Kohler Commander 14 Oil Leak

[Fishkill-Will 0]

My 1998 Kohler Command 14 is leaking oil pretty significantly. Hard to tell, but I suspect it is coming from where the oil drain screws into the engine. The oil drain has always been free swinging—not tightly screwed in. I've never had a problem and never questioned it. Inspecting it now, it appears to not just be free swinging but the threads are not tight and there is a left/right jiggle. Once cleaned off, It appears that oil is collecting around the thread area. Picture attached. 

 

It cannot simply be tightened because it knocks into the starter. I think I will drain the oil and see if I can remove the the extension from the elbow. Then tighten it up.

 

Curious if anyone has any thoughts or advice on this situation.

 

Thanks!

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,575]

My Onan was exactly the same.  I had to remove that outside pipe then rotated the inner pipe one turn which tightened it up.  In order to do that, I had to unbolt the engine so I could get the leverage to turn it, but was successful in the end and well worth stopping that leak.  You may need to do similar to get it tight where you want it to be.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,281]

Hope you can remove the fittings and reassemble with a good thread sealer. Pipe threads will leak if not sealed.

[HyperPete 639]

6 hours ago, Fishkill-Will said:

My 1998 Kohler Command 14 is leaking oil pretty significantly. Hard to tell, but I suspect it is coming from where the oil drain screws into the engine. The oil drain has always been free swinging—not tightly screwed in. I've never had a problem and never questioned it. Inspecting it now, it appears to not just be free swinging but the threads are not tight and there is a left/right jiggle. Once cleaned off, It appears that oil is collecting around the thread area. Picture attached. 

 

It cannot simply be tightened because it knocks into the starter. I think I will drain the oil and see if I can remove the the extension from the elbow. Then tighten it up.

 

Curious if anyone has any thoughts or advice on this situation.

 

Thanks!

 

My eyes aren't the greatest, but it looks to me like there's some sort of plastic or Teflon fitting in the block that that pipe screws into. If that's the case, maybe it can be removed and replaced with either black iron, steel, brass, or something more substantial.

[kpinnc 13,916]

15 hours ago, Fishkill-Will said:

 

It cannot simply be tightened because it knocks into the starter. I think I will drain the oil and see if I can remove the the extension from the elbow. Then tighten it up.

 

Makes sense to me. 

 

Just keep in mind that you'll be tightening a steel pipe into cast aluminum. Don't overdo it. Snug it up and stop. Otherwise you'll crack the aluminum and it will be much more difficult to fix.  

[Fishkill-Will 0]

Thanks guys. Yes, the leverage is brutal. I didn't unbolt the engine yet. I was not able to loosen the outer pipe but using vice grips to hold the inner pipe and tapping on the outer with a hammer I was able to loosen the elbow from the inner pipe. Then painstakingly slowly with minor turns I could turn the inner pipe, essentially tightening it and loosening the elbow at the same time—hoping to get the elbow off and work on the out connection on the bench. Unfortunately the elbow never got to the end before the inner pipe was tight. I did get worried that it was getting too tight and stopped. Now I think it is losing oil from the elbow. So I am going to go backward and hope to find a happy place where both are snug the leak is at least very minor. From there maybe I'll take further action, if needed. 

 

Appreciate the advice!