What does it mean when the lawn mower white smokes? Help please.

[biteme]

It's not low on oil, but the grass in the back was real high and I probably had to start the mower 30 or 40 times as it kept getting clogged with grass. I had to stop because white smoke was pouring out and it smelled toxic. Did it just get overheated? Try again tomorrow?

 

[chefbone]

It's not low on oil, but the grass in the back was real high and I probably had to start the mower 30 or 40 times as it kept getting clogged with grass. I had to stop because white smoke was pouring out and it smelled toxic. Did it just get overheated? Try again tomorrow?

How old is the mower? Is it leaking oil? How old is the oil?

 

[biteme]

I can smell that nasty smoke all over me, must have gotten up my nose.

 

[gotmilk]

sounds like the gas and oil are mixing incorrectly.

You have a 2 stroke or a four stroke mower?

 

[biteme]

How old is the mower? Is it leaking oil? How old is the oil?

I'm pretty sure it's because I kept having to restart it. I just put oil in a couple months ago. Didn't change it, just added because it was low. I have no interest in mechanical things so I don't know jack squat. I'm not your average guy. Never cared about cars or working with tools.

 

[biteme]

sounds like the gas and oil are mixing incorrectly.

You have a 2 stroke or a four stroke mower?

LOL. YOu might as well be speaking foreign language. Is it possible the oil and gas mixed when I tipped the mower up to pull the grass out that was stuck in the blades?

 

[Fajitas]

There's too much oil. It will burn off eventually but you can also dump a little out.

 

[Devastation]

LOL. YOu might as well be speaking foreign language. Is it possible the oil and gas mixed when I tipped the mower up to pull the grass out that was stuck in the blades?

this is exactly what happened. it will burn off the excess oil the next time you use it

 

[biteme]

Thanks for the replies. That smell is awful. I'll be taking a shower tonight.

 

[biteme]

DId I ever tell you that I hate yard work of any kind?

"And man shall toil for his food all the days of his life. Thorns and thistles will grow and choke out the grass" Slightly misquoted.

 

[gotmilk]

I used to work as a landscaper during the summers when I was in high school. We used to add a little oil into our gas tanks at some of the homes of the people we hated.

By the time we were done mowing, their yards smelled like a fire at a tire depot.

 

[biteme]

I used to work as a landscaper during the summers when I was in high school. We used to add a little oil into our gas tanks at some of the homes of the people we hated.

By the time we were done mowing, their yards smelled like a fire at a tire depot.

Yeah but you had to smell it too. How could you stand it?

 

[gotmilk]

Yeah but you had to smell it too. How could you stand it?

When you are mowing 9 hours a day in 90 degree heat...you stink anyhow.

It's worth the stink to see the owner's face as we leave a dust cloud of white smoke all over their yards.

You can drain the oil out. Take a 2 liter soda bottle and cut it in half. Should be just right to drain the oil into. Then, you can refill it at the end of the day.

 

[PICK3]

white smoke = oil
black smoke = fuel

 

[JayC9]

it's just made love with your strimmer