en I drained the old oil, it had a strong gas odor. I drained,and refilled it with fresh oil. I then cranked the engine, which would sometimes spin easily,other times acting like it was dragging ( it has a brand new battery) after cranking for a couple of minutes,I looked again at the oil,and it had gas mixed in again, and the gas tank was empty. what is my problem, and can it be fixed easily?
Briggs & Stratton

Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
You need to rebuild your carburetor and fuel pump.Once done, change the oil again.You might want to consider adding a fuel shutoff valve to your fuel line between the tank and filter. It is a great convenience if you do your own repair work.

How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?

We provide a variety of viewpoints on how to identify and fix common gardening problems. Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced gardeners :

Usually the problem is in the float bowl. The float needle and seat need replacing. When it`s faulty, gas doesn`t stop flooding the carburetor and gets into the cylinder and mixes with the oil. You must also change the oil when this happens as your oil is now ruined.
What causes fuel to leak into my engine oil? The fuel shut-off valve isn`t closed properly. Fuel float in the carburetor being stuck in the open position due to gumming (caused by stale fuel) or debris.
In short, when fuel mixes with the lubricant, it reduces the viscosity of the oil, meaning that the viscosity may be too low to create an oil film capable of withstanding heavy loads and speeds in some parts of the engine. This results in friction between the metal surfaces and wear of the parts.
The use of mixed gas on a 4-stroke lawnmower can cause the engine to choke, overheat, and cause the engine to smoke. If your lawnmower has a 2-stroke engine, it will need mixed gas, so a 4-stroke mower will suffice.
Mixing of the oil with petrol will cause the formation of gummy layer on the wall of cylinder because engine oil be burnt partially and as well as there will be emissions of poisonous gases which will pollute the environment. Gummy layer formation. Friction inside combustion chamber will be increased.
Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn`t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
If carburetor problems are causing fuel to mix with your oil in the crankcase, you should perform a thorough cleaning. Find out how to clean your small engine carburetor.
Oil capacity is typically 15oz or 18oz*. Check oil level during the season and add when necessary. Change engine oil every 50 hours or annually, whichever comes first.
Blue Max 11 HP 4-Stroke Gas Powered 340 CC Engine Horizontal Shaft – Walmart.com.
A too rich fuel mixture is the most common reason for the gas to get into the engine oil. It happens when the air ratio in the fuel is less than the required amount. The ideal ratio of gas and air should be 15:1 for the fuel to burn properly.
Blue or white smoke coming from your engine usually indicates burning oil, which can be caused by: Overfilling the crankcase with oil. Incorrect oil grades. Operating engine at greater than a 15 degree angle.
Firstly, you can only use vegetable oil in a diesel engine, not a petrol one. It`s important to note though that oil should not be poured directly from the bottle into a car. Due to the oil being so thick and sticky, it won`t flow properly through the engine, and it will not burn efficiently.
Blue or white smoke coming from your engine usually indicates burning oil, which can be caused by: Overfilling the crankcase with oil. Incorrect oil grades. Operating engine at greater than a 15 degree angle.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

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I have a Murray 36″ cut riding lawn mower, with a 11 hp Briggs engine. the problem, I am having, is it is getting gas mixed in with the oil. when I drained the old oil, it had a strong gas odor. I drained,and refilled it with fresh oil. I then cranked the engine, which would sometimes spin easily,other times acting like it was dragging ( it has a brand new battery) after cranking for a couple of minutes,I looked again at the oil,and it had gas mixed in again, and the gas tank was empty. what is my problem, and can it be fixed easily?
ANSWER : You need to rebuild your carburetor and fuel pump.Once done, change the oil again.You might want to consider adding a fuel shutoff valve to your fuel line between the tank and filter. It is a great convenience if you do your own repair work.

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How do I remove and clean air filter? – Briggs & Stratton Lawn-Boy 10640 20-Inch 6.5 HP Gas Powered Lawn Mower
ANSWER : There should be a square of plastic on the side of the engine which is opposite of the muffler. It has a small hex head with a slot cut in it. Remove this plastic cover and the air cleaner should be inside of it.

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Murray mower belt model 52431×92 – Craftsman 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
ANSWER : Get a 1/2″ x 92″ belt

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The oil will not drain out of my craftsman 18 HP Briggs & Straton riding lawn mower. I unplug the drain cap. I took the dipstick out, but the oil will not drain out. The dipstick indicates the oil is full. It’s acting as if the oil is clogged. It’s been sitting since last summer. How can I get the oil out?
ANSWER : Did you push in and turn the little pipe you took the cap off of to open it???

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How to start murray 188 lawn tractor – Craftsman 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
ANSWER : Need more info. what is it doing or not doing

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How do i add transmission oil – Ariens Lawn Tractor 46"" Riding Lawn Mower 936053"
ANSWER : Should a plug or cap on top of transaxle.

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I have a Murray 6.0 hp 20 inch push lawn mower. How much oil do I put in when changing oil.
ANSWER : If there is a dip stick add some oil check the level till you get to the full mark. It should take a little more than a quart. If there is no dip stick then there is an oil fill plug down low on the engine. Fill slowly until the oil reaches the threads in the engine housing (almost overflowing). Be sure to replace the plug or you will have oil everywhere when you start it.

Don’t just dump the oil in, check the level as you go!

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What type of gas should be used in a toro lawnmower?
ANSWER : I would recommend a Mid-Grade gas and if it stored in anything bigger then 2 gal. then some Sta-bul should be added to to the gas can.

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