Smoke coming from mower. Lawn Mower Smoking White- Fix Easily

Lawn Mower Smoking White- Fix Easily

Freshly cut grass always evokes great memories as it welcomes in the new season. There is very little as alarming as white smoke suddenly ballooning out of the lawnmower; this is particularly true if you are in the middle of a cut.

The reason your lawnmower is smoking white may include

• The mower being tipped at too great an angle.
• The engine being overfilled with oil, a carburettor fault.
• Faulty crankcase breather.
• A head gasket failure.
• An engine that is worn out and needs to be rebuilt.

When your lawnmower engine shows an unusual symptom or develops a specific fault, a great rule to follow is that you only repair one of the suspected issues at a time. If that isn’t effective, move on to the next one, and so on until the problem is fixed.

Lawn Mower Smokes White – Fix Easily in Seconds

All sorts of irrational thoughts start running through your mind the minute you notice white smoke billowing from the lawnmower; is the motor blown?

Where can I get a good deal on a new lawnmower? Will it seize if I carry on? How am I going to cut the lawn?

The first piece of advice is to calm down and think through the problem rationally. In most instances, white smoke is caused by unburnt oil flowing onto a scorching surface like the exhaust.

Your investigation should first consider this possibility. Let’s look at the different causes and the fixes.

The Lawn Mower Is Tipped At Too The Great An Angle

If the operator tips the lawnmower at too great an angle, vast clouds of smoke will billow out.

Perhaps the operator is mowing at a very steep slope, is angled when servicing, or just checking the lawnmower; oil enters the cylinder and gets ejected through the exhaust port and onto the muffler.

The unburnt oil is burnt and immediately produces clouds of smoke.

The fix is straightforward, roll the lawnmower onto a level surface, start it, and let the engine run for 2-3 minutes to burn off any oil that may have found its way to the engine.

than likely, this will be the solution, and you can carry on using the lawnmower with no further issue.

To prevent this from reoccurring, if you must tilt the mower, either to check underneath it or to mow a steep bank, always make sure the side with the air filter is highest.

The Engine Being Overfilled With Oil

Before starting your lawnmower, checking the oil level with the dipstick is a good habit if the level is above the “MAX,” mark empty the excess oil before starting the engine.

Suppose you mistakenly fill the oil tank up past the manufacturer’s recommended point. In that case, it is potentially more severe than it first sounds, and the symptoms/ damage of an overfilled tank could be.

• White smoke pours out of the muffler
• The lawnmower engine can overheat
• The lawnmower can be hard to start
• If too much oil pours into the crankcase, the oil tank will overflow, affecting how the crankcase functions.

​In this condition, too, much oil reaches the crankcase of the lawnmower, and it causes the oil sump to overflow.

The fix is obvious, drain out the excess oil; this sounds easier than it is, and not having the right equipment can be a real hassle.

I recommend acquiring a purpose-made lawnmower oil extraction pump, such as this example.

A Faulty Carburettor Could Cause Your Lawnmower To Smoke

If the gasket which seals the connection between the carburetor and the engine is faulty, fuel could leak into the oil.

If this has happened, the dipstick may show an increase in the oil level, and the oil may smell a little like gas.

You mustn’t start the engine in this condition as the gas will have diluted the oil, making it less effective.

If the lawnmower engine emits smoke like a dragon and then lies down and plays dead, oil has probably entered the jet, which modulates the gas feed and is blocked.

If you are comfortable with your ability, replacing the gasket and jets is not difficult. Alternatively, consider replacing it with a new unit if the carburetor looks a bit worse for the wear.

The Lawnmower Emits Smoke Due To A Head Gasket Failure

A blown head gasket is not a common occurrence in lawnmowers; however, the repair is more complex and expensive if it does happen.

The head gasket in a lawnmower is essentially an oversized washer that separates the cylinder head from the engine block. While it prevents oil from leaking out, its primary function is the seal that enables sufficient pressure to be built up in the piston chamber.

