2003 bigfoot pooring out the white smoke

[derekhonda]

Whats up guys, been a while. Put a plow on my machine, used it three or four times in late december early january, washed up the machine and parked it mid january. Went out to start it tonight fired right up, put it in low gear just to put around the yard, idled fine, accelerated fine, then when peak out in rpms (for just a second, have a small yard) it just started gushing white smoke, looked like i was out fogging for mosquitos.

Anyways, figured id just give it a quick tune up to make sure it wasn't something simple, changed oil/filter, spark plugs, checked airfilter it was fine (replaced it 20 hours ago), replaced fuel filter and a cracking fuel line, went out hopin for the best and had the same results.

I'm out of ideas, the plugs were very wet and very black when I pulled out the old ones, I did have an occurence over last summer when I actually fouled out a plug so I am thinking it is getting more fuel than it needs. Would that cause the white smoke and is it as simple as a carb adjustment, or do i need to rejet, or what would all you engine guru's do?

Thanks!

[Roger S]

I'd look at the crankcase ventilation system. When we tilt the vanguards towards the flywheel side, the ventilation system gets overloaded and it pushes oil through the crankcase vent hose and it dumps it into the carb throat.

I think your 18 has the vent/check valve in the valley between cylinders, under the carb. Newer models and the 23 have it in the valve cover. There's a one way, sort of like a reed valve in there that only vents outward. Don't know what happened, but that's what I'd look at. Oil burns white/blue, gas would be sooty black. Only other thing I can think of is major engine trouble, like a burned piston, but let's not go there

[derekhonda]

I was hopin you'd reply Roger! Thanks! What the remedy once I get it all pulled apart? Does a simple wipe it down suffice or does anything need to be replaced?

Oh, upon reading your post again it is supposed to vent outward and you think it has been pushed inward?

[Roger S]

I don't know, havn't seen this happen on level ground. I'd take it apart and look at it.. maybe before you do that, take the air cleaner off and run engine.. see what's coming out of the vent hose..

surely it's not overfull on oil or something wrong with the dipstick.. that would be the simple problem. Was the old air filter oily? That's usually what happens if it pukes oil.

[derekhonda]

I don't know, havn't seen this happen on level ground. I'd take it apart and look at it.. maybe before you do that, take the air cleaner off and run engine.. see what's coming out of the vent hose..

surely it's not overfull on oil or something wrong with the dipstick.. that would be the simple problem. Was the old air filter oily? That's usually what happens if it pukes oil.

Well you should have seen the "old" air filter at the ride it was soaked in oil. I replaced it, now there is just a little ring of oil around the bottom of the filter. I did take the filter off an run it earlier, there is a little "L" shaped hose that runs and dumps directly into the air intake, and it is leaking something but i thought since it is right there and angled into the intake it was suppose to be there? Surely it can't be that simple? What is that hose and what is it supposed to do?

[Roger S]

That L shaped tube that dumps into the carb is the end of the breather system. There's a rubber hose underneath the lower air cleaner housing, it connects to what I'll call the "beather valve". It sits in the block and is held by one bolt, and has a gasket under it. If you end up taking it off, besides the flapper valve, there's a small drainback hole in the metal housing. It needs to be unblocked.

I don't know what your problem is, but one of the following:

something wrong with the breather valve
oil level too high
bad rings or piston seal causing pressure in the crankcase.

[derekhonda]

Alright, got it all fixed. It was a combination of the oil being a little high (not by much, was just past the "full" lined by about 1/5" and I replaced the crankcase ventilation hose that runs up and draws the clean air out of the airfilter. Runs good now, thanks a bunch roger.

[m350]

Like Roger said,,That L shaped hose is the "End of the Vetalation System",It dosen't draw air from there,,,It vents into the carb to burn any oil Blow-bye, as in normal combustion,,, just like a cars PCV (positive crankcase ventelation) valve does,,thats why your old filter was oily,,maybe to much oil.

[Roger S]

Yeah, I don't understand why changing the hose would fix the problem. Maybe the tiny drainback hole was stopped up, and cleared itself. Hard to tell from this armchair diagnosis. I run mine a 1/4" overfull because of the inclines I play on.. it might push a little oil but never does the smokescreen unless the vehicle gets way over on it's side.