benjiboo 174 #1 Posted November 30, 2013 Like the title says, my Kohler K341s 16hp engine on my C-160 puked out alittle oil on the carb side of the engine. I know it's not coming out from around the fuel pump or anything like that but appears to have came from.... the valve cover? Why did it do this? The oil level is correct. I noticed it after setting the throttle on the high end and may have 'over-reved' it. Could this be why? How does one go about fixing or not letting this happen again? Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimD 3,347 #2 Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) It could be as simple as tightening the valve cover or replacing the valve cover gasket. Can you get a picture? Edited November 30, 2013 by JimD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,695 #3 Posted November 30, 2013 If you remove the valve cover there are a couple of things too check for #1 besure the check valve is ok #2 check drain hole in innercover for being clogged and besure it is on the bottom side when you reassemble and check valve is facing the right way #3 check vent opening in top cover to besure a mud wasp did not plug it with a nest Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #4 Posted November 30, 2013 What I have noticed is it is coming out of the vent slot and now it also drips from around the governor shaft where it exits the brass nut. Is there a seal inside the brass nut? I did get the high rpm set at 3400+-/100. I figure an engine of this age really doesn't need to spin any faster than that anyway. I had the head off today cleaning the carbon out. I noticed on the piston it says: .010 Does this mean it has a .010" oversized piston, probably from an overhaul? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,695 #5 Posted November 30, 2013 yes on the oversize piston Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fordiesel69 271 #6 Posted December 1, 2013 Time to pull the breather and clean / rebuild it. The reed can break in half, or it can get all clogged up. Either way the governer leak says the crankcase is being pressurized and should not be. How did the cylinder look? Any piston slap? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #7 Posted December 1, 2013 The cylinder walls looked amazing. No scuffs or vertical scratches, only cross hatching which looked to have the appropriate diamond shaped angles. I was thoroughly amazed. Ya, something has happened to the breather vent. It just started this yesterday. I'll tear it apart when I get some time and investigate the cause. I'll report back what I see in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fordiesel69 271 #8 Posted December 1, 2013 Also this is stupid to mention, because you already check it I bet, however water in the oil will cuase this as well. Water can form from short cycling in very cold temps. As in starting it up, moving it out of the garage to get the snowblower out. If you do this enough, you can get moisture if conditions are right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #9 Posted December 1, 2013 It's got maybe 20min worth of run time on the oil change. It started this after I put the blade on and ran it about 20min. I've checked theoil and didn't see anything suspect on the dip stick. I'm gonna tear that breather down and scope it out. By the way, there are no dumb questions to me, I appreciate all the help I can get. Lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #10 Posted December 1, 2013 OK, so I tore it down today and nothing looked clogged up. So I put new gaskets back on it and put it back together, only after looking at a schematic do I now realize I assembled it wrong and it still blows oil. I'll go back and redo my work tomorrow when I get home. Bummer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #11 Posted December 2, 2013 Well folks, I tore it all back apart today and it was in fact assembled wrong. I did see a couple of holes inside the lifter/breather box area and I shot some compressed air through them incase there was anything clogging them up. After I put it all back together and fired it up everything is fine. I did have just a few drops of oil work their way out after about 5min of running but nothing like it was. The is also no more oil coming out of the brass governor nut/shaft area. I ran it at about 3/4 throttle for about an hour or so while blading my driveway and afterwards there was no big mess like before. So....looks like it is back to normal. Do these engines normally spit out a drop of oil or two every now and then from the breather vent? When I first got this tractor the engine was pretty greasy on the outside is why I ask. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fordiesel69 271 #12 Posted December 4, 2013 Some will say no, but if the engine is hot and worked hard, you will get a greasy buildup around that area. When kohler released the magnum engine, it uses a rubber hose that goes from the breather to the air filter backing plate. Any "blowby" gasses get re burned. The good thing about that design is there is no way the engine will get unfiltered air, and it stays nice and clean on the outside.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #13 Posted December 5, 2013 Some will say no, but if the engine is hot and worked hard, you will get a greasy buildup around that area. When kohler released the magnum engine, it uses a rubber hose that goes from the breather to the air filter backing plate. Any "blowby" gasses get re burned. The good thing about that design is there is no way the engine will get unfiltered air, and it stays nice and clean on the outside.. I noticed some of the newer engines have the vent hose your refering to. I have also found an outfit that makes a new vent plate that has a fitting for a hose to route it away or down from the engine for that reason. I'm actually considering very strongly about getting one and maybe route it to the filter cover on my engine or at least away from the engine. Anyone else done this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fordiesel69 271 #14 Posted December 5, 2013 Engineers all say crankcase ventilation back into the intake is better overall. It keeps the dirt out of the oil. You could go on ebay and get a Magnum filter housing, breather, and a tube. The tube would need to be new. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shorts 182 #15 Posted December 9, 2013 Pre 1969 all vehicles had their engines vented to the atmosphere and then the world changed forever with emission laws, the first emission device was to seal the crankcase so in 1969 passenger cars were fitted with positive crankcase ventilation PCV valves that drew the vapor from the crankcase and into the intake where it would be burned in the combustion chamber, From then to now we have computer controlled engines and ethanol fuel with a whole lot of other hardware changes getting from there to now, some of it good some bad and some questionable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 605 #16 Posted December 11, 2013 Pre 1969 all vehicles had their engines vented to the atmosphere and then the world changed forever with emission laws, the first emission device was to seal the crankcase so in 1969 passenger cars were fitted with positive crankcase ventilation PCV valves that drew the vapor from the crankcase and into the intake where it would be burned in the combustion chamber, From then to now we have computer controlled engines and ethanol fuel with a whole lot of other hardware changes getting from there to now, some of it good some bad and some questionable. Some were installed as early as 1964 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,307 #17 Posted December 12, 2013 There is a top and bottom on the vent cover and also the vent housing. Additionally, there should be a small rubber insert that is on the bolt which compresses and seals the shaft when the nut is tightened. You may also want to clean the filter in the housing with brake cleaning spray or gum out. Aside from the vent issue, Make sure you use a new head gasket and torque to the proper specs and in the correct sequence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,307 #18 Posted December 12, 2013 Also I forgot but there are two gaskets one for the housing and one from the cover. All the best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benjiboo 174 #19 Posted December 18, 2013 I have got all new gaskets on it and as of right now it seems to be doing exactly what it's supposed to. But I do think I'm gonna install a 90* elbow on the cover and a hose to route the crankcase pressure away from the engine to help keep all the oily fumes off the engine. That way after I repaint this thing I can keep it looking better longer without all the oily/scummy mess from the breather. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