If the gasket is badly damaged, insufficient pressure (compression) in the piston chamber will enable the internal combustion process.

If the gasket is damaged or the cylinder head is not tightened correctly, the oil will leak into the piston chamber, which burns, and white smoke is generated through the exhaust.

Replacing a lawnmower head gasket is not tricky; however, if you don’t have the experience or tools (such as a Torque Wrench), let a qualified technician do this for you.

The Lawnmower May Have A Faulty Crankcase Breather

A lawnmower crankcase breather releases pressure in the crankcase, allowing excess air forced down by the pistons’ movement to escape.

A blocked crankcase breather forces excess oil into the cylinder, where it burns off and sends smoke through the exhaust.

The color of the smoke is an excellent gauge of the degree of the problem. If the smoke is white, the problem is new, and as the smoke slowly changes color to black, the situation worsens.

A dirty, clogged, or damaged crankcase breather could cause the engine to seize, so it is a worthwhile check to make.

The typical mounting point for a lawnmower crankcase breather is on the crankcase itself.

Cleaning or replacing the Faulty Crankcase Breather is not difficult; however, it does require some dismantling of the engine. If you are not confident in your skillset, a qualified technician may handle it better.

A Worn-Out Engine May Cause White Smoke

The smoke clouds may result from the engine being worn out and the manufactured tolerances being exceeded.

Engines in this condition can be rebuilt, with the cylinder rebored, new piston rings, and possibly new pistons and gaskets installed.

If the lawnmower powered by the engine is very old, it may be time to call it a day and purchase a new machine. The costs of a rebuild probably exceed the lawnmower’s value, and additionally, with a new machine, you get the confidence of warranties, etc.

Conclusion

As alarming as clouds of white smoke are, the actual causes may be straight forward to resolve at no cost.

There are more severe issues that can cause smoke, and these can be costly to fix; the possibility of this being the case is minimal.

Wondering how to adjust lawn mower engine valve, check out this post.

How do I fix my lawn mower from blowing white smoke? Mower Repair Guide

Author

Jason is an expert writer and is passionate about Smart Homes and Home Improvements writing as well as lifestyle and Lawn Care. He spent the past twelve years living in Hawaii, where he worked closely alongside event planners and resort owners to perfect his knowledge of luxury products and aesthetics. He discovered his passion for DIY projects and home improvement there. Currently, he lives in Washington D.C with his family and 2 pets. View all posts

White Smoke From Lawn Mower: Possible Reasons Effective Solutions

It happens a lot when you see the lawn mower white smoke then dies. It’s disappointing and people get frustrated if it happens during the mowing season.

Fret not! It may simply indicate oil spillage on the engine which has a simple fix.

However, you are in the right place to learn why you are seeing the white smoke from the lawn mower and how to solve the problem yourself. so, you will learn how to stop a lawn mower from smoking in the future.

Why Is Your Lawn Mower Blowing White Smoke?

Not just your mower, any motor engine can emit white or blue smoke for numerous reasons. Luckily, you don’t need the help of an expert to figure out such problems and fix them.

I will tell you exactly when you need to take it to the repair shop later in this article.

But before fixing it, you need to know why it happens in the first place. Once you know all the possible reasons, it will be easier for you to take preventive measures.

White or blue smoke from your mower engine simply indicates burning oil. And here possible reasons why are your lawn mower white smoke and sputtering:

• You are using the wrong oil grade/poor oil grade.
• The crankcase is overfilled with oil.
• Faulty breather of the crankcase.
• There is an air leak in the crankcase.
• Expired cylinder or any rings in there.
• An obstacle in the breather tube.
• Lawn mower blown head gasket
• Engine is operating at more than a 15-degree angle.
• For storage or oil change, if you tilt the mower engine on its side. Mowing steep heels may result in the same problem too.
• Damaged piston rings or cylinder.
• Pouring engine oil in excess of its capacity shown on the dipstick.

Let’s explain each of the problems more elaborately. I will explain what to do to solve or prevent these problems as well.

