Toro utilizes motors built by several producers in its own rider mowers — as do other mower manufacturers — so that the best source of information regarding your mower comes out of the operator’s manual. Small motors follow similar designs, so many symptoms are hints to the exact same issue, whichever manufacturer made the motor. Overheating on white and start smoke typically lead to problems with oil and gas.

Firing, Fumes and Debate

Your riding mower uses an internal combustion motor that draws fuel from a tank, vaporizes it with air at a carburetor and then fires it into a cylinder where it drives a piston, much as from the family. Misfires and fuel-related problems become much more apparent in its one-valve motor than in bigger engines. Fuel run via a gas filter, a too-rich fuel mix due to a sticky carburetor, running at reduced throttle, or even gasoline with over 10 percent ethanol, a grain-based alcohol which burns hotter than gasoline, can all lead to a motor which overheats.

More Not Always Better

Your mower’s small engine utilizes oil — typically 30W motor oil to keep the pistons moving easily, turning the crankshaft turns, and also the wheels also powers the cutting sword and accessories. When you fill out the crankcase, there is a reason for all those two lines on the dipstick. The lower one marks the smallest quantity of oil needed by the motor to function smoothly — substandard oil causes seizing pistons and shredding of metal parts. An excessive amount of oil, however, will splash around the motor, burning with the heat generated by combustion. Since your mower has only one four-cycle piston, the blue-white smoke caused by burning oil originates from puffs of smoke, fouling the exhaust system using uncombusted oil as it exits.

Pay Attention

Improper or dirty fuel can destroy an engine using the heat it creates, and oily exhaust leaves flammable deposits and fouls filters. Check your owner’s manual to get fuel and oil recommendations, rather than overfill the oil reservoir. Although some newer models may be engineered using metals developed to tolerate the higher temperatures caused by gas with as much as 15 percent ethanol, quite old engines normally operate well only on unadulterated, unleaded gas. Toro also advocates always running your mower at full throttle to avoid running hot.

Pick Up the Pieces

Once you’ve diagnosed the issue, bring your riding mower back to good health. When it’s filled with bad fuel, dump out the old gas, replace or clean the fuel filter, and spray carburetor cleaner, available at hardware or auto stores, in the carburetor to loosen carbon deposits. Once the cylinder’s refilled with the ideal fuel, your machine should clean its system using a sputter or two, then hum along the way it was created to operate. Cleaning up after an oil spill can take some effort; replace clogged air filter, fouled spark plug or oily gaskets. Excess oil attracts dust and debris, causing more smoking, therefore wipe excess residue from throughout the motor, such as piston and camshaft places.