Leaking Oil HELP!!!

whitediamond52 · Mar 29, 2012

Hi, I own a craftsman lawn tractor with an 18.5 hp intek briggs and stratton engine. I noticed oil was leaking from the fuel pump so i ordered a new fuel pump and installed it. The darn thing is still leaking from the little screen in the fuel pump. Does anyone have a suggestion on what i'm missing? Thank you in advance.

Carl_NH · Mar 29, 2012

Could be a couple of simple things, but the pump reacts to the pressure change of piston going up and down to move the diaphram inside the pump which pulls fuel from the tank, and if oil is in the line, your oil level could be too high in the crankcase or you have one of the following problems.

Valves need adjustment pressurizing the crankcase pushing oil into that pump diaphram.
or
Bad head gasket pressurizing the crankcase thus pushing oil into the fuel pump

I suspect its a bad head gasket and its not a hard job to do and maybe $10 in parts for a head gasket and valve cover gasket. Taking off the valve covers is not hard, 10 min, and the head maybe 20-30 minutes so over all a couple of hours all done.

The valve clearance if I recall should be .004-.006 range. Take out the plug and stick a screwdriver in the plug hole and turn over by hand until piston is at the top. Then adjust the valves.

whitediamond52 · Mar 30, 2012

Thanks Carl. I think you hit the nail on the head that it is the head gasket. Appreciate your help

K man · Jul 31, 2014

Hi I have the same problem oil leak near fuel pump. I disconnected the hose that goes from the oil base to the fuel pump vaccum. It started to shoot oil out of the tube then I plugged it and it started shooting out the fill cap. Is this normal or would I say the hose is not plugged so this means the fuel pump is creating the vaccum to the oil reservoir. Confused. thanks for any help
Gilles

Carl_NH · Aug 1, 2014

Gilles,

You either need to adjust the valves or may have a bad head gasket.

When did you adjust the valves last - have you ever adjusted them? How many hours on the engine?

K man · Aug 1, 2014

The mower is 9 years old ( 800 hrs) and never adjusted the valves. Other than oil leaking near fuel pump, the engine runs and starts like a new one lol. It maybe the head gasket but I am seriously thinking on trading it in or just go buy a new one. Last year I put a grand into it on brakes, pulleys, new arbours, blades and tune up. I realy don't want to put anymore money in it. Head gasket probably with labour 500. So I think it is time the retire the old girl she has been good over the years. Thanks for your input though.
Gilles