How To Stop A Lawn Mower From Smoking?

A smoking lawn mower does not mean the end of its lifecycle. There are plenty of fixes when the lawn mower blowing white smoke and won’t start smoothly.

As you have seen, there could be plenty of reasons for white smoke and sputtering, there are plenty of solutions as well. You need to fix that particular reasons.

So, here I have listed some fixes on each of these problems:

You can’t fix the problem yourself. That’s why I started with this one first. This is the most serious reason why the engine is emitting white smoke which may cost you money to fix.

The head gasket seals the area where the combustion happens. You can find it in between the cylinder block and head.

You will notice a lot of smoke of any color like white, blue, or black if the head gasket breaks. Other than the smoke, you may other symptoms like a strange noise, oil leaks, and extra pressure in the crankcase.

A damaged head gasket means there is no proper sealing. Even a tiny leak in the head gasket will result in oil leak into the cylinder from the combustion chamber.

As plenty of oil will rush into the cylinder, the engine won’t most probably start. Or, it may stop running suddenly.

No matter how long you keep the engine running, the smoke won’t go away until you seal the leak. It’s very hard to fix because it’s not repairable and you must replace the gasket.

Luckily, a new head gasket is very inexpensive and you should replace the old one instead of trying to fix repair yourself.

As part of the regular maintenance of your mower, changing the mower engine oil is crucial. But for that purpose or for any other reason, if you overfill the engine with oil, you may end up having a smoking problem.

Of course, your mower needs the engine oil to function smoothly and to keep functioning for a long time. But you must ensure not to overfill it. You should not be putting in less oil than needed to.

When it comes to engine oil, keeping the optimal balance is important. Whereas less oil will result in friction from the lack of lubrication, excess oil will enter the cylinder causes problems like emitting smoke.

Putting less oil is more damaging than overfilling it. But maintaining the optimal level is crucial.

Overfilling the engine with oil will not only result in white smoke, you may even notice the oil is coming out of the engine muffler. But don’t get too scared of it.

The easy fix to this problem is not to overfill it in the first place. Normally your lawnmower should not need more than 20 ounces’ engine oil. But fill it up with the exact amount.

Every now and then, read the user manual of your mower to remember the recommended amount of engine oil needed.

After filling the engine with oil, use a dipstick to make sure the oil level is within the optimal level as indicated in the dipstick. Remove the excess oil if it indicates any overfill.

Removing excess oil is not easy. You have to drain all the oil first, then pour the recommended amount again. That’s why it’s better to get it right the first time.

Read the manual to see whether your lawnmower has an engine with splash lubrication method or not.

If it has the splash method, the engine will splash a little amount of oil automatically on different parts of the engine to keep them lubricated. The rest of the oil will sit at the bottom of the engine.

Mowing the steep lawn or tipping your mower may result in oil entering the cylinder and start burning. When the oil in the cylinder starts burning, you will see the white smoke emitting.

When you replace the blades or want to have a look under the deck, you may unwittingly tip the mower to its sides. So, mowing on the steep heel and tipping over are two common reasons why the cylinder may fill up with oil.

The simple solution to this problem is to keep the engine running idly until all the oil burns up that has gotten into the cylinder.

To prevent the same problem from happening again, I must refer to the user manual of your mower. There you will find exactly how to tip over the mower or whether you can mow on the steep heel.

Unless it is not suitable to mow steep heels, you should not mow on the surface with more than a 15-degrees slope.

If you have to tip over the mower for maintenance work, you should do so by keeping the carburetor and air filter facing upwards.

Of course, this does not apply if you own a tractor mower. Then you have to figure out other kinds of reasons.

Another common reason for having a smoking lawn mower is the failed or damaged piston rings. If you don’t maintain your mower properly and regularly or you have a really old mower, this problem is pretty much inevitable!

There are plenty of reasons why the piston rings get damaged. But the most common reason is the worn-out or dirty air filter.

The worn-out air filter can’t prevent the dust and other tiny particles from entering the combustion chamber which ultimately damages the piston rings.

