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Lawn mowers are a gardener’s essential tools for working. They make the grass cutting process so much simpler and reduce the amount of effort going into it. They are the best gardening tools if used properly, but they are still machines.
And such machines are often prone to many errors and malfunctions. So you may start work and notice your lawn mower smoking. In such a case, you would be confused and wonder why your lawn mower smokes on startup or in general. Worry not, as we have you covered with a guide on why a lawn mower may give out smoke and how to fix it too.
Is Smoking a Frequent Issue in Lawn Mowers?
You may be in your garden, thinking about how you should trim your grass. When you take out your lawn mower and start it, you witness your lawn mower smoking white. Then you must be confused and wonder why is my riding lawn mower smoking?
The issue is not a single one, but multiple causes may be present. However, lawn mower smoking is not rare. Usually, people do face such malfunctions and can fix them with a few tricks and tips. Lawn mower smoking, for gas lawn mowers, that is, is quite frequent. Some lawn mowers even smoke slightly when they start, but it is not out of the ordinary whatsoever.
Mostly, when you witness your lawn mower smoking, you can probably fix the issue yourself. But in some cases, when you can see the lawn mower smoking a lot, it may be more than just a starting issue. In such a case, it is best to take your lawn mower to a nearby repair shop and get a professional to fix the issue instead.
What Are the Usual Causes of Smoking in Lawn Mowers?
Many malfunctions could occur in a machine, and a lawn mower is, after all, a machine. So to be able to understand what causes such malfunctions, we must look at the kind of smoke. A lawn mower smoking would emit different colored smoke due to different malfunctions.
Further, we will cover all these types, understand the causes and find out what to do. So if you’re wondering why is my Toro lawn mower smoking, you can find out by looking at its color and the related cause.
White Smoke
One of the most frequently reported issues in lawn mowers white smoke, is an easily fixable issue. If you see your lawn mower smoking and leaking oil from the exhaust, then the result would probably be white smoke.
It is mostly a temporary issue and not a lasting one. As long as it stops in a short while, it will be fine to use the lawn mower as usual again. Sometimes, even newer lawn mowers show white smoke emitting from them. It is not a malfunction; it is merely a starting process for them and will disappear in a few seconds.
However, if you can still see the ego lawn mower smoking, you might want to find out the cause of the issue and fix it. You can mostly fix all problems mentioned later in the white smoke section since they’re relatively comprehensible. However, you could still go to your repair shop if you do not want to.
Causes of White Smoke
You may see your Troy Bilt lawn mower smoking and wonder where you went wrong. It is probably a minor spill of oil in your lawn mower while you might have been filling it up or taking it uphill. In either case, you can just let the lawn mower burn it all off before using it like normal again. In case of an oil spill, you can just burn out the oil initially and later understand how it did get spilled.
Moving the lawn mower around too much may cause minute qualities of oil to seep into the combustion chamber. If you are wondering why is your lawn mower smoking after winter, you may have turned it around to check for issues. It is when the oil may seep in, so you must not turn your lawn mower much.
Blue and White Smoke
If you witness blue smoke from lawn mower, it might be slightly more concerning than regular white smoke. White smoke is relatively easier to deal with and usually goes away quickly. But the same cannot be said for blue smoke from the lawn mower.
A lawn mower smoking and emitting blue smoke may indicate that the oils are constantly seeping in and not stopping. It won’t be just a slight spill or leakage of oil, but a more persisting issue. Hence, it would be much more difficult to deal with.
You might need mechanical expertise or even some experience to help you fix such an issue. Due to the damages being more severe you cannot fix them easily either. Hence, it is best to visit your nearest repair shop in such a case and seek the help of a professional.
Causes of Blue and White Smoke
Blue and white smoke is far more alarming, since, unlike white smoke, it means more extensive damage. Traces of oil in the combustion chamber may burn right off, but higher quantities may cause structural damage to your lawn mower.
Such damage may cost you heavy repair fees, which would not be ideal. Hence, if you see your lawn mower smoking and spitting oil, it may be best to take your lawn mower to the nearest repair shop or mechanic. Unless you are a mechanic yourself, you won’t be able to detect the cracks or leakages that may cause it.
Black Smoke
A stream of black smoke from the lawn mower may indicate too little air in the combustion area. As you may already know, gas needs air to combust rapidly. If there is a shortage of air or even an excess of gas, the combustion process will remain unfinished.
