My Lawn Tractor Is Leaking Oil in the Filter & Blows White Smoke

Oil Check

• Park the tractor on flat and level land if you haven’t already and let it cool down if it’s recently been in use. You’ll be checking the engine and you want it cool to the touch to avoid a nasty burn. Once the engine is cool, pop open the hood and prop it open and locate the dipstick. If you don’t know where it is, consult the tractor’s manual for the exact location, but generally, a small handle jutting upward near the oil cap indicates the location. Pull open the stick, wipe it off, reinsert it, pull it out again, and check the level on the stick. If the oil level is above the maximum level, chances are as the engine heats up, it is pushing oil past the rings and onto the filter. Drain the oil down to a manageable level to remedy the problem.

Slopes

• Even if oil levels are leveled off at a correct level, sometimes moving hills, ditches and slopes will spill oil out onto the filter simply because of the degree of the incline. The easiest way to prevent this is to avoid using the tractor on extreme inclines and instead use a push mower or an electric or gas-powered edger and trimmer to finish the job.

Reeds & Breathers

• Reeds, which are a feature on gas engines, open and close to relieve valve pressure. If a reed breaks, pressure can’t be relieved and oil spills out onto the engine and filter. For breathers, which are screw-mounted on the gasket, a simple check can determine if there’s a problem, which is indicated by a grimy oil coating. Consult your manual about replacing these parts, which generally will cost you about $20.

Blown Gasket

• In some cases, general wear and tear or an issue with construction blows the head gasket and, as a result, sends white smoke pouring out from the under the hood. Usually the thinnest part of the gasket creates pressure over the crankcase – more pressure than it can handle. This cracks (blows) the gasket, which sends “cooked” oil fumes out the breather in the form of white smoke. Unless you’re well versed in engine mechanics, this is a job best left for a repair technician.