Briggs 16 HP oil breather

[Jerry In Maine]

had my air cleaner off and noticed that I get vapor coming out of the crankcase breather. Bottom of air cleaner had a bit of oil - not much - coating it. Also get a bit of white/blue smoke while idling. Does this mean my oil breather is going? I took it out and the reed valve sucks shut if I suck in on the tube. This was followed by a vigorous tooth brushing...yuck.

[racerone3]

It is pretty normal to see a mist of oil there. These engines are built for lawn mowers and stationary equipment. we tend to bounce them around a bit more and get oil sloshed into different areas. you can always plug the hole in the air cleaner base and run a hose from the breather to a catch tank (Gatorade bottle with a hole in the lid that the hose fits relatively tightly into works well). this will keep it out of the filter and let you see how much oil you are really pushing out the breather

[Jerry In Maine]

thanks. whitish smoke at idle...normal?