Having the damaged piston ring is bad news. This is why…

Because the piston rings of your mower control the engine oil. And it supplies the required amount of oil (which is very little) to the piston to keep the moving smooth inside the cylinder.

How to Fix a Smoking Lawn Mower

It also removes any excess oil from the combustion chamber. So, when you got the damaged piston rings, it can’t stop the oil to enter the combustion chamber. Ultimately, it can’t prevent the burning up of the oil and the white smoke.

The reason I said having the bad piston rings is bad news because you can’t repair it yourself unless you are a professional and you have the special kind of tools required for it.

The damaged piston rings mean you have a damaged cylinder issue as well. Repairing the piston rings also means a complete engine rebuild.

If you are hell-bent on repairing it, take it to any professional repair shop. But the wisest decision would be completely replacing the engine with a brand new one!

All the modern lawn mowers come with a 4-stroke engine. Whereas a 2-stroke mower engine can accept mixing oil in the fuel, it’s a big no for a 4-stroke engine.

If your mower has a 4-stroke engine, it means it’s more reliable and requires less maintenance than any 2-stroke mower. You don’t need to mix oil in its fuel. This is where some people make their mistakes.

Mixing the oil in the fuel for a 4-stroke engine will result in burning the oil with plenty of smoke. To make things even worse, running the engine with mixed oil will lead to damage to the engine!

By mistake, if you put the oil in the fuel engine, you can remove the oil simply by running the engine until the contaminated gas runs out. Then you can put the clean gas into the fuel tank again.

Removing oil by running the engine will result in while smoke for sure. If you want to be on the safe side and want to remove the oil without running the engine, follow the below-mentioned steps:

• Get a pan to collect the oil from the fuel tank.
• There is a fuel line connecting the fuel tank and the engine. Locate that line.
• Remove the fuel line from the fuel tank end. You can simply undo the clip holding the line and pull it off.
• Keep the pan in place to collect the oil from the tank as soon as you remove the fuel line from the tank. Make sure you don’t have any spilled gasoline scenario. It’s a serious fire hazard.
• Now, locate the carburetor to remove oil from there too. Locate the carburetor bowl located right underneath the carburetor.
• Unscrew the nut from the carburetor bowl to remove the oil from there and collect it with the pan.

Of course, there will be some leftover oil inside the carburetor bowl. I strongly recommend removing the leftover oil as well. You can find plenty of good carburetor cleaners from online stores like Amazon easily.

FYI: Do not tilt the mower while draining fuel from the tank or the carburetor bowl. It will spill the oil into the carburetor or the cylinder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Does White Smoke From A Lawn Mower Mean?

Answer: It indicates either a blown head gasket of your mower or moisture in the combustion chamber. You need to replace the blown head gasket ASAP or remove the moisture from the chamber.

How Do I Fix White Smoke From My Lawn Mower?

Answer: If it’s happening due to the blown gasket, replace it immediately. But there are plenty of other reasons for the white smoke. If it’s for the spilled oil, burn off that oil.

Why Is My 4 Stroke Lawn Mower Smoking?

Answer: Most likely you have put mixed oil in the fuel tank. Remove the mixed oil from the tank and from the carburetor bowl and put clean gasoline again.

How Do I Know If My Lawnmower Has A Blown Head Gasket?

Answer: Well, if your lawnmower does not start or is dropping out and there is an oil leak, your mower has a blown head gasket issue.

Will Too Much Oil Cause White Smoke?

Answer: Yes. If you overfill the engine with oil, you will notice white smoke with grey or blue tint. Because the engine will be burning the excess oil that has entered the combustion chamber.

Why Is My John Deere Tractor Blowing White Smoke?

Answer: As per the company itself, you got nothing to worry about. It’s normal that your new John Deere tractor will be emitting white or blue smoke during the initial break-in period because it consumes oil during that period.

Sum Up

Of course, blue or white smoke from lawn mower is concerning. But as you have seen, there are plenty of easy fixes to stop a lawn mower from smoking irrespective of the color.

