skip to main content

Dirty oil

14 years ago

Just changed oil in new mower with a 23 hp Pro grade V twin Briggs after 5 hours(brigs instructions)and the oil was fairly dirty and had a kind of bronzie color to it. As I remember from my younger days it looked like my car oil when I was running it too hard. This motor runs fine and quite. Was wondering is this normal and has anyone else noticed this? Maybe they don't put them together as clean as new car engines.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

zoulas
14 years ago
Normal. New engines are coated with all kinds of stuff during the build process. This is why they say to change the oil after about 10 hrs of use the first change. 99% you are fine. Now remember to keep changing it often, my estimate is every 25hrs if you are serious about your equipment.
rcmoser
14 years ago
Zoulas is very wise to recommend oil changes early. Why? you LT rarely in normal conditions. The manual recommends it to be changed early if you have extreme conditions? To me that summer heat or dusty conditions when it dry, fine dust does make it way into the oil IMO that's why it gets black and gooey on the dipstick.

I agree that's why they tell you to change oil and filter in 5 hours. after that you can run the filter for a year IMO. I change the oil out when it starts to turn black and gooey. But, I usually don't change the filter untill the full 50 hours is reached.
Related Discussions
Stihl leaf blower leaking from exhaust port
Q
Comments (11)
721 , The most important issue is to ensure you have proper air / fuel ratio . This will ensure a optimium fuel burn . Your high and low jets should be set between 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 out from seated . Also your air filter must be clean to ensure a non rich fuel air mixture . Secondarily fuel filter and exhaust screen must be inspected and cleaned at least seasonally . Last but not least a Premium Synthetic oil will provide maximum engine protection with the least oily film and carbon accumulation . Your current ratio of 2.6 ounces of oil to a gallon of fuel ( 50:1 ) is the best ratio for today's new 2 cycle engines . I recommend Amsoil Sabre however Ultra or Opti- 2 are other fine oils . A new spark plug annually will provide a colour ( medium brown to tan ) indication of proper engine protection . Any darker and either to much oil or fuel !
...See More
Honda FG100 tiller w/ dirty GX31 engine & oil
Q
Comments (15)
I don't know about the rest of the tiller, but I do know something about the GX31. The Honda small engines can run at all position BUT it can't sit on the side or up side down!!!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!. It has a oil chamber to whip the oil into mist so you can run in all position. But when the engine stop, oil is going to go to the lowest level due to gravity. If the engine sit side way or up side down, oil will sip through the rings and go into the combussion chamber. If you leave it sit long enough, the engine not only hard to start, also it will smoke for a while. But it will clear up. That is the reason the foam filter soak with oil. So do not just tear the engine up until you run more test. You might want to clean the carb. I just did one on my GX31 and is not that hard. But If you can start the engine, I don't think you even need to do that. Just wash the foam filter with soap and water, put oil and put it back. Change the gas filter and check the plug. You check the oil but putting the engine with cylinder upwards, on flat level. Remove the drain plug and make sure the oil just not overflow. Start and let it run for a little while, the smoke should clear up. Then you can continue testing whether it has power. I am not saying the engine has no problem, just say the smoking is normal if the engine sit in wrong position.
...See More
First oil change - what a mess
Q
Comments (3)
your pressure washer pump probably similar to mine. It also has oil in it? (check you owners manual for servicing requirements). I would also check the oil level and the condition of the pump oil also. If I make mess I just use the pressure washer to clean it off after pre-ventive maintenance and let it sun dry or blow dry it with my blower. If it's got screw in pipe threaded drain plug you can extend it out by buying fittings at your local hardware store to plumb it out for easy access and draining. Or add the nipple and hose. Briggs makes SGE's to fit several applications. the manufacture of the pressure pumps picks engine in there price range and profit margins. There engineers are the ones to blame not briggs or other engine manufactures that make engines for several applications. It probably added 50 cents to the cost and they figured most don't change the oil anyway.
...See More
I Broke the Neighbor's Pressure Washer - HELP!
Q
Comments (28)
After reading all of the posts here, i wonder how in the world our relatives cleaned things up without a pressure washer!! Why, they used a broom or mop, with liberal use of soap and muscle! Never had to worry about the things breaking--oh, maybe a mop handle, or the broom lost some bristles, but they never had to borrow the neighbors fancy power washer, which weren't available 40 years ago, except for commercial use. Seems to me, there's a sucker born every minute, reinforced by the stories of all the troubles apparently inherent with powered pressure washers! And--if the thing ain't made by an American company, don't buy it! and especially not if it has Chinese made parts! Back when i was a kid (the 30's) toys were imported from Japan, that were of such inferior quality, the stores sold them really cheap! And, the only thing that came from Japan that we took notice of was Pearl Harbor! Rusty
...See More
dynamike59
14 years ago
The reason oil turns black is due to hydrocarbons,acid,moisture and some but very little dirt.
Incomplete combustion produces HC.
The reason that people believe that dusty conditions produce black oil is mainly because the air filter is getting restricted from the dust and causing a rich mixture in the combustion chamber ,which results in incomplete combustion.
Your filter removes some HC and upgrading the grade of fuel you use will help.
ollieduke
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for comebacks on dirty oil. I agree that oil should be changed regularly,from experience with first job as mechanic helper. Naturally it was my job to clean all the oil pans and heads with a wire brush and a scrapper. My bosses told me all the sludge was caused by not changing oil regularly.(back then it was every 1000 miles.)
rcmoser
14 years ago
Well in my neck of the woods where the dust bowl lies it don't have time to foam hydrocarbons,acid. It's plain old micropic dust, I can feel it in the oil. even when hydrocarbons,acid causes the oil to turn black it still dirty and needs changed at 10 hours or hundred.

