The Infamous White Smoke

We have all done it. You tip the mower over to clear a jam or sharpen the blade, and suddenly the engine will not pull, or if it does start, it billows massive clouds of thick white smoke. You have flooded the engine with oil.

Step 1: Check the Air Filter

If you tipped the mower carburetor-side down, oil likely saturated the paper air filter. Remove it. If it is soaked in oil, throw it away. The engine cannot breathe through oil.

Step 2: Clear the Cylinder

Remove the spark plug. Put a rag over the spark plug hole. Pull the starter cord briskly 5 or 6 times. This will eject the excess oil out of the cylinder and onto the rag.

Step 3: Clean the Plug and Restart

Wipe the spark plug clean with brake cleaner or gasoline and reinstall it. Start the mower without the air filter (just for a minute). It will smoke heavily for 3-5 minutes as it burns off the residual oil. Once the smoke clears, install a new air filter and you are good to go!