls, she fires up. Success!! I go about mowing the overgrown yard, reveling in my awesome fix-it abilities. About 15 min in, I notice a darkish liquid pooling on the mower deck, on either side of the black plastic belt cover. Not sure what's going on, but I need to get this jungle mowed, so I continue. The liquid eventually seeps through the small opening by the belt cover to the underside of the mower, and what little that remains on the deck dries to an oily sludge. Mower runs out of gas 3/4 of the way done (this is very strange as I NEVER come close to using a full tank for our yard), I let sit and cool, refuel and finish. Head back to the garage, open the oil fill tube and a small bit of smoke is coming out of it. The dip stick is covered with a grayish, watery oil....doesn't really smell like gas, but definitely not pure oil. The liquid on the deck was of same consistency, kind of dark, watery oil. I clean everything off and let it sit overnight. Checked dip stick today and it's bone dry. Trying to determine what might be causing this leak and if it's worth fixing at this point, as this is a massive leak. No evidence of leak at bottom of fill tube. No oil on air filter, as it still looks brand new. Judging by the oil stains still on the deck, oil appeared to be coming out of the bottom of the block, dripping directly onto the belt cover and then pooling on either side of it. Ideas on what may be the culprit here and what to look to replace? Thanks.