As long as you know the right lawn mower burning oil fix, you can take preparation for the mowing season in full swing! Share it with your friends so that they can learn what to do when there is mower white smoke and won’t start.

Den Hicks

Traveler, food lover, interior designer, and blogger. I love gardening a lot! I designed my home myself with the help of my beloved wife. You are welcome!

Why Does My John Deere Smoke? [Causes Solutions]

You’re bound to get some anxiety when you notice smoke spewing from the exhaust or elsewhere on your expensive John Deere Mower. How bad is it? How much is it going to cost to get it fixed? Is the damage permanent? These are all reasonable questions, but there’s no reason to panic.

There are several potential causes behind smoke pouring out of your John Deere. Low coolant levels, low engine oil levels, too much oil, bad injectors, plugged air filters, and leaking head gaskets are some of the most common reasons for a smoking John Deere.

Fortunately, all of the above is repairable, and although a leaky head gasket sounds complicated, it’s not as bad as you think, and it’s also one of the rare causes on the list.

There are also cases where there may be white smoke, and nothing is wrong with your mower.

Potential Causes and Solutions

Nobody wants to see smoke spewing out of their lawnmower, especially if it’s a new John Deere, but it happens. So, the next step is ascertaining the problem. Where it’s coming from and how to fix it, hopefully on your own.

DIY repairs are the best way to go if you have the tools and capacity, especially when it comes to a John Deere because they don’t just hand out repairs for free.

However, if you have it under warranty, that’s a different story. Warranty or not, what could be the source of the smoke?

Low Coolant Level

Low coolant levels are easy to ascertain as you can simply check your coolant level and ensure that it is where it’s supposed to be. Of course, you want to let your mower cool down before you pop the cap.

When the coolant gets too low, overheating occurs throughout the engine, and while it won’t smoke like crazy, you will see some white smoke coming from the engine. If you own a relatively new John Deere, there’s a chance that you have low coolant because there is a slow leak somewhere.

You should top your coolant off, but you should check all of the connections in and around your radiator and observe it carefully while it is running.

Air Filter

There are three things required for combustion: air, fuel, and spark. If your engine isn’t getting enough air, then it is probably running “rich,” a term for too much fuel and not enough air for proper combustion. This will cause black smoke rather than white, and one of the first suspects is the air filter.

You should remove it and clean it thoroughly (use compresses air to blow it down if you can), but you should also include your air filter in your routine maintenance procedures.

Oil Level is Too High or Too Low

Lack of lubrication will certainly produce smoke, as you will have an increase in friction and heat from moving parts within the engine that are not properly lubricated.

The problem with low oil levels is that by the time you notice it (thanks to all of the smoke), there will likely be side effects throughout the engine.

Also, like the coolant levels, if your John Deere is relatively new or well taken care of, a low oil level is likely a sign of a leak somewhere.

Too much engine oil is nearly as problematic as the reverse. Excess oil burns off and increases pressure in the crankcase. The burning off creates smoke and, as a side effect, will damage or clog your air filter as well.

You’ll need to drain the oil and change or clean the air filter. Whenever you put oil in the mower, always use only the recommended oil type and the exact amount specified in the user manual.

Bad Injectors

If your injectors aren’t working correctly, you will not get the right amount of fuel. This usually leads to fuel that isn’t burned away and leftover fuel that isn’t ignited. The typical result is white smoke. However, the John Deere will also show signs of sluggishness, vibration, or otherwise just not running right.

Depending on what John Deere you have, the process for changing the fuel injectors can be drastically different. Fortunately, there are a lot of YouTube videos on the process. Also, if your John Deere is under warranty, you will want to take it in rather than risk voiding the warranty trying to repair it yourself.

There are also several fuel injector cleaners you can try first, as that might be enough to resolve the problem without having to get it repaired.

Leaky Head Gasket

If your John Deere is pretty new, a leaky head gasket is undoubtedly something that will be covered under warranty, so long as you haven’t done anything that would directly cause damage to a head gasket.