Such unburnt gas in the tank will then turn directly to smoke, which may reflect in the smoke color. So if you notice grey or black smoke, it is probably because not enough air is present in the combustion chamber of your lawn mower.
But it is not such a rare issue and may happen if the air filter of your lawn mower is dirty and clogged. You can probably fix this malfunction on your own with the help of a manual and an instructional video.
Causes of Black Smoke
If you see your lawn mower smoking, but the smoke is black, it means a clogged air filter. Black smoke directly means that you do not have enough air in the combustion chamber or too much gas. Try to check the gas levels first.
If they are normal, you can take out the air filter placed in the lawn mower. You can immediately spot if the air filter has dirt and grime on it. If it does, take a small brush and soap to clean it thoroughly. Then dry the filter before you insert it back into its place. If your filter is way too damaged, you could also replace the filet entirely.
Is Smoking a Frequent Issue in Electric Lawn Mowers?
As opposed to regular gas-powered lawn mowers, electric lawn mowers are a more recent addition to a gardener’s collection. The machinery and technology may have been present for a long time, but gas-powered lawn mowers still dominate the charts. So if you see a lawn mower smoking, it most probably won’t be an electric one.
However, if you do wonder why is my electric lawn mower smoking, then it may be a serious issue. If you take out your lawn mower and witness smoke emissions from it when you start it, turn it off immediately.
It is not at all usual for an electric lawn mower to emit smoke. And if it does emit smoke when you start it, then it might have a serious malfunction. It is best to immediately stop mowing and go to a repair shop with your lawn mower.
What Do When Your Electric Mower Is Smoking?
In case you see your electric lawn mower smoking, it might be one of two major issues. The first issue is that your engine or motor may be damaged. It is not frequent whatsoever, but there is still a slight probability of it happening.
In such a case, you must first remove the cord and cut off the power supply. Smoke is not at all natural in electric lawn mowers, and it may lead to a fire. So for safety, you must remove it from the power and check for damages. If the motor or engine is damaged, you can visit the repair shop to get it fixed.
The second case might be that you might have left the electric lawn mower in rain for a long time. It may cause condensation in the mechanism of the lawn mower. Such condensation could lead to short circuits in the wiring.
The short circuits will harm the entire system of your lawn mower. They may additionally generate white smoke, which may be what you see. The best idea is to never turn on an electric lawn mower that may be wet. You can also dry it yourself or at the repair shop before you use it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my lawn mower is smoking?
If you see your lawn mower smoking, but it stops after a short while, then you do not need to do anything. White smoke is usually temporary, and even persistent smoke can get fixed rather simply. But in the case of the lawn mower smoking blue or even black, you must find the cause and fix it.
Is it normal for lawn mowers to smoke when they start?
Yes, some lawn mowers generally let out some smoke when they start. It does not mean it is the lawn mower smoking, it is just a minor issue. But if the smoke persists, or is blue or black, then the issue may be serious.
If I have added too much oil, will my lawn mower smoke?
If you see your lawn mower smoking after adding oil, you may have overfilled or even spilled some oil. If oil burns with the gas in your lawn mower, it is bound to produce smoke. Seeing your lawn mower smoking too much oil may be the possible cause of it.
What should I do if there is blue smoke from my lawn mower?
Blue smoke in a gas-powered lawn mower usually indicates that the oil leak may be more severe in the lawn mower. It could also indicate that the engine was left running at an angle greater than 15 degrees. Either way, it is best to get a mechanic to help with it.
Is the smoke from electric mowers harmful?’
If you notice your lawn mower smoking, and the white smoke dissipates soon, then there’s nothing to worry about. It is only harmful when the smoke is black or blue, which means that the issue is serious. And if it is an electric lawn mower smoking, then you must immediately visit a repair shop.
How can I fix black smoke in a lawn mower?
Black smoke indicates a loss of oxygen in the lawn mower. It means there is too much gas and too little oxygen, which is probably due to a clogged air filter. You can take out the air filter, clean or replace it, and you’ll be good to go.
Conclusion
Lawn mowers are efficient machines that cut down on the overall effort it requires to deal with grass. They help you cover large areas in lesser time and help your garden or yard look presentable. But like any other machine, they may face some malfunctions.
These malfunctions aren’t frequent but aren’t rare either. One of such malfunctions is the lawn mower smoking. If you notice it and wonder about lawn mower smoking and leaking oil, then you can refer to our guide. We will help you understand frequent issues in lawn mowers that may cause smoke and how to fix them too.
