Higher oil levels in small engines is bad because it will aerate causing the oil the get whipped into a froth which can be confused with water/oil milky color, both scenarios can lead to the same outcome of engine failure. A little off the high mark on the stick is still good.
Ariens 824 - TOO MUCH Oil!
Well last Tuesday I was going to my friends house to get snow out of his driveway. I would have loved to take my X738, but no trailer and the weather enclosure (soft cab) wouldn’t allow it, so I thought I would take my Ariens 824 walk behind. I thought it would still be faster than using his Cub Cadet tractor with loader and back blade. I had cleared the 16” snowfall at my house on Monday. I was putting it off because of the brutal cold sub zero temps. I hadn’t run it in years, but I thought I’d try. It took a little bit with the help of some starting fluid, but it fired up and ran. Then I noticed a bunch of oil going to the ground inside the left wheel. I knew that was not a good sign and turned it off, then checked the oil level which was right at Full. The oil had been coming out a small rubber hose below the carburetor. I rolled it back into the garage planning to look at it later.
It took several hours with the Cub with loader and back blade to clear most of my friend’s drive. I was very hesitant to even pull into his drive, but I thought 4WD Yukon would be up to it. The drive is all down hill and with all the snow, I could barely see where to drive. When I stopped and opened the door to get out, I could barely see the running board. When I got out, I found I had been pushing snow the whole way in with the front bumper. I wasn’t sure I was going to get out, but persevered and got it done a couple of hours later. I sure wished I had my Ariens.
I stopped at the local lawn and garden shop. I wanted some expert advice so I didn’t destroy a great tool. The first question, after I described what happened and what the oil looked like (milky), was did you check the oil level to which I said of course and it’s right at full. He said they sometimes get water in the oil and it will look milky. He said it shouldn’t hurt it and to run it long enough to get it to temperature. Something was nagging at me, not my wife :tango_face_grin:, after a few days and the temperature getting to 20 this morning, I checked the oil level again. Low and behold, it was close to a 1/4” above full. I knew better than to overfill a small engine. Obviously I needed a refresher. I drained the oil down to under full, started it up, blew some snow, and all looked good so I could put it away. Boy did I feel Stupid (oops, sorry, I know I’m not supposed to use that word around kids) :sidelaugh:Stop:
Moral of the story, check oil level after the engine is off a long while. Then add or remove oil if it needs it without running the engine. Hope this helps some other old timers to remember.
It took several hours with the Cub with loader and back blade to clear most of my friend’s drive. I was very hesitant to even pull into his drive, but I thought 4WD Yukon would be up to it. The drive is all down hill and with all the snow, I could barely see where to drive. When I stopped and opened the door to get out, I could barely see the running board. When I got out, I found I had been pushing snow the whole way in with the front bumper. I wasn’t sure I was going to get out, but persevered and got it done a couple of hours later. I sure wished I had my Ariens.
I stopped at the local lawn and garden shop. I wanted some expert advice so I didn’t destroy a great tool. The first question, after I described what happened and what the oil looked like (milky), was did you check the oil level to which I said of course and it’s right at full. He said they sometimes get water in the oil and it will look milky. He said it shouldn’t hurt it and to run it long enough to get it to temperature. Something was nagging at me, not my wife :tango_face_grin:, after a few days and the temperature getting to 20 this morning, I checked the oil level again. Low and behold, it was close to a 1/4” above full. I knew better than to overfill a small engine. Obviously I needed a refresher. I drained the oil down to under full, started it up, blew some snow, and all looked good so I could put it away. Boy did I feel Stupid (oops, sorry, I know I’m not supposed to use that word around kids) :sidelaugh:Stop:
Moral of the story, check oil level after the engine is off a long while. Then add or remove oil if it needs it without running the engine. Hope this helps some other old timers to remember.
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