This is probably one of the more difficult things when it comes to a DIY fix, so if you are not a John Deere Tractor or Mower mechanic, it might save you a lot of headaches to just take it in for a repair.

It may be on the expensive side, but it’s not as bad as purchasing a new John Deere.

White Smoke, Black Smoke, and Blue Smoke

White, black, or blue smoke might not tell you exactly what the problem is, but they will point you in the right direction if you know what they mean.

Black Smoke

Black smoke is usually caused by burning too much fuel without enough air. Most of the time, that indicates bad injectors or, more commonly, a clogged-up air filter. If your air filter is relatively clean, there is an air restriction somewhere, which might be a problem with the choke.

Blue Smoke

Blue smoke is usually the direct result of burning oil. It’sIt’s just the color that tends to come from it when it is burning rather than lubricating the moving parts throughout your engine. Sometimes, the blue can be really dark, and that might mean that you have multiple issues going on.

If you see blue smoke, check your oil levels to ensure that the reservoir wasn’t overfilled during your last oil change or that there is plenty of oil there.

It’s mostly going to be a problem from excess oil. However, leaking oil can find its way into places hot enough to burn it off, and you’ll notice a low oil level.

White Smoke

You get white smoke from leaky head gaskets and gas in the oil or vice versa. Diesel engines are more prone to white smoke, but that doesn’t mean you will never see it in gasoline engines.

Diesel fuel filters that aren’t working properly can cause white smoke, and out of three colors of smoke, this one will be the most prevalent, especially in diesel engines.

Conclusion

Signs of smoke emanating from your John Deere aren’t the end of the world. However, there is always cause for concern.

The best thing to do is address the smoke immediately and locate the cause, even if you discover that the cause is nothing damaging.

Related Articles

• Why Does John Deere Use Yanmar Engines?
• Are John Deere Tractors Worth The Extra Money?
• Why Are John Deere Mowers So Expensive?
• Is A John Deere Gator Considered An ATV?
• Why Does My John Deere Gator Grind When I Put It In Gear?
• Can I Use Synthetic Oil In My John Deere Riding Lawn Mower?

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I love working in the yard and coming up with projects around the house. In addition, I am blogger. I’ve decided to start this blog to share stuff I learn about yard work, or any projects that are house related. These days I blog about everything related to anything pertaining to the outside of the home. Everything in this blog should be used for educational purposes only.

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Why is your Lawn Mower Blowing White Smoke Leaking Oil?

Do you want to know why your lawnmower is blowing white smoke and leaking oil? You are at the right place.

Lawns are one of the best facilities anyone can have on their property. They not only make your landscape popular envy but also help purify the air, trap carbon dioxide – an important respiratory gas, minimize erosion from storm-water runoff, enhance soil quality, decrease land pollution, and minimize temperatures.

These are not only advantageous to you and members of your household, but they also do your larger environment a great deal of good.

But what is a lawn without a mower? An extensive bed of grass with irregular lengths and shapes. As a matter of fact, behind every awesome lawn is an efficient mower. If you want to keep your lawn in great shape, a lawnmower is a non-negotiable tool for achieving that goal.

Lawnmowers come in diverse brands and types. While some last only for a brief period, others are relatively long-lasting.

If you have been using your lawnmower for quite a while now, what you must have noticed of late is a decline in its efficiency. Its fuel and oil consumption rate could go up, and the engine’s emission from the smoke could double in frequency. Worst still, the engine might be running a little bit unsteadily.

Issues like this can unsettle you as a lawn owner, especially when you need to get things done on your lawn with the mower. The emission of white smoke and oil leakage will tamper with your mower’s efficiency, and you don’t want that.

Every problem has an underlying factor. And to confront these mechanical issues, there’s a basic need for you to diagnose the root cause.

We have taken it upon ourselves to check for the root causes behind these disturbing mechanical inconsistencies so you don’t have to stress yourself. All you need to do is giddy up and enjoy the ride. Let’s go!

