Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I'm going round and round with good/bad here.  Ariens 926le,  Lhead 9.25 tecumseh.  Approximately 10 hours on the engine.  Oil changed at 2.5 hours.  filled with the exact amount of Mobil1 fully synthetic 5w-30 as measured with a measring cup.  I just noticed as I tried to climb through EOD of about 2-3 ft.  & I let the machine climb rather than dig and I see a few spots of oil on the snow.  I shut the machine down immediately.  Push it to the garage and check the drain tube & plug----no leaks.  I wipe all oil and begin to inspect the engine.  I see oil on the side of the block and look closer to find a rubber hose about 3 inches long, pointing straight down that looks like the source of the oil and that side of the block is covered in oil, but it looks like it was blown and not dripped.    It is is on the left hand side of the engine from the control position.  I have checked the level of the oil and it is dead between the hashmarks. 

Is this normal for a Tecumseh?  Because if it is, I am very unimpressed and will be taking the thing back immediately.  If anyone has experienced this or heard of it, please let me know

I am riding the Ariens rollercoaster here,  one minute it is a fantastic machine, then, boom something like this.  I was afraid of the Tecumseh, but it seems to be the standard.  Never had a B&S do this or blow oil in 28 years of using them,  2 Tecumsehs,  well, first one made it 5 years, now this.........HELP Please.

I did some more research and it seems that this "tube" is a crankcase breather and  if the machine is tilted back more than about 35-30 degrees, it will cause an "overfill" type situation and blow oil out the tube.  I have since checked the oil and after cleaning the area of blown oil, I ran  the machine for another 1-2hours.  No more drips, oil level is fine.  Apparently, this is something the machine just does. 

Can anyone confirm or deny my diagnosis?

sailor, is it possible that you overfilled?   if you put in a measured 26oz (or whatever)  abd if the engine was not bone dry, then you would have had more than you expexted  due to the amount that remained in the engine when you "drained" the engine.

I haven't heard this one before, thanks for letting us know what you found.

I have seen oil being expelled due to over filling. Although my engine manual states how much to put in it also recommends filling on a level area. You fill throw the dip stick tube until the oil level is at the height of an open lower fill plug. When you check with the dip stick it comes out just right. since you said you checked the dip stick and it was OK I'm guessing its something else.

I've put my blower into the "service position", up on the auger housing, a number of times with no oil blowing out afterwards. This is different from operating the engine on a steep slope but you would think a little something would come out. I get the feeling you're careful enough to be watching this for a while just to make sure. Let us know how it turns out.

I guess the only real solution is to install an electronic inclinometer with a siren that goes off if the unit is tilted more than 30º

Well,

I ran the blower for about another 3 hours.  Not a single drop of oil or sign of it blowing.  Apparently, when the machin tilts back towards the controls with the engine under load, at a certain point, it will simulate an overfill condition.  Keep in mind, it was only 3-5 drops, not a large amount.  I did not "climb" any more piles & never saw the drip again.  As for the machine being overfilled, I really don't think so since I let the machine drain for about 15 mins and filled it to 26oz, checking along the way.  The oil is basically right where I filled it to. 

I'll still keep an eye on it, but, for now, I feel pretty confident that it is a simulated overfill and blowback.

Ok I've been an ariens user for more than twenty five years now and the oil you are seeing, I assume its spots and not a streak, is normal. I never did learn just whats does this as I asked my dealer who has been selling and servicing them for as lomg as I can remember and I am 65...
It's just blow by or oil bolwing through the breather, not to worry mine had not run out yet and Ive had it for sixteen years. Check the oil before eash use and if you in a snow area , Amherst is one, change the oil twice during the season and be sure to greasr=e the machine according to the manual, it will last a lifetime.
You have a good machine, one of the best for moving snow, use the lower gears and allow the machine to do the work but do not hurry it, blow snow in low gears 1 2 if manual drive system, any faster will just overheat the unit..

PhilC

Hi Sailor, I have the same machine 926le. Mine was also purchased from HD last season. I have had oil come out of the breather. The first time was because i had too much oil in it. Never really noticed again with the correct level in it untill last big snow. Had a little dripping but no big deal oil level is ok.  I have a tip for you in starting. Go to HD. get a new E 3 spark plug.  I think ours takes  E3.10.  I had trouble starting at first untill I put that plug in. I start with one pull now.  Choke full.  Prime 4 times.  Pause a second between primes. It helped me. Take Care,