It can be frightful to encounter a large white smoke cloud from the lawnmower. The majority of people don’t anticipate it, but why is it happening? Why is the white smoke coming from your lawnmower? Is white smoke from lawnmower dangerous?
More cause for alarm arises if your lawnmower emits white smoke before dying. White smoke isn’t always creating a severe problem. The possible reasons for white smoke coming from a lawnmower are discussed with solutions.
Is White Smoke From Lawnmower Dangerous – Fix It Now
Many lawnmowers frequently produce a small amount of white smoke. If you’ve had a home for a time, you’ve likely encountered this situation at least once. Although this problem is not so dangerous and can easily be fixed, it could occasionally be a major one. When a lawnmower produces white smoke, it may be the oil burning in the engine.
This can bring out several problems, including a worn piston ring or a broken oil seal. While it usually poses no threat if ignored, it may result in diminished performance and even engine damage. It is crucial to have your lawnmower serviced by a professional if you notice white smoke coming from it.
Common Reason For Lawnmower Blowing White Smoke
Your lawnmower may be emitting white smoke for a few typical reasons. It occurs more frequently than you’d imagine, and a majority of these issues are simple to fix. Let’s examine all the potential causes of your lawnmower spewing white smoke for the time being.
- The frequent cause of your lawnmower emitting white smoke is an unbalanced engine (no lawnmower tilted at an angle greater than 15 degrees).
- The second most frequent cause is an oil problem, which is extremely simple to solve. Examples include overflowing oil or the use of the incorrect type of oil.
- Another frequent concern is leaking, which can’t be ignored.
- To avoid these problems, it’s crucial to inspect for broken parts like the head gasket and cylinders frequently.
In addition to these, there are a few less frequent ones. But it’s a good idea to be aware of them in case you’re one of the unfortunate ones. Here are these:
- Obstructing the breather
- Adding more oil than shown by the dipstick
- Worn-out piston rings
- Fixing each issue is not a problem. You must first turn off your lawnmower and wait for it to cool. After that, you can continue with some solutions.
Fix The Lawnmower Problems
Every appliance that operates on gasoline, oil, or other fuels has leaks relatively common. If the leaks are not stopped uprightly, they are dangerous to health.
Oil Issue
Oil leakage causes white smoke arising from too much oil in the compartment. The current lawnmowers have an oil capacity of just over 0.5 liters, cause to overfill the crankcase. We frequently ignore the surplus oil since the amount is small. But even a slight surplus can cause your mower to start smoking white.
Checking the oil level once the oil is filled and adjusting the amount as needed are easy solutions. People believe that a small drop of oil on top won’t cause any issues, but they don’t understand that the engine is in danger. Most lawnmowers rely on splash lubrication; the oil level above the paddles negatively affects how well the engine operates.
If you see additional oil inside the machine, try to drain it as best you can. Avoid running the lawnmower if your oil smells like gas since that means the carburetor seal is cracked. In this instance, replace the machine’s oil last and then the carburetor. Learn where the carburetor is on your lawn mower by using this tutorial.
Lawnmower Tipped Over
The engine starts to leak oil if the mower is tilted more than 15 degrees, which produces white smoke. To eliminate this, check to see if the lawnmower is leaning over at an angle of more than 15 degrees. This happens either when the chute is emptied or when the machine’s deck is cleaned.
Make sure to put the mower back in its usual position if you believe the tipping angle is greater than 15 degrees and emitting white smoke. The tipped machines beyond 15 degrees can cause oil from the crankcase to leak into the cylinder.
Set your mower upright and inspect the crankcase for oil, if oil is required, add it sparingly. Start your mower after completing this, and let it run until the white smoke has vanished. As the engine burns up the extra oil, the white smoke will vanish.
Head Gasket Issue
Once the engine drained and burns the extra oil in the tank, the lawnmower will stop producing white smoke. However, if the smoke continues, it is the reason for a burst head gasket. If the gasket is damaged, a lot of smoke will be directed at you. The head gasket is located between the engine’s cylinder head and the cylinder block. The only way to fix a broken gasket is to swap it out for a new one and refill the oil.
Piston Rings
Failure of the piston rings is another cause of white smoke from your lawnmower. But out of all the potential causes, a damaged piston ring is the worst. This occurs if you use an outdated, worn-out mower or one that has received very little maintenance. The excess oil in the combustion chamber is drained and flowed back into the engine block by piston rings.
However, if the piston rings malfunction, this process is impeded. Your lawnmower starts to emit white smoke when the piston rings break because the oil in the combustion chamber keeps building up. The best solution is to rebuild the engine if the piston rings have failed.
Accidentally Put Oil In The Gas Tank
You may have put oil in the gas tank if your mower emits white smoke frequently. Drain the gas tank and refill it with new oil if you need to fix what you did. If you want to make it simpler, you can use a siphon or fluid extractor. Run the engine after removing the stained fuel until the mower runs out of oil. To replace the old oil with new, you need to clean the carburetor if the engine still won’t start.
Blue Smoke Means Serious Issues
An excessive amount of blue or white smoke may indicate that worn seals allowed oil to enter the combustion chamber. If this is the case, the engine may sputter or shut off, and the mower won’t quit smoking.
The breathing tube transports air from the combustion chamber to the exhaust port, which may rupture and be problematic. It is potentially a blown head gasket, in which oil would get into the air filter. These issues necessitate a professional lawnmower repair unless you chance to be a small engine expert.
FAQ’S
Why does a lawnmower produce white smoke?
A defective carburetor, an overfilled oil tank, or a clogged air filter is just a few of the problems that might result in white smoke coming from a lawnmower.
Is white smoke from a lawnmower dangerous?
White smoke is not dangerous in and of itself, but it indicates a more significant issue with the lawnmower. A prolonged buildup of thick smoke means that the engine is overheated or oil is dripping into the combustion chamber.
What should I do if white smoke is coming out of my lawnmower?
You should immediately shut off your lawnmower if it emits white smoke and checks it for any problem, such as an overfilled oil tank or a clogged air filter.
Can lawnmower white smoke be damaging to my health?
White smoke is not toxic, but excessive amounts breathed can be dangerous. It is advised to avoid using the lawnmower and have it checked out by a technician if you observe continuous white smoke.
Can a lawnmower’s white smoke harm my lawn?
White smoke won’t harm your lawn on its own. If the smoke creates a problem like an oil leak, it could stain your lawn. If the lawnmower is not working properly, the grass may not be mowed uniformly, leading to uneven growth.
Can a lawn mower produce white smoke from too much oil?
Your engine is likely emitting blue or white smoke because it burns oil. It can be brought on by overfilling the crankcase with oil. An improper oil grade is operating the engine at an angle of more than 15°.
Conclusion
White smoke from lawnmowers is not dangerous, but it can be fixed easily. Blue or black smoke is far more harmful to your lawnmower. Fixing a little problem and letting the engine run until the smoke disappears will take care of the white smoke. Remember that new lawnmowers often emit white smoke until they begin going and get used to everything. So, if you see this on your first mow with your new mower, don’t be worried.