Oil Smoke??

ironpen · Mar 28, 2015

My mc 35 (front deck commercial mower) has a 35 hp Shibaura diesel engine. 1300 hours. Runs good....but yesterday I noticed some white/blue smoke coming out under mid chassis. It looks like there is a vent tube from the valve cover that goes down there. I have never noticed it before. It does use about 1/3 qt. oil about every 10 hours, but I always top it off and check before each use. The oil usage is a longstanding occurrence. Like I said it's running fine. I use Delo 15-40 and change the oil and filter each season...about every 75 hours. Do I need to hit the panic button?? Any ideas if this is a normal finding. When I noticed it the sun was low on the horizon and I got off to pick up a bottle. I at first thought maybe it was a small antifreeze leak, but it was not. Any thoughts from anyone?? I did recently change the water pump, but it appears to be working fine and temps are normal. No antifreeze usage. TIA

dave1949 · Mar 28, 2015

Here is a diagnostic guide for black, white, and blue diesel smoke:

DIY diesel problem diagnosis | The Dog and Lemon Guide

There are a number of help sites if you google: diesel white smoke under load

DK35vince · Mar 28, 2015

I wouldn't hit the panic button yet if it is running fine.
It has probably always blown a little bit of smoke out the vent tube, you just haven't noticed it till the lighting/angle was just right.