Why is your lawnmower blowing white smoke and leaking oil?

Your lawnmower can blow white smoke for reasons ranging from bad gas, a lousy spark plug, or even a damaged carburetor. But when oil leakage adds to the issue, the reason can differ greatly from this.

If your lawnmower is blowing white smoke and leaking oil, below are the potential causes:

• Blown head gasket
• Excessive usage of oil
• Engine oil rings
• Lawnmower used or tilted at an angle
• Crankcase leaks

If your lawnmower has been in use for a long time, then some smoke should be expected, considering the length of usage. The color of an emitted smoke is how you know from what engine it comes. For lawnmowers, the smoke color ranges from white to blue and black.

In this article, our FOCUS is on white smoke. The emission of white smoke from an engine can be an outgrowth of several problems, and while some are easily fixed, others need a strategic and long-term approach.

Before we delve into the whys of lawnmowers blowing white smoke and leaking oil, it makes a lot of sense to understand how the mower engine works.

How Does the Engine of a Lawnmower Work?

The lawnmower’s engine burns fuel and air mixture to convert energy from the gas into the flywheel’s rotational motion, which propels the blade. The procedures can be broken down into four items.

• Air and Fuel Intake: Air and fuel are mixed in proportionate amounts. Any interference with the ratio will affect the performance quality in no small way. The admission happens via a valve controlled by pushrods and a cam mechanism. The carburetor and corresponding filters regulate the air-to-fuel ratio and rate of the mixture.
• Fuel-air Mix Compression: The piston’s upward movement inside the cylinder compresses the air-fuel mixture. Without this reduction, the power cannot be enabled when fuel is burned.
• Combustion of Gas: The energy begins to burn as soon as the piston is about to attain the highest position. This happens in either of two ways; a spark or a considerable rise in pressure. This blast moves the piston downward and transports power into the flywheel.
• Termination of the Remnants: Immediately after the exhaust valve opens, the remnants are moved out to the muffler by the already generated inertial impact.

Lubrication

The oil is applied to lubricate the engine. Oil is used and pumped, leveraging the orifices incorporated into the engine.

O-rings are applied around the piston to ensure that the oil does not get to the cylinder. Because of the O-rings and gasket, the oil film can get sealed.

A second ring en-wrapped around the piston is also present, alongside the oil ring, and plays a formidable role. Any of these rings on the engine’s piston has to become weak, and the performance of your mower’s engine takes a drastic decline. Your lawnmower’s cutting ability is directly proportional to the engine efficiency.

The compression ring controls the burning pressure in the chamber’s interior and gets it to do useful work. If and when you get a replacement, ensure to replace the oil rings and the compression rings, as they are often sold together.

Cooling

Did you know that the engines of lawnmowers can be air-cooled? Yes, they even use a coolant.

The air coolant has a developed surface area for Rapid heat transfer. Just about the same time, the coolant is dropped into the jackets around the engine block.

Included Parts

Identifying all the active parts will give you an actual grasp of the cause and eliminate whatever smoke is from your lawnmower. Smoke comes up when the functionality of one or all the parts is disturbed. And good management can bring things back to normal.

• Carburetor
• Head gasket
• Oil filter
• Air filter
• Breather tube
• Oil rings
• Fuel filter

A disturbed mower engine can emit 3 kinds of colors; black, white, and blue. While black smoke usually comes up as a result of fuel quality or quantity, blue and white smoke often correlate and are caused by lubrication oil or coolant issues.

White smoke and oil spill are the two things we are discussing here.

Causes and solutions of mower blowing smoke and leaking oil

If you recently found that your lawnmower emits white smoke, the most likely cause is oil combustion inside the cylinder. This is why, ninety-nine percent of the time, the reason for both white smoke and oil spill are interconnected.

Below is a list of possible reasons your lawnmower is blowing white smoke and leaking oil.

