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what does it mean when your lawn mower blows white smoke

by Jayne Langworth Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

So why is your mower blowing white smoke? Overfilling the oil or an excess of oxygen within the engine usually causes this. White smoke can also be caused by incorrect oil grades, air leaks, worn cylinder/rings or a blown head gasket.

Full Answer

What to do when your lawn mower blows white smoke?

Why Is My Lawn Mower Blowing White Smoke?

  • An air leak in your crankcase
  • An overfilled crankcase
  • A broken or not working breather in your crankcase
  • Poor grades of oil
  • If you tilted the engine for more than 15 degrees (even if just for storage)
  • If your cylinder is worn out
  • Head gasket broke. ...

Should you use your lawn mower during the white smoke?

Your mower can also smoke white if:

  • A faulty crankcase breather
  • A worn out engine that is in disrepair
  • Head gasket failure
  • An overfilled oil reservoir

Does too much oil cause white smoke in lawn mower?

Lawn mowers suffer from having too much oil as much as they do from having too little. An excess of oil in the reservoir can spill into the engine’s cylinder and start burning with the fuel, which can cause white smoke to come from the mower’s exhaust and oil to start leaking from the muffler.

What causes white smoke from riding lawn mower?

White Smoke From Lawn Mower

  • A Case Of Too Much Oil. Lawnmower engines usually take a little over half a quart (.6lt), and so it’s easy to overfill them.
  • Gas In The Oil. If your oil level is overfull and smells of gas, it’s likely you have a failed carburetor seal. ...
  • White Smoke & Dies. ...
  • Oil In The Gas Tank. ...
  • Head Gasket Failure. ...
  • Related Questions. ...

How do I fix white smoke from my lawn mower?

3:204:46White Smoke Coming From Lawn Mower-How To Fix It - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to clean out the air filter area probably you're probably gonna find some oil in the airMoreYou want to clean out the air filter area probably you're probably gonna find some oil in the air filter area clean it out. An option number two is if there's excess.

How do I stop my lawnmower from smoking?

Troubleshooting and Fixing the MowerCheck and replace the air filter.Check oil level, grade and type. Change the lawn mower oil if necessary.If oil has found its way onto the engine, let the mower run until the oil burns off harmlessly.Checking the angle at which you're mowing.

How do you fix white smoke from exhaust?

This generally happens because of a cracked or leaking head gasket, which allows coolant to seep into your cylinders. In extreme cases, you will need to replace your head gasket. At the first sign of white smoke you can try head gasket repair treatment to seal the leak before you do serious damage to your engine.

What happens when you put too much oil in a lawn mower?

Too much oil in your lawn mower may cause the engine to not run well and cause damaging results. Too much oil can cause your engine to overheat which can result in seal damage, blown gaskets or becoming hydrolocked.

Will lawn mower smoke if low on oil?

You may ask yourself: Will my lawn mower smoke if it is low on oil? The short answer is: It could. But this doesn't always mean low oil. If smoke is coming from the engine, this could mean there is either not enough or too much oil.

What causes a lawn mower engine to smoke?

A lawn mower engine will puff out black smoke when the fuel and air mixture is too rich. Because there isn't enough air, combustion is incomplete, and the unburnt fuel in the combustion chamber turns to smoke. You see the same phenomenon when you burn leaves and pack them too tightly to allow air to circulate.

Is it bad if white smoke comes out of exhaust?

Thick white exhaust smoke usually indicates a coolant leak, which could cause overheating and put your engine at a serious risk of damage. If this is the case, call our auto repair shop for an inspection immediately.

Can low oil cause white smoke?

So Can Low Oil Cause White Smoke? A. No, it cannot. Unrelated to the fluid's level, if oil does make it into the combustion chamber, you could see blue-tinted smoke coming from your exhaust.

What is a common cause of white smoke?

White smoke from the exhaust: This could be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious issue caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure.

How often should I add oil to my lawn mower?

every 50 hoursFor new mower engine, you typically want to change and replace the oil soon after its first use, roughly five hours of run time. For existing push mowers, like shown in the video below, its recommended to change and replace the oil at least once a season or for every 50 hours of run time.

How much oil should you put in a lawn mower?

Walk-behind mowers: Oil capacity is typically 15oz or 18oz*. Change engine oil every 50 hours or annually, which ever comes first.

How do I know if my lawn mower has too much oil?

​Therefore, the signs of too much oil in lawn mower are oil splatters all over the muffler, white smoke from the muffler and the engine has a hard start.

Why do mower piston rings work?

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. It also removes any excess oil from the combustion chamber .

Why is my lawn mower sputtering?

