Lawnmower fumes can be scary, and you may wonder what’s causing it.
Regardless of your mower model, engine problems are common, such as:
If you’ve been there, there’s no need to worry because if your lawn mower is giving off smoke, we’ve got steps to follow for you.
From leaking gas in the lawnmower muffler to overflowing engine oil, lawnmower smoke is a common problem.
Whatever the case, the smoke from the lawnmower may not be suitable for the health of your mower.
However, the intensity and colour of the smoke will determine whether the problem is severe or not. If it is blue smoke, the gauge indicates that the oil is badly burnt or the fuel is rancid.
But black smoke is a bit more severe because it indicates that your mower needs refuelling.
No matter what colour it is, a lawn mower that is giving off smoke is not something you can ignore and let the mower fix itself.
When does the mower start smoking?
Most of the time, the lawn mower will start to emit smoke when it is turned on. This means that any engine problems eventually affect the health of the lawn mower and require immediate resolution.
However, this minor problem can develop into a more serious one and can leave permanent damage if not dealt with immediately.
Let’s dive deeper into the most common reasons why your lawn mower is emitting smoke.
Causes of smoke from lawnmowers
1. Black Smoke
Black smoke is a clear sign of an engine fault in your mower that is causing the lawn tractor engine to stall.
Usually, this is due to an unexpected or unplanned mixture of fuel and air, causing the mower to catch fire.
As a result, combustion will occur in the engine and will produce smoke that may concern you. In such cases, you may have seen smoke coming out of the lawn mower.
This phenomenon is similar to burning a pile of leaves and placing them in a tight-fitting compost bin. This combustion of oxygen results in fire, and heavy smoke is produced.
2. Dirty Air Filter
Another reason for smoke coming out of the mower could be a dirty or damaged spark plug on your mower.
If you don’t know what an air filter’s job is, it is there to filter dirt and debris from the gasoline air before it enters the engine.
Most air filters are made of paper or mould and are prone to getting dirty or damaged very quickly.
If the air filter is not doing its job correctly, unfiltered air will eventually cause the engine to smoke.
In this case, all you have to do is clean the dirty air filter and put it back in place. However, if, for some reason, the filter is damaged or badly burnt, it is best to replace it with a new one.
Once you’ve dealt with this problem, you’ll have your answer to why the mower is smoking.
3. Dirty carburettor
It continues with the air filter solution. After carefully replacing the air filter, adjust the carburettor slightly to move fuel throughout the engine.
To do this, simply unscrew the engine, move the carburettor slightly from its original position, and re-tighten the bolts.
While this step is optional, it may work in your favour if cleaning the air filter doesn’t solve the problem of white smoke from burning lawn mower oil.
4. oil combustion
Oil lubricates the engine and gives it a boost to run. This makes an overfilled engine another common cause of lawnmowers emitting white smoke.
If your mower starts smoking, it is not moving; This is probably due to the oil that you have left to burn. Either accidentally or intentionally, you may have spilt some oil while refilling the tank or while servicing the mower.
Whatever the cause, that lawn mower oil is the real culprit behind the white oil smoke from your lawn mower.
When you start the mower, the oil enters the combustion chamber and burns there, causing white smoke to come out of the mower.
To fix this problem, replace the damaged head gasket to soak up all the excess oil in the air cleaner.
In addition, it also prevents oil from entering the combustion chamber, which is what causes most lawn tractor engines to stutter.
5. Tripping on the Mower
If you are wondering why is my lawn mower spewing smoke? Answer: There is an oil leak in the mower.
You may need to park the mower on either side for a few reasons, e.g. B. For maintenance or to fix minor problems with the lawnmower.
When you stop the mower, the oil will run into the cylinder, which will cause the mower to catch fire and start producing white smoke from burning oil. Therefore, it is recommended not to raise the mower above a 15-degree slope; otherwise, the consequences may be dire.
6. Gas in oil
Gasoline-powered lawnmowers are also familiar with smoke emission laws. If the rush of white smoke from the engine oil isn’t a problem, it’s probably a gas leak in the lawn mower’s muffler.
This usually happens when oil mixes with gasoline and interferes with the carburettor. If you feel this problem, it is best to change the oil in the mower and fill in the right quality unfiltered oil.
To fix this problem, simply replace or replace the faulty carburettor.
How do I clean my lawnmower’s carburettor?
Our experts recommend this 5-step formula for cleaning a carburettor so you can get rid of your lawn mower’s smoking problem.
- removed
- stripes
- clean
- to rebuild
- Retrofitting
Pro tip
To change the oil, replace the float needle, fill in new oil, close the carburettor and tighten the fuel tap.
head gasket failure
A head gasket is a small, convenient part of a lawn mower, usually made of graphite or metal. The job of the gasket is to seal off the combustion chamber and prevent oil leakage with white smoke from overfilled engine oil.
If you hear a lawn tractor engine stuttering due to a clogged crankcase vent, simply clean the pipe and replace the head gasket.
When you’re done, check to see if your lawn mower is still leaking oil and burning white oil smoke. However, it is also the most common cause of smoke from electric lawn mowers, the smell of burning from riding lawn mowers, which can lead to mower fires.
In short, once treated, blocked crankcase ventilation unleashes all associated problems, from overflowing engine oil and white smoke, to gas leaks into lawnmower buffers. However, the problem is more common in 2-stroke engines and OHV (overhead valve) engines.
