Air filter oil covered Cancel The title field is required!

1. Bradley Frunchak

   

   24 posts
   
   12/11/2017 7:12 PM

   Toro 3100 triplex(1800 hours) that constantly has oil in the air filter and compartment. The air filter needs to be changed every month due to the oil restricting air flow.
   I have replaced the breather on top of the engine that the rubber line runs from and into the air filter compartment. The problem still persists.
   
   Solutions??

   
   
   
   
2. Nicholas Daak

   

   3 posts
   
   12/12/2017 9:12 AM

   First make sure you aren't adding to much oil. Usually it takes Qt. and a 1/3.

   
   
   
   
3. Bradley Frunchak

   

   24 posts
   
   12/12/2017 10:12 AM

   Not over filled, always keep level in between top and bottom marks. I have 2 other mowers that this doesn't occur, just this one.
   
   This problem has existed for almost 2 seasons.

   
   
   
   
4. Jefferson Lumaquin

   

   0 posts
   
   12/12/2017 7:12 PM

   how frequently are you changing oil in this mower? Going too long between oil changes can leave sludge in the oil passages and pressure buildup can push oil in unwanted places. I'd also run a compression test to see if it might possibly be worn piston rings.

   
   
   
   
5. Stephen Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   12/12/2017 8:12 PM

   This sounds odd but had the same problem and ended up pulling the cooling shroud and cleaning the fins that cool the cylinder. Very fine grass clipping and dust had completely clogged the fins and caused engine to run hot. Since I'm not a mechanic don't really understand how this caused oil to saturate the air filter but doing this solved our problem. Now it is done every winter as part of our annual maintenance

   
   
   
   
6. Bradley Frunchak

   

   24 posts
   
   12/12/2017 11:12 PM

   Oil is changed every 100 hours.

   
   
   
   
7. Ross Santjer

   

   2 posts
   
   12/13/2017 10:12 AM

   We have had the same problems on the vanguard engine. In our case it was a slightly fouled spark plug, switched plugs and worked fine for awhile. Per our local Briggs dealer we ended up having to run a slightly hotter plug and problem is fixed.

   
   
   
   
8. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   12/13/2017 9:12 PM

   Vacuum leak, one of the crank seals or dipstick gasket is bad. We had this issue on sandpros.
   
   we regasket the engine every other year in the winter. If I recall, it did it on a few 3100's.
   
   Good luck.

   
   
   
   
9. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   12/14/2017 8:12 AM

   Just discussed this my tech, he also mentioned the reed valves get weak and bend/break under the carb....

   
   
   
   
10. John Moore

    

    0 posts
    
    12/14/2017 9:12 AM

    Agree with Doug. You have either a vacuum leak at the dipstick or engine oil fill cap seal or the valve in breather under the air cleaner has failed.

    
    
    
    
11. Louis Boudreau

    

    0 posts
    
    12/14/2017 11:12 AM

    From the sound of it you have covered the basic stuff that usually causes this problem. I briefly thought about the brand of filter but if you have 2 other machines with no problem then I don't think that would be it. I see where it's been mentioned to do a compression test. That's what I would do next. If the compression checks good then the next thing would be to do a leak down pressure test. I have seen engines have good compression and still have ring blow by. This would cause excessive pressure in the crankcase and would pump oil up to the air cleaner asm. I hope this helps. Good luck

    
    
    
    
12. Bradley Frunchak

    

    24 posts
    
    12/14/2017 4:12 PM

    Oil filters are Toro.
    I have replaced the reed valve under the carb.
    No other oil is showing up on the outside of the engine.

    
    
    
    
13. Bob Pruneau

    

    5 posts
    
    12/15/2017 1:12 PM

    Oil level staying between marks . Not riding on its own . Float good in carb . Most of these engines oil level half between marks and a good seal on dipstick solves this problem . Machine Follows sane route maybe operator changed his and doing some hill climbing for a short cut ? Do you have another machine to use on that route with same operator and see if it does it again ? Just throwing ideas out there .

    
    
    
    
14. Bradley Frunchak

    

    24 posts
    
    12/19/2017 9:12 AM

    Did a compression test. It was good
    
    Did a leak down test and had around 10% pressure loss. Valves are good. Rings are leaking.
    
    On to the next step.