help with lawnmower !

[rh71]

I think I overfilled the mower oil ... a lot of white smoke came out when I started it. I removed a lot out (using gravity) and the thing started without smoke but soon started lightly smoking again. I shut it off after 20 more seconds of this.

Is this what happens when you overfill the oil or has something else gone awry.

Gasoline levels are fine.

 

[Toasthead]

just keep running it. it will burn the oil off.
Its just not very envro friendly

 

[T3C]

ya, just keep it going, that shouldnt be a problem, j

 

[Nohr]

Try to soak up the excess oil the best you can, that's causing the smoke.

 

[Pepsi90919]

small engines are fun to screw around with.

 

[Ime]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
just keep running it. it will burn the oil off.
Its just not very envro friendly

 

[rh71]

You guys better not be kidding here... I've already fvcked up a mower not knowing that I needed to empty out the entire bottle of oil that came with it... the thing stopped spinning after 20 minutes. They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters. We had put only a little bit... enough to fill up to the line on the dipstick, but that obviously isn't correct on a mower's first run.

You guys are serious though, right ?

 

[Eli]

Err.. lol

Check the oil on level ground. Make sure it's up to the full mark if there's a dipstick, or to the top threads of the filler hole if not. Unless it has a dipstick, it's impossible to overfill unless the mower is tilted forward.

If the oil level is fine, you probably just got some oil into the crankcase breather lines and it sucked it into the carb. It's no biggy, just keep it running..

If the white cloud doesen't stop, then hey.. your mower can double as a mosquito fogger.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rh71
You guys better not be kidding here... I've already fvcked up a mower not knowing that I needed to empty out the entire bottle of oil that came with it... the thing stopped spinning after 20 minutes. They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters. We had put only a little bit... enough to fill up to the line on the dipstick, but that obviously isn't correct on a mower's first run.

You guys are serious though, right ?

If it was filled to the full mark, then that's how much it's supposed to have in it. You should never over(or under..) fill the mower.

You are supposed to change the oil after the first couple of mows when the engine is new though, to get all the breakin particles out. Changing the oil is the single most important thing with mowers, because they have no oil filters.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: rh71
You guys better not be kidding here... I've already fvcked up a mower not knowing that I needed to empty out the entire bottle of oil that came with it... the thing stopped spinning after 20 minutes. They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters. We had put only a little bit... enough to fill up to the line on the dipstick, but that obviously isn't correct on a mower's first run.

You guys are serious though, right ?

did u buy a new mower?

did you read the paperwork that came with it?

most;not all,but most lawn mower engines take 20-22 oz of oil.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lmfaq.htm here are some hints..

 

[Renob]

They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters

My brand new Craftsman 61/2 hp said in big letters us entire bottel.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Renob
They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters

My brand new Craftsman 61/2 hp said in big letters us entire bottel.

That's what I ended up buying after I fvcked my first one up (bought at Home Depot). The first one didn't have it anywhere written except on the back of the bottle itself. Who reads that ?! There was a dipstick and I used that for measurement. Anyway, I find the Craftsman 6.5hp much nicer and it did have a piece of paper that said it in big letters.

Anyway, with this Craftsman, I had used the whole bottle. Then for some reason after its 5th-6th time of use (over 1-2 months), it didn't want to start anymore - the string wasn't even pulling. Recalling that's the symptom I had with the first broken mower with no oil, I thought I needed to add more - and so I did... started fine after that. This is how it ended up with more than enough this time when it started smoking this time.

In case you're wondering, the grass is now done... didn't even smoke anymore after I asked for help here and went back out.

BTW, how do you go about draining the oil completely? Can I re-use the oil I just took out (it's a nice container-full) ?

I can't find the damn manual for some reason... I keep everything, but this one I can't find.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Renob
They should say "use entire bottle" in bold red letters

My brand new Craftsman 61/2 hp said in big letters us entire bottel.

That's what I ended up buying after I fvcked my first one up (bought at Home Depot). The first one didn't have it anywhere written except on the back of the bottle itself. Who reads that ?! There was a dipstick and I used that for measurement. Anyway, I find the Craftsman 6.5hp much nicer and it did have a piece of paper that said it in big letters.

