[Luc]

Hi everyone, 
I am having an issue  with my hydramaster boxer 318 Its throwing oil up the breather pipe into the carb it keeps on soiling the air filter and smells of burnt oil when driving along after finishing job.  Machine has just been serviced and the breather non return valve was replaced but problem is sill there any one experiencing same and found  a solution
Luke

[Dave Roelants]

Check the engine oil level first, if it's been overfilled it would cause the problem you're having

[Luc]

That  is fine Dave, I have even tried it 5 mm under the high level  but It still chucks up we are only talking small amounts’ but it stinks the van out and Iam having to change the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks

[Raymondo]

I had the same problem with our spitfire 3.2 which I think has the same engine.

Oil would pour into the air filter soaking the filter and then run over the engine making a mess.

What we did was to block where the pipe came into the airfilter. Then we disconnected that pipe from the non return valve and then put a new piece of pipe on that that was about a foot long and then supported it above the engine.

Its been like that now for the last 2 years.  

Ray

[Luc]

I am a little confused I can see the logic of running a  piece of pipe away from the carb but how does that stop the oil from being forced up still,
Luc

[Raymondo]

The pipe does not go into the air filter but goes from the engine and is then just vented above the engine.

The pipe I first of all put on was about 3 foot long but we then cut it to a foot long no oil is being forced up from the engine.

Ray

[sherco]

Sound too me like your pistons rings are worn and oil is getting past. You need to get your engine checked because if you run it to long like this you may have to get the barrel re-bored.

[Luc]

thanks ray
I will give it a try

[Luc]

I have just had a major service done by hydramaster their does not appear to be any problem with the rings (that was one of my initial concerns)
Luc

[sherco]

I have just had a major service done by hydramaster their does not appear to be any problem with the rings (that was one of my initial concerns)
Luc

I would take it back to them as this should not be happening.

[Dave Roelants]

Luc,
I'm assuming that as it's a 318 it's less than 2 years old. This being the case the engine is still under warranty. Find your nearest Briggs & Stratton master(very important) technician and let them check it out for you.

[Paul Heath]

Give the boys in Redruth a call in the morning. Im sure Craig or John will put you right.

[Dave Roelants]

As before, get your Briggs and Stratton master technician on the case, they will do it under warranty quickly, efficiently and local to you. Involve the "boys at Redruth" and it will cost you money-guaranteed.

[Luc]

appreciate  your replies Dave Its already cost us with hydramaster for new non return valve (that made no difference) and the extra time spent when serviced  they now want us to take it down to Cornwall (we are in Essex) that means a couple of days with no work and we are rammed at the moment.
It appears to be working fine in every other regard no white smoke when running which would normally indicate ring wear!  They noisy sods any way so I am none the wiser on that front.
It is just 15 months old so if it is an engine fault I hope it will be covered under their extended warrantee plan. John at hydramaster mentioned something about the heat exchanger being gummed up causing machine to overheat I am a little puzzled on that point.

[Dave Roelants]

Luc,
I've found HM's extended warranty plan to be a complete waste of time and money, they will find any excuse not to honour it, they changed uder warranty a heat exchanger on my 427 which had failed then told me 2 months after it was frost damaged and sent me a bill for it, that's after the 808 mile round trip and the 2 days lost earnings, costing just over £1600. The failure happened on the 21st May(frost damage - I don't think so)

Yours  clearly has an engine problem so get it to a Briggs main agent, the guarantee is for 2 years and they stand by it.
Get it sorted and learn from my experience

[john rees]

I'm had the same problem on a 23hp kohler command it ended up that the wire mesh filter was blocked under the breather pipe.Does the briggs have a wire filter there too maybe?

       all the best
                         John

[Luc]

 Hi John
The oil breather is fitted with a non return valve no mesh! I tend to agree with Dave that there may be an issue with the engine and also his sentiments on their (Hydramaster) interpretation of warrantee, Its quite interesting how they have mentioned to me the heat exchanger could be the issue as Dave says it means 2 days lost work a trip to Cornwall  a big fat bill for doing whatever to the heat exchanger and the problem may still remain.   
Luc