I guess this means I get to take the head off???

[Lance Leitzel]

Hi everybody - I need some advice. In the last week or so I think I've been in denial. I have noticed a few puffs of smoke comming from my underslung exhaust. I think it is white/gray. I ran the tractor a little bit this morning with my face near the exhaust (yeah, real smart I know) trying to catch the smell of it. Other than it makes my eyes water like mad, I can't really place the smell. I do suspect there is a little oil being burned. I have noticed the coolant level is a bit lower than it was before, but nothing seriously low. It still covers the tubes in the radiator.

Here's what I tried. I added water to the bottom of the neck of the radiator and pinched off the overflow pipe. With the tractor running at idle, the level is pretty smooth, as I rev it up I did notice a lot more disturbance in the surface of the water. I never did see any bubbles in the coolant. But if I drop the level of the coolant to just below the filler neck, the coolant is flat as glass at any speed of the engine.

The oil never looks milky, so I guess I'm not getting coolant down to the oil pan.

So, my question is there anything else I should try to test before just giving in and pulling the head? Thanks - Lance

[Bigdog]

Lance - I wouldn't rush to start pulling the head. If you're not seeing evidence of water in the oil, you may only be dealing with the cooling system setting it's own level.
What I would do is continue to run the tractor and monitor the coolant level. If the level continues to drop then investigate. Otherwise run the tractor hard enough to get it good and warm and give it time to boil off any condensation. You may not have a problem.

[Lance Leitzel]

Thanks Bigdog! I'll keep an eye on the coolant level. Is there anything else I should keep an eye out for? To be honest, I'm in no great hurry to pull the head off this engine (and discover what Pandora might have in store for me).

[Matt Kirsch]

Just to make up for disagreeing with BD in another thread, I'll agree with him here

The disturbance on the top of the water is the vibration from the engine. Ever see "Jurassic Park?"

Watch the oil level and the coolant level. If they don't go down or up, you don't have a problem.

If you're keeping your Cub outside in damp/humid weather, there will be condensation forming inside the crankcase, and the white puffs of smoke are just signs of it boiling off.

Occasional puffs of smoke are nothing to get worried over, anyway. They all do that. A steady stream of ghost-white smoke, on the other hand, is definitely something to look into. Grey smoke is oil, and depending on how much you get, may or may not be a problem.

[Lance Leitzel]

Hi Matt,

I never thought of my Cub as a Dino before, but there's a first for everything. I do think you are right and I'm making a molehill into a mountain. In the end, I bet it will just be a little oil smoke I'm seeing.

Thanks for your help.

Lance

[phantom]

it could be the underslung exhaust making condensation too. watch a car ahead of you that has just started up from cold. water will squirt, then dribble, and finally go away. it picks up carbon from the pipe and comes out as steam but looks like smoke. if it were mine i would use it until other symtoms turned up.