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: 1 You are using the wrong oil grade/poor oil grade. 2 The crankcase is overfilled with oil. 3 Faulty breather of the crankcase. 4 There is an air leak in the crankcase. 5 Expired cylinder or any rings in there. 6 An obstacle in the breather tube. 7 Lawn mower blown head gasket 8 Engine is operating at more than a 15-degree angle. 9 For storage or oil change, if you tilt the mower engine on its side. Mowing steep heels may result in the same problem too. 10 Damaged piston rings or cylinder. 11 Pouring engine oil in excess of its capacity shown on the dipstick.

Why is my lawn mower white smoke?

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.

What does it mean when a head gasket is damaged?

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.

Where does the oil sit on a lawn mower?

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.

Why is it important to keep oil levels in the engine?

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.

Can you stop a lawn mower from smoking?

But as you have seen, there are plenty of easy fixes to stop a lawn mower from smoking irrespective of the color.

Why does my lawn mower have low power?

In addition to consistent white smoke from the exhaust, you can hear the sound of air being blown from the leaking gasket and loss of compression which causes low power output from the mower . If a lot of oil is rushing into the cylinder the engine may fail to start or stop running after a while.

How to get rid of white smoke on lawn mower?

If your mower has started smoking after being tipped over or after using at a steep angle you can get rid of the white smoke by simply letting the mower run on idle until it burns up the oil that has gotten into the combustion chamber. In order to know the correct way to tip the mower on its side, read the owner’s manual of your lawnmower. Similarly, it is best to avoid using your mower at a surface with a slope of more than 15 degrees as too steep of a slope can cause excess engine oil to enter the cylinder and start burning resulting in a cloud of white smoke. Most lawnmowers should be fine if they are tipped on the side for maintenance with the carburetor and air filter facing upwards.

What causes a mower to overfill with oil?

You have overfilled the mower with engine oil. Damaged head gasket. Piston ring failure. The petrol you used in your mower had engine oil in it. Some causes of engine oil entering the combustion chamber of your mower’s engine can be resolved by simply letting the mower idle for a while until the smoke clears out.

Why does my lawnmower smoke white?

The most probable cause of white smoke is that your lawnmower’s engine is burning oil. This can happen due to any of the following reasons: Tipping the mower on its side or using the mower at a steep slope. You have overfilled the mower with engine oil. Damaged head gasket.

Why does my lawn mower burn oil?

While a lawnmower engine with less than a normal amount of oil is going to face a lot of friction due to lack of lubrication if you have excess oil in your mower’s engine the oil will enter the cylinder and start burning along with the fuel. This results in white smoke from the exhaust and sometimes excess engine oil can start coming out ...

What is the purpose of piston rings on a lawn mower?

Piston rings control the amount of engine oil and supply very little amount of oil to the piston in order to move smoothly inside the cylinder. Piston rings of your mower’s engine also remove excess oil from the combustion chamber and flow it back into the engine block.

Where to put new gasket on engine?

Place the new gasket on the engine block and place the cylinder head back in place before bolting it back onto the cylinder head and putting the sparkplug wire on the sparkplug. You can purchase head gaskets here.

Different Causes of White Smoke from a Mower

A smoking lawnmower is a cause for great concern. Before you panic, you should know that it’s not very serious, in most cases. There are different reasons as to why a lawnmower would emit white smoke. Some are as follows:

How to Prevent or Treat White Smoke

Most people are startled by a smoking lawnmower, as many tend to think that it’s about to blow up. The following tips will help you prevent or treat a smoking lawnmower:

When is it Too Late?

The following are some instances when irreparable damage associated with lawnmowers has occurred and might need replacement:

Final Thoughts

As you can see, white smoke coming out of your lawn mower isn’t the end of the world. There are plenty of fixes that you can try out in order to save your mower from the dumpster. Most of the issues are related to the gas tank or the oil chamber.

How to check oil level on a lawn mower?

Ensure you didn’t overfill the mower by checking the oil level with the dipstick located on the reservoir. To do this, remove the dipstick cap, wipe off the stick with a rag, and reinsert it into the reservoir. Then remove the dipstick once again and determine the oil level in comparison to the recommended “fill” line on the stick.

Why does my lawn mower smoke?

White or blue smoke may indicate an oil spill on the engine. If you’ve recently changed the oil in your mower and the engine is emitting white or blue smoke, it’s possible that some of the oil spilled onto the engine. Similarly, you could’ve spilled oil on the engine by mowing on a slope greater than 15 degrees or tipping the mower on its side.

Do all lawn mowers have internal combustion engines?

Keep in mind that all mowers with internal combustion engines contain the same basic parts, but the configuration of those parts varies widely, depending on manufacturer and model. Consult your owner’s manual if you’re unsure how to access a specific part of your lawn mower’s engine.

Why does my lawn mower smoke white?