Lawnmower Blown Head Gasket

If the head gasket of your mower’s engine is crappy, partly or blown, oil and coolant leak into the combustion chamber, resulting in white smoke and spillage of oil. Here’s how you know; there will be an apparent marking inside the cover/hood. An immediate repair is advisable to forestall future damage to your mower engine.

• Look out for markings, scuffs, or blows around the head.
• Dismantle the engine head
• Find carbon deposits of valves and piston
• If your diagnosis returns as blown, replace it; if otherwise, reassemble all the parts.
• Open the engine compartment, and assess all parts.
• Dust the surfaces
• Clean all deposits of carbon
• Assess the gasket’s condition
• If you find it is blown, get a replacement.
• If partly damaged, make do with gasket-sealant paste. A replacement is the best option, though.
• Certain products on the market can give your mower’s head gasket a short-term fix. So you can subscribe to this option if you do not have time.

Excessive Usage of Oil

While filling your lawnmower with lubricant oil, you must exercise caution, as beauty is always in moderation, not excess. Overfilling your mower’s lubricant oil can result in white smoke and increase the tendency of oil spillage.

If you find your mower’s engine blowing smoke, you first want to check the dipstick’s oil level. If the oil level is insanely high, you must take some off until the right level is reached.

• Check for the dipstick on the engine’s reservoir; clean it with a cloth, and take the cap off the reservoir.
• Dip the stick for a while and then take it out
• Identify the level corresponding to marks.
• If the oil level appears too high, get rid of some; drain it through the plug beneath the oil pump. You can also utilize an oil hand pump to terminate some from the reservoir.

Lawnmower Engine Oil Rings

The oil rings are the reason the oil between the piston and cylinder cannot seep into the combustion chamber. Any damage to these rings will remove the barrier around the combustion chamber, make the oil get into it, and combust with fuel.

Invariably, this issue will result in smoke and, if left unaddressed, will compound into greater faults.

Oil rings are parts of the internal engine. Hence, a correct diagnosis is impossible without opening the engine and assessing them. Oil rings have a definite lifespan and should be replaced when due.

• You should check the condition of the rings every time you do an engine assessment.
• Replace the piston rings; this is not negotiable.
• Do not attempt fixing it yourself, especially if you are not an expert. Do yourself the favor of seeking the service of a professional.
• Install the right replacement; ensure the sizes and shapes are similar. Kindly refer to the instruction manuals for details if you have to.

The lawnmower was Used or Tilted at an Angle

If you use your lawnmower at very steep angles, it could result in oil leakage into the engine block; and not only that, it can also cause smoke. An issue like this can surface after maintenance work on your mower and tilting it.

Fix: All you need to do is put your lawnmower at proper angles, and it will fix itself. It is best to avoid operating on less steep paths, though.

Breather Tube

A breather tube is another component of your mower’s engine that can cause trouble. It is a part of the carburetor that is quite significant but often ignored. Anything as minute as a blockage in the tube’s hose will result in your lawnmower burning.

Fix: Get the breather tube cleaned with some carburetor cleaner.

Lawnmower Crankcase Leaks

Crankcase leaks are also connected to the occurrence of white smoke. If your mower’s engine is blowing white smoke, you may want to check the crankcase up should there be any leak.

All the causes highlighted in this content will very well blow white smoke and induce oil spills. Smoke, regardless of the color, and oil spills have toxic environmental effects.

What spilled oil will leave is a permanent dirty mark on the garage floor and whatever location your lawnmower is parked. Although the issues may not be totally or quickly gotten rid of, the careful maintenance of your lawnmower can attenuate the tendencies of white smoke and oil spills.

What Can I Do If My Lawnmower Blows Black Smoke?

Black smoke usually results when more fuel is burned than air. The cause of this smoke is not complicated and can be left unaddressed. All engines are responsive to angles. Hence, when you tilt an engine that contains fluid, it is only normal that some of the oil spills.

In this case, the oil will spill out and result in smoke; it shouldn’t last for long, anyway. In a situation like this, you want to keep your lawnmower’s engine running while it burns off the excesses.