Kohler Command 18 hp engine issues

[jerry tracy]

Thought I'd start another thread dedicated to the issue I'm having with the engine on the new 1863 I bought the other day. Engine runs fine, no smoke or miss but its puking oil out the fuel pump vent. I can start it up and it will run fine with no oil issue, in fact I started it up yesterday and let it run for nearly 20 minutes and all was fine. Got on it and started to drive it around and it almost instantly started puking oil. Breather tube is clear. So I decided to change the fuel pump so I took the one off my other 1863 that I know is good and same thing. Ran fine, in fact I drove it around the yard for probably 10 minutes or so with no issues. Decided to do a little mowing and then she started puking oil and the engine would die. Fire it up, it might run for a few seconds then try to die, work the choke and it would try to keep running but would eventually die. Did this several times and then it finally kept running without working the choke but it was still puking oil. Next step I guess is to do a compression/leak down test and see if its a head gasket or piston ring issue. What is considered normal compression for these engines? 130 ish or so? Any other ideas out there as to what could be the issue? Also as far as the engine dying, could this just be because of the oil being introduced into the fuel pump that its not getting clean fuel?

[ironman]

Breather problem maybe?
Parts 27 thru 32.....
https://www.cubcadet.com/equipment/A...a-25fd5cc31b0e

[Sam Mac]

Cub service manual says 160 PSI. If you want the service manual join Cub Cadet Cyclops on Facebook. The manuals are in our files section.

[Mike McKown]

Hope this doesn't send you on a wild goose chase but.......................

I have a Briggs Vanguard doing exactly the same thing about oozing oil out the breather hose. Not the fuel pump vent.

I assumed the head gaskets were bad. Nope, that wasn't it. I assumed the breather was at fault. Not it either.

Then I noticed the PTO main bearing was loose. Front crank seal leaking. From what I've read, the crankcase breather is supposed to maintain a constant vacuum on the crankcase created by the pumping action of the piston up/down. If you have a crankcase vacuum/pressure leak, that vacuum can't exist and you wind up blowing oil out of the crankcase. Maybe in your case, through the fuel pump vacuum supply hose and through the vent?

Maybe an expert will say I'm all wet?

[jerry tracy]

Well I found the problem and thank goodness it was something so very simple. I had mentioned in my earlier post that the breather vent tube was clear. Well it was clear, I could blow air through it just fine, however it was kinked just below the metal tray that the air filter sits on! The previous owner had mentioned that he'd changed out the oil pressure sending unit but I didn't give it much thought until my brother came out with his compression tester and we were just looking things over and comparing my old 1863 to this new one. Thats when we noticed that the vent tube on the new one was barely sticking through that metal tray. Sure enough, took the tray loose and you could see that it was really kinked, the PO hadn't pulled the tube up enough to where the built in grommet would engage the metal tray. Pulled it up like it should be and no more oil puking!! Kinda feel a little stupid that I didn't pull that tray to check things out but I figured when I stuck my mount on that tube and blew on it that it wasn't clogged, all was good. Well as it turns out all wasn't good but it sure was a cheap fix!!!

[Sam Mac]

Sweet, we love a happy ending.