The reason outlined above but the most common reasons why your lawn mower could be blowing white smoke. However, a tipped mower is, in most cases, the reason why your lawn mower could be producing the fumes. You may have tipped your mower to unclog the chute, to change the blades, or clean out the deck. Another cause for lawn mower smoking would be ...

What does it mean when your mower smokes?

Continuous blue or white smoke could mean that some components of your engine or mower are entirely worn out. Similarly, persistent black smoke could indicate critical mechanical issues. All these issues would require you to get a professional to intervene.

What is a damaged head gasket on a lawn mower?

However, a damaged head gasket is something to worry about. A head gasket is a metal used to seal the cylinder. It is fitted to close the combustion chamber.

What happens if you put too much oil in a lawn mower?

If you have put in excess oil, then the only thing to do is to drain the excess. It is, however, essential to note that using the wrong grade of oil can also cause white smoke or, in other cases, blue smoke. Refer to the manual to be sure of the exact lawn mower engine oil the manufacturer recommends to avoid the bluish-white fumes.

Why does my engine block burn white?

As the engine oil starts getting into the cylinder, it can cause burning hence producing white smoke. If a lot of oil rushes to the cylinder , then the engine block may fail altogether. The fix is usually to replace the gasket with a new one. Gaskets aren’t repairable, and once damaged, they need to get replaced.

Why is it bad to put in less oil than needed?

Putting in less than the required amount can be a disaster while putting in excess can also cause you problems. The former causes friction due to a lack of enough lubrication. The latter causes the oil to enter the cylinder and causes burning along with the fuel.

Do lawn mowers smoke?

If you own a lawnmower, then chances are at some point you will experience smoke coming from it. While this experience isn’t a guaranteed one, more often than not, lawn mowers produce white smoke.

Oil Overfill in The Crankcase

A crankcase is the crankshaft holder inside a combustion engine. Overfilling engine oil allows the crankshaft to make contact with the oil and lead it to the crankshaft. This occurrence intrigues the oil to go to the reservoir. The swift motion of the reciprocating engine turns the oil into a froth.

Piston Ring Damage

The piston rings form a seal between the prison and the cylinder wall. If these become worn or damaged, oil can leak past the rings and into the combustion chamber. Leaked oil in the combustion chamber is a key reason for white smoke. So, if you find the position damaged, it is better to replace them.

Operating and Storing the Mower at Greater Than 15°

The mowers are heavy machinery for gardening. You can drag them around and it is easy to use. But the basic structure of the machine is built upon a combustion engine and input of fuel (gas, oil).

Inactive Crankcase Breather

Crankcase breather is the ventilation system that relieves pressure from the crankcase created by gas-fuel or extra oxygen. We already know that air leak, primely oxygen, causes the engine to blow white smoke. Here, the breather being inactive, the leaked gases can not pass through and exit the engine.

Blown Head Gasket

If you’re using a one/two-stroke mower and notice an extreme oil leak, then, without doubt, your gasket head is damaged. The gasket head holds the fuel and keeps it separate from the other parts. A blown gasket head is the straight pass of oil to the engine. Due to extreme pressure, overwork, or oil Overfill, the gasket head might act out.

Quick Fix

If this is the first time you have noticed white smoke, then there are ways to prevent it from causing it again. A little maintenance workshop will do the job. Before fixing the errors, you first need to stop the white smoke. For that, you just need to run the mower free hand for a few moments till the smoke stops.

Bottom line

Sudden white smoke from your mower can catch you off guard and cause inconvenience. But it is definitely less worrying than black and blue smoke. Black smoke indicates engine irregularities and blue smoke indicates a functional error.

Why does my lawn mower smoke?

Why is My Mower Smoking? In most cases, a lawn mower’s engine suddenly bellows out blue or white smoke because the some of the oil spilled onto it. Maybe you added or changed the oil and slopped some, or overfilled. Or maybe you turned the mower on its side or upside down for maintenance. Even mowing on a steep slope can be the source.

What to do after a mower cools down?

In such cases, your first step after the mower cools down should be to check the air filter. If it’s clogged, the combustion chamber may not be getting enough oxygen, resulting in a too-rich fuel mixture that will cause the engine to run poorly and even spew smoke.

Can you turn a lawn mower upside down?

Or maybe you turned the mower on its side or upside down for maintenance. Even mowing on a steep slope can be the source. The lubrication systems in most mowers are not well sealed, and usually there’s an overflow oil reservoir with a relief outlet where excess oil can leak.

Who is Mark Johanson?

He has edited and directed more than 400 DIY and gardening books, including the BLACK+DECKER® Home Improvement Library series and two of the best-selling gardening books in North America. He is an experienced DIYer and enthusiastic gardener.

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