Oil up in carb area???

[wheeler]

18 horse Briggs, was missing today when I took it out. So I took it in the Garage and pulled off the cover air filter and found oil in the basket and around the top of the carb. I also noticed some oil down around the carb body. When I keep the cover and air cleaner off of the carb the machine runs good. Put it back on and it misses. I poured some seafoam (very little bit down the carb to help clean) but still when the cover is back on it misses? any ideas anybody.

[Mike]

Wheeler, first make sure the oil level isn't over the max mark on the oil dipstick. If the oil is at the proper level, use the search here on the site and check out some of the detailed responses to similar threads such as these:

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/engines/10652-vanguard-engine-probs.html

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/engines/6660-briggs-vanguard-problem.html

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/engines/16524-carburetor-spitting-oil.html

[jerseybigfoot]

Your air filter is coated with oil from the crankcase breather. This is common from high oil level high rpm and alot of bouncing. Sometimes the breather valve is dirty , if you have excessive blow by or the oil is over filler.

[AZ.MAXIV]

How many hours on the engine? If your oil level is fine it can be a bad head gasket, piston rings worn out, valve adjustment, etc.

[wheeler]

Thanks for the many great ideas and thanks Mike for the other links. I did have the machine out in the lake and several times while trying to get up on shore I had it tipping way over on the right side even taking in some water on the right side. Geeez I came close to tipping it all the way over. That might be why. I am still gonna take out the breather assembly and clean the holes. I am going to double check the oil level and hope cross my fingers that it is not the rings. I would think you would get some slap sound if the piston rings are loose? Maybe not though. I'm also going to change out the filter/sponge and see if all the changes work.
Thanks again. This is such a great site.

[wheeler]

Took the pcv valve out and checked out the valve. I cleaned and blew out the holes and checked the valve. Seems fine. Checked oil level and it is below normal. I cleaned with seafoam again and put it back together. Started it up and oil started spurting up thru the pcv opening again! Little depressed at this point seeing as all the normal things don't seem to be the problem. Trying to decide if I want to check for a head gasket leak causing a differential pressure. Probably have to look into the valves to see if one is bent and may have to go as far as checking the piston rings. Hoping it doesn't come to all this.

[jerseybigfoot]

Briggs also has a PV valve built into a valve cover that probably won't spit as much.
How is the engine performance ?

[Buzz]

I have to agree about the excessive blow-by. I would pull the heads and have a look at the cylinder walls and head-gaskets. You might even be able to see oil buildup/sludge below the heads on the outside of the engine block as a clue... And oil oozing from breather gasket, valve cover gasket, etc. Excessive crankcase pressure returning as oil-vapor via the breather can cause what you describe...even moreso under load. Just a head gasket repair is no big deal if caught soon enough. But, scored cylinders can sometimes result from long-term burning of oil and carbon buildup that breaks off. Good luck my friend. Oh yeah, a leak-down test wouldn't hurt to help isolate non-sealing intake/exhaust valves, or piston rings.

[wheeler]

Buzz I agree with you 100%. I spoke with a mechanic friend today and he told me that I'm MOST LIKELY better off looking for another engine. Not to say they wouldn't be happy to rebuild the engine. But the cost could be up around or close to 1000 if done right anyway. I could possibly do it myself but I really don't have the time or some of the tools I might really need. I've already done some checking into new engines at Northern Tool and Equipment and I can get a 18 hp briggs Vtwin for around 1250.00. I would like anybody who wants to give an opinion on Honda engines vas. Briggs to put their 2 cents in and let me know what they think.

[MaxRules]

How old is the engine and how many hours? What vehicle is it in? I would have a good small engine shop look at it before you talk about rebuilds. Most of these engines have low, easy running hours on them compared to other applications and rarely wear out. Be sure of everything else first.

[wheeler]

2001 MaxIV. No hour meter. Brought used. Not sure what else to look at. Not sure I want to tear engine down quite yet, but may have too.

[wheeler]

Some post on the internet said to pull the plugs and spray with WD 40. His belief is one of the pistons might be stuck. Any ideas on that?

[wheeler]

Motors out and now time to look into whats going on. I'm gonna speak with my mechanic friend and see where I need to start. I''m still planning on buying a new engine. Gonna upgrade to a 21 or 23 if I can afford it. I'm hoping to fix the one I've got up if I can do it for a reasonable price and resale it. Now it's time to get at the T-20 and check fluid levels and everything else down under. The Max IV's make it a little difficult to get at the T-20 and everything under the engine.

[amphibious drew]

The Max IV's make it a little difficult to get at the T-20 and everything under the engine.

Every machine seems to have a drawback to working on them. You found the flaw in your IV. The II's require you to undo an ungodly number of wing nuts to separate the halves. In an Argo you are working under the dash or through a small access panel that is at least bigger than that of the II. With a 980 Bigfoot you almost have to dive into the machine to get at things. Attex seems to be the easiest access to all parts, but there is a flaw in almost every design if you look hard enough.

[wheeler]

So true. I was looking at it tonight and thinking maybe I should take out the engine support platform. That way I can do some cleaning and checking of things that would normally be really hard to get at. If ya got any advice on what I should possibly do when I got all this stuff out feel free to advise.
Sort of funny, I just pictured myself with just my legs sticking out straight up in the air from the engine compartment.