Oil from exhaust, please help the ignorant

TaterBug · Aug 8, 2005

Hey Guys. Hope someone can educate me on something. I've had a ym 1600 for about a month now and had no problems. The other day I was cutting and noticed a small crack on my muffler, where the pipe extends vertically from the drum, and noticed a small amount of liquid residue coming from it. I finished my job and checked the liquid and yes it was oil. I removed the muffler and saw there was a small amount of oil coming out of the exhaust. The tractor does not smoke, at least not enough to notice, and only puffs out a little smoke when it bogs down a bit. I also checked the oil and it was a little low. Up to this point it has shown no oil consumption. Ok, I need to know if oil in the exhaust area is a problem? Is there a normal amount of this to expect? If not, what are the potential problems? Also, does the oil ever mix with the diesel (I would think not, right)? Any info on oil's relationship to diesel engines and what to look out for plus what to ignore would ease this newbie's mind. Thanks. Tater

Neglect a man's desire to learn and create another generation of ignorance..... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Highbeam · Aug 8, 2005

I would expect "spooge" from the exhaust outlet of older colder diesels and pretty much any 2-stroke engine for the same reason. Incomplete combustion of an oil.

It should be black and tarlike, a little thicker than 90 weight oil. For good measure, keep an eye on engine oil levels. Going up or down very fast is an indication of trouble.

Inspector507 · Aug 8, 2005

Tater,
I can't really help with the question at hand, but if you ask a moderator to move this to the Yanmar forum, there's lots of Yannie owners and dealers that may be able to help.

Jerry

Cord · Aug 9, 2005

In this instance, no oil is naturally a good thing. For right now, the quanity is not large enough to be a major concern. If something is broken you can continue to run the engine for a while until the exact source can be pin pointed. Keep a eye on your oil levels. Make sure the oil doesn't get contaminated with coolant. Keep an eye on your coolant. Likewise, don't let your coolant become contaiminated with oil. It is possible that you have a small crack that could take years to grow. Or you could have nothing at all. Time will tell.

Soundguy · Aug 9, 2005

It depends. Some diesels 'slobber' a bit... that will make a thick oily like residue in the exhaust.. probably soot and undurned diesel.. etc.

If it's a bit of slobber.. probably ok. if it really is pumping oil into the exhaust.. that could be a problem. At this point.. with as little as you found.. I'd clean it and 'watch it' If it is only a little slobbery.. probably nothing to worry about.

Soundguy

Jagmandave · Aug 9, 2005

I agree with soundguy, also get the crack in the exhaust fixed, it'll only get worse if you don't. You can buy a new exhaust from Hoye for only about $80 IIRC, if this one's not fixable. Do you run it enough to get it thoroughly warmed up?
And, do you run it at full throttle? Both are good for the tractor BTW.
I have a 1602D and it's a great tractor for my needs.........

gbirky · Aug 9, 2005

Exhaust slobber is not unusual for a diesel. Is your tractor parked outside? If so, do you keep a cover over the top of the exhaust? Any moisture that gets in the exhaust - like rain for example - will be expelled when the engine is running. The mixture of that water with soot from the muffler looks alot like oil. It could just be moisture mixed with soot oozing out of that joint. Have you noticed any coming out the top of the exhaust?

TaterBug · Aug 10, 2005

Sorry for the delayed response. The other day I ran it for 2+ hours; that should be long enough to get it hot.
--The spooge was black and seemed thick.
--So far no mixing of oil and coolant and no loss of coolant. The oil being a little low worried me.
--I'm hoping it's just a case of unfamiliarity with "spooge", but in the event that it's not some of you say that could be a bad sign. Since I do have a 6 month warranty on engine and trans I need to know what types of problems could cause this and what they lead to. I just want to be armed with more knowledge than I have now when I call the dealer, if I have to.
--I do keep it under a shed with a cup on the pipe.
--No spooge coming out of top of muffler.
--I am going to fix the small crack in muffler. Yeah, I've checked out Hoye's website and even called their service dept. about this problem. They seem like a good dealer. Has anyone ever dealt with South Circle Tractor in Alexandria, Louisiana?

Thanks for all of your responses. Tater

Neglect a man's desire to learn and create another generation of ignorance.....

kayssupply · Aug 14, 2005

I just pulled a muffler off a YM1700 with your symptoms. It has leaking valve seals. The intake side is easy to see the oil running down the valve. If you pull the manifold you can see it running out the exhaust.