Quick Answer: Lawn Tractor Smokes When Starting?

Why is my lawn mower blowing out white smoke?

An excess of blue or white smoke could mean that oil has a pathway into the combustion chamber through worn seals. It could also be a blown head gasket, which will soak the air filter with oil. Unless you happen to be a small engine mechanic, these problems need a professional lawn mower repair.

What causes engine to smoke on startup?

The most common cause of blue exhaust smoke is oil leaking past engine seals and into the cylinders where it then mixes and burns with the fuel. Blue exhaust smoke only at start-up can indicate worn piston seals or damaged or worn valve guides which may also cause a rattling noise.

Can a lawn mower start a fire?

Any lawn mower, electric or gas, can catch fire. Fuel vapors around a hot muffler also cause fires. According to Underwriters Laboratory, the exhaust of a mower is 240 degrees and the engine can heat to 200 degrees. A gas cap leak or sloppy fueling can easily spark a fire.

What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket in a lawn mower?

If the mower is dropping out or not starting and you do notice the oil leak, you have a bad gasket. If the mower shuts off when you turn corners, but there is no oil leak, you may still have a bad gasket since the pressure to keep the combustion going is not strong enough.

How do I fix white smoke from my lawn mower?

White or blue smoke may indicate an oil spill on the engine. The smoke may look disconcerting, but it’s completely harmless. Solve the problem by restarting the mower and allowing the spilled oil to burn off.

What causes a 4 stroke engine to smoke?

Smoke After Warm Up Blue smoke exiting the exhaust pipe after the engine has warmed is a sign that oil is burning in the combustion chamber. Oil can enter the combustion chamber past the valve stem seals or pistons rings, so if this symptom persists then one of these components may be compromised.

Why is smoke coming out of my tailpipe?

Smoke of this sort is usually caused by the engine burning coolant, and can be the result of a blown head gasket or a damaged cylinder head, or a cracked engine block, which requires a new engine or an engine rebuild.

What does white smoke from the tailpipe usually indicate?

1. White Smoke From Tailpipe. If you notice white smoke coming from your tailpipe constantly, even on warm days, that could be caused by an engine that’s consuming coolant. Coolant being burned up in the engine typically points to a leaking head gasket.

Is it bad to run mower with choke on?

Lawn Mower: Only Runs With The Choke On. If your lawnmower will start and run with the choke on but dies when the choke is turned off, it may have a problem with the carburetor. The carburetor brings air and fuel together and mixes them in the perfect ratio for combustion before they enter the engine.

Can petrol lawnmowers catch fire?

Lawnmowers can also catch fire while in use, although this is a much rarer occurrence than fires started by lawnmowers being too close to flammable materials.

What do you do when your lawn mower catches on fire?

If your lawn mower does catch fire, never try to put it out yourself. Turn the mower off, move it away from any buildings if you can do so safely and call 911.

Will a lawn mower start with a blown head gasket?

Really depends on how blown head gasket is. If it’s totally blown, you may not have compression so the machine won’t start at all. If there is a simple head break, the engine may actually run but you may see some serious smoke coming out of the muffler.

How do I know if my lawn mower engine is blown?

Blown Engine Symptoms & How to Tell if Your Engine is Blown

1. Blue Exhaust Smoke. Blue smoke billowing from your tailpipe can be a sign you’ve had your car engine blow up.
2. White Exhaust.
3. Rattling or Knocking in the Engine.
4. Coolant in the Engine Oil.
5. Engine Won’t Start.
6. Blown Piston.
7. Hole in Engine Block.
8. Blown Rod.

Is it worth repairing my head gasket?

Is it Worth Repairing a Blown Head Gasket? In a word, yes. You cannot ignore a blown head gasket and expect to keep your car running in good condition. If a blown head gasket is not repaired in a timely fashion you risk a cascade effect of damage.