Ollieduke you've had first hand experience of oil left in an engine too long, systems have improved some since the 1000 mile oil change haven't they.
ollieduke
Original Author
14 years ago
Rcmoser,you are right,things have changed. Am sure a lot of people are not aware that new cars in the early 50s and back didn't come with oil filters,as my Dad had to add one on our new 50 Pontiac,also a week of city driving would cause a engine to run a little ragged at hi way speeds,till you blew them out on the week ends,(sorry a bit off subject)

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ 10 Truly Irritating Things Your Partner Does in the Kitchen

By Mitchell Parker

Dirty dishes, food scraps in the sink — will the madness ever stop?

HOUSEKEEPING 7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Garage

By Laura Gaskill

Stop fearing that dirty dumping ground and start using it as the streamlined garage you’ve been wanting

REMODELING GUIDES Clean-Burning Woodstoves Ignite a Greener Heating Trend

By Laura Gaskill

No need to rely on oil or gas to heat your home — new woodstove designs burn cleanly and are beautiful to boot

DIY PROJECTS Cool Tip: Mimic Stain With a DIY Color Wash

Get the look of an oil-based stain without all the bother, using this easy wash made with paint

HOUSEKEEPING 12 Cleaning Projects That Go a Little Deeper — Naturally

By Youthful Habits

Eucalyptus oil for germy door handles. Baking soda for oven grime. Here are nontoxic solutions for often-overlooked cleaning jobs

SHOP HOUZZ Houzz Products: How to Create a Classic Look for the Bath

Try one of these 4 enduring styles with white Carrara marble, oil-rubbed bronze, ocean motifs or modern curves

LIFE Back to the Future of the House

By Lucy Worsley

Can the low-tech dwellings of the past offer design lessons for homes to come? A palace curator and book author says yes

BATHROOM DESIGN 7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Bathroom

By Laura Gaskill

We’ve broken down cleaning and decluttering the bath into daily, manageable tasks

BEFORE AND AFTERS Gray Cabinets Update a Texas Kitchen

By Mitchell Parker

Julie Shannon spent 3 years planning her kitchen update, choosing a gray palette and finding the materials for a transitional style

GREEN BUILDING Houzz Tour: Going Completely Off the Grid in Nova Scotia

By Mitchell Parker

Powered by sunshine and built with salvaged materials, this Canadian home is an experiment for green building practices

Sponsored

RTS Home Solutions

3 Reviews

BIA of Central Ohio Award Winning Contractor

More Discussions

Mower Blade rotation

1