Anyway, with this Craftsman, I had used the whole bottle. Then for some reason after its 5th-6th time of use (over 1-2 months), it didn't want to start anymore - the string wasn't even pulling. Recalling that's the symptom I had with the first broken mower with no oil, I thought I needed to add more - and so I did... started fine after that. This is how it ended up with more than enough this time when it started smoking this time.

In case you're wondering, the grass is now done... didn't even smoke anymore after I asked for help here and went back out.

BTW, how do you go about draining the oil completely? Can I re-use the oil I just took out (it's a nice container-full) ?

I can't find the damn manual for some reason... I keep everything, but this one I can't find.

Ummmm..... :Q I am hereby revoking your Engine license.

There is a drain plug on the bottom of the mower. You have to set the mower up on buckets or something, unscrew the drain plug, and let it drain. Screw the drain plug back in, and refill. Under no circumstances should you reuse the oil. What's the point? You're draining it out because it's old and used.

Fill it with fresh, clean, 30 weight(10W-30 is OK too) engine oil, and change it every 25 hours of operation.

 

[rh71]

I meant re-use the stuff I had to take out today in order to get the smoking to stop. The overfilled portion. It's not really "used"... it was sitting in there for a week unused, and then "used" for less than a minute...

Give me a break... at least I'm doing it myself, aren't I ?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rh71
I meant re-use the stuff I had to take out today in order to get the smoking to stop. The overfilled portion. It's not really "used"... it was sitting in there for a week unused, and then "used" for less than a minute...

Give me a break... at least I'm doing it myself, aren't I ?

Oh, I see. My bad, misunderstood.

No.. don't reuse it. From what I can tell, you added fresh oil to the dirty oil, found that you overfilled it, and drained the excess oil. It may as well be used since it came into contact with already used oil.

If you have never changed the oil after 5-6 times of use, you must change it immediately. There is no reason the lawnmower can't last 10 years, but it will be worn out after 3 if you do not change the oil.

You're supposed to change the oil after the first 2 hours of use, and then every 25 after that.

 

[mindwreck]

the same thing happened to me. i emptied out the oil ran it for a while. made a lot of smoke. eventually it stopped. i tried restarted it like 15 times till my arms just got tired. i replaced the spark plug cause the metal thing was all black. even AFTER the replacement the thing refuses to start.

HELP ME!!!! i don't wanna dish out some more money for a new one

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
the same thing happened to me. i emptied out the oil ran it for a while. made a lot of smoke. eventually it stopped. i tried restarted it like 15 times till my arms just got tired. i replaced the spark plug cause the metal thing was all black. even AFTER the replacement the thing refuses to start.

HELP ME!!!! i don't wanna dish out some more money for a new one

First, check the obvious. Is there fuel in the tank? Is the throttle lever set to somewhere above Stop? Are there any handles or levers you have to hold while pulling the rope?

If all that checks out OK, take the sparkplug out and ground it against the engine, and pull the cord. Do you see spark?

 

[element]

fyi usually oil burning causes a bluish smoke and a very lean mixture of air fuel causes white smoke, whereas an overly rich mixture of fuel causes black smoke.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: element®
fyi usually oil burning causes a bluish smoke and a very lean mixture of air fuel causes white smoke, whereas an overly rich mixture of fuel causes black smoke.

Not with lawnmowers.

Lean won't cause any smoke, rich will cause black smoke.. oil burning won't be as blueish as it is with cars, for some reason.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
the same thing happened to me. i emptied out the oil ran it for a while. made a lot of smoke. eventually it stopped. i tried restarted it like 15 times till my arms just got tired. i replaced the spark plug cause the metal thing was all black. even AFTER the replacement the thing refuses to start.

HELP ME!!!! i don't wanna dish out some more money for a new one

How old is it ? I'd look into the warranty ... these things aren't worth playing around with since they are on the cheaper end... unless you like that sorta thing.

BTW, thanks Eli, will change the oil.