What does the colour of the smoke say?
The colour of the smoke coming out of your bottom shows how serious the problem is. Whether the mower runs and then stops running or the lawn mower stalls and smokes after starting, the problem remains the same.
In general, there are three colours of smoke: white, blue and black. Once you identify the colour of the smoke, it becomes easier to troubleshoot lawnmowers emitting white smoke.
However, colour differences are also due to different lawnmower models and your lawnmower maintenance schedule.
If you are unsure of the colour of the smoke, it is best to consult the owner’s manual to determine the source of the problem. Here is a list of solutions that you can follow to treat the exact cause of the lawn mower burning white oil smoke.
12 quick fixes for a lawn mower fume
1. Do not mow at a slope greater than 15 degrees, which will result in oil spills if you tilt the mower to one side.
2. Restart the mower and let it sit for a few minutes until all the oil has burned off.
3. Perform lawn mower maintenance regularly and seal any worn areas to prevent oil leaks that could potentially cause free running.
4. Seal the lubrication system in your mower to prevent spillage or excess oil leakage.
5. Clean and replace dirty, clogged, damaged and burnt air filters.
6. Clean the carburettor and adjust it correctly on the mower.
7. Regularly check the oil level, type and type of oil and top up if necessary.
8. Let the mower run for at least 5 minutes to burn off the oil spread on the surface.
9. Avoid filling the crankcase with oil.
10. Seal the air leak in the crankcase
11. Repair or replace the blown head gasket.
12. When changing the oil, always tilt the mower so that the spark plug is facing up.
Why is my electric lawnmower smoking?
Due to the heavy batteries and powerful motors, electric lawnmowers are prone to problems with smoke bubbles.
Before you figure out what’s causing this problem, unplug the mower, examine it a bit, and follow one of the above solutions.
Often it is either a burnt-out engine or a damaged belt that is not driving the blades that causes smoke to come out of the mower.
Other possible causes could be a dirty air filter, a faulty head gasket, a leaking carburettor, an overfilled engine, or the wrong type of oil.
Why is my lawn mower blowing white smoke?
Lawnmowers that emit white smoke are more common than blue or black smoke, which is a severe problem. However, white smoke indicates that burning oil may have entered the combustion chamber.
The most common cause of this problem is the burning of too much engine oil. If this happens, just run the mower for 10-15 minutes until all the oil burns out and comes out as white smoke from burning.
After that, restart the mower, and everything is fine to mow.
What happens if you put too much oil in the mower?
Most homeowners are unaware of the harmful effects of adding too much oil to their mowers. This not only interferes with the mower engine but also causes white smoke from overfilled engine oil.
A good rule of thumb is to fill the tank high enough that you can quickly secure the oil cap.
Overfilling with oil will also cause seal failure, blowout, or hydraulicking. Whatever be the reason, the excess oil is burnt, and this is the main reason why white smoke is coming out of the mower.
Why was my lawnmower smoking when I first started it?
Most lawnmowers smoke due to excess oil burning in the engine. Therefore, when the engine is operated, it first removes the excess oil that was present due to the engine oil being overfilled with white smoke.
If this happens, leave the mower running for 5-10 minutes so it can burn off all the excess oil and return to regular operation.
What Does Black Lawn Mower Smoke Indicate?
If your lawn mower is emitting black smoke, it is likely due to a damaged carburettor.
The carburettor in a lawn mower has the function of regulating the ratio of petrol to the air mixture. If it doesn’t, unfiltered gasoline enters the engine and passes through a dirty or clogged air filter.
As a result, your lawn mower will start to emit smoke, which can be resolved with the tips mentioned here.
How do you get oil out of a lawnmower exhaust?
Typically, oil leaks into the mower exhaust due to an over-filled engine, dirty air filter, carburettor, or worn crevices. Therefore, the easiest way to get oil out of lawnmower exhaust is to drain excess oil out of the engine.
This is caused by overflow engine oil, so it is best to seal worn valves when servicing the mower.
Here’s a quick overview of the causes of lawnmower smoking and the best solutions for lawnmower clippings and smoking after start-up.
Overview Of All The Reasons That Make A Lawn Mower Smoke!
| Colour Of Smoke | Cause Of The Problem | Solutions |
| Black Smoke | Disturbance in carburetors and fuel systems | Check the oil level. Fill with the proper oil level |
| Dirty or Damaged Air Filter | Clean or Replace the air filter | |
| Problem in Carburetor | Secure the carburetor and adjust a little | |
| White Smoke | Overfill Oil Reservoir | Run the mower for 5-10 minutes |
| Oil Spillage | Secure oil caps | |
| Malfunction of the Head Gasket | Change with a new gasket. | |
| Blue Smoke | Faulty Crankcase Breather | Mow on a 15-degree incline |
| Oil Spillage | Clean the oil after filling. | |
| Mower tipped over incorrectly | Mow on a 15-degree incline. |
Conclusion
In this guide, we have tried to cover all the reasons that may answer your question of why is my lawn mower burning white oil smoke.
We’ve tried to cover everything from starting smoke from the mower and then not going over the burning smell of riding lawnmowers.
If the above suggestions don’t work for you, contact your nearest lawn mower repair service. Happy mowing!