Lo Boy 185 oil consumption

[Brianleibo]

My Lo boy seems to be using about a half of quart of oil every month. The tractor does leak a small amount every time I cut grass which is about 1.5 acres and it's not a lot I can clean up the drips with a paper towel. It's seems to be coming from the oil pan but not sure if it could also be the rear main or plate. It doesn't seem to burn oil while running either I might see a little blue smoke at start up once a week. Opinions? Thx Brian

[Eugene]

Get a couple cans of spray brake cleaner. Spray and clean the suspected oil loss area. After using the tractor wipe the suspected oil loss area with a paper towel. This should indicate where the oil leak is coming from.

I have a tractor (Allis Chalmers) that leaks a minor amount of hydraulic fluid. Some where around $500- to fix the leak. Cheaper to add hydraulic fluid. Also have tractors that burn a bit of engine oil, cheaper to top off the engine oil than to over haul the engine.

Once you know where the leak is originating you can decide on the fix or to leave alone until the next major engine work.

[gitractorman]

What kind of oil are your using? If you're using 10w-30, try switching to straight 30w oil. As hot as it's been, the 10w-30 could just be a bit too light for mowing duty, and you may actually be burning it and not even knowing it. If you're getting a little blue smoke at startup, you've got rings that are worn, and you just don't notice the oil smoke at high RPMs because there's enough other stuff in the exhaust.

Try a dose of Sea Foam in the gas and in the oil for the next few times you're mowing. It will clean up the carbon in the engine, and will help clean up the crank case, and could potentially help your oil usage, but it's likely just worn rings and time for a rebuild. If it's not that bad, and it sounds like it isn't, Id just put up with it.

Also, you probably do have a rear main oil seal leak. The heavier weight oil could help with this, but eventually it will mean pulling the engine to fix it. Again, a few drips is nothing to worry about, so I wouldn't bother unless you really want to work on it.

[Brianleibo]

I am using 30w. I'll probably just keep my eye on it maybe even check compression in all cylinders. Where can you but sea foam. Thx Brian

[Eugene]

Where can you buy sea foam?

Auto parts store.

[Winfield Dave]

Walmart also

[BigBill]

Seafoam will lube the valve guides/seats, free stuck rings and reseat them. How we know it's working is the older rpm will pick up.

You might have to remove the side panels to see where the leak is coming from. Oil leaks can only get worse sometimes.

Back in the AMC JEEP days it was called running seepage.

[Glen]

Hi,
You could try tightening the oil pan bolts, if the oil pan gasket is seeping. I have seen them on regular Cubs that needed tightening after use.

[saapgar]

Speaking of tightening the oil pan bolts, I have the same oil leak issue. Going to try and drop the oil pan, clean, and re-install with new gasket. Does anyone know if there is a recommended torque for the oil pan bolts? Or just tighten till you strip the head off. I've done that too. Thanks!
Scott

[staninlowerAL]

Does anyone know if there is a recommended torque for the oil pan bolts?

From service manual:

[saapgar]

OK, this is SUUUUPER!!! Thanks staninlowerAL !!! Scott