Kohler Magnum 14hp condensaation build up.

[Dennis C. 142]

I've owned this 314 Hydro two seasons now and I have a puzzling issue. The tractor is a 1996 with 540hrs. Machine is in excellent condition. I change the oil each Spring and oil usage is nil. During the cooler months and winter the tractor is stored in a new storage shed. Every Spring when I go to start the tractor for the first time the oil is contaminated with water. (condensation) I used the tractor all summer and the oil is clean. Today I went out to move the tractor after sitting for two weeks in the cold storage shed and after the engine warmed up I checked the oil and it was all milky. What's causing this and how to I stop this from happening? I've owned several WH tractors with Kohlers and this is the first time I've had this issue. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by Dennis C.

[peter lena 8,632]

@Dennis C.  just a guess , how long was your warm up ?  did you run it around  , engage your pto lever ?  sounds like not enough engine heat to  evaporate the  cold to  hot  change over , this is only my take on this , not had a milky oil issue , what are you using for oil ?  went over to  Castrol magnatec  oil  for winter , 5-30 , no moisture issues at all , also use  rislone  zinc  in all my oils , have you changed anything that might have caused this ?   pete  

[Dennis C. 142]

4 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Dennis C.  just a guess , how long was your warm up ?  did you run it around  , engage your pto lever ?  sounds like not enough engine heat to  evaporate the  cold to  hot  change over , this is only my take on this , not had a milky oil issue , what are you using for oil ?  went over to  Castrol magnatec  oil  for winter , 5-30 , no moisture issues at all , also use  rislone  zinc  in all my oils , have you changed anything that might have caused this ?   pete  

 Pete, this issue is only in the cooler months, not Summer or Spring. I never start and stop the tractor, I warm it up and and usually mow or use it around the yard. This only happens when the temps are 30 degrees or lower. I'm using Kawasaki straight 30 wt with zinc but I'm open to other oils. Today when I return the mower to the shed I will let it run for a bit and then remove the dip stick and see what happens when the engine sit over night.

[peter lena 8,632]

@Dennis C.   thats what I was thinking , the  colder temps , is not letting the oil totally heat up , that would give you the condensation  issue . yup your warmer weather mower deck use , eliminates  all the moisture issues . I  use rotella # 30 spring thru fall , think a multi  weight oil , like 10-30  or 5-30  , check your  oil temp recommendations , would be the answer, the lower weight  , would quickly heat up and transition  to higher weight  heat change over . have any place nearby where you can drive the tractor ?  like a cull de sac ?  that idling  is zero stress / heat , think thats your issue. multi wt. oil  , pete     

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Sometimes the dipstick doesn't seal causing atmosphere to enter crankcase... I would check that and possibly put a new o-ring on it if possible. You are just going to want to make sure that everything on the engine is sealing up good... gaskets and such...

 

Just an idea...

 

Don

[Dennis C. 142]

34 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Dennis C.   thats what I was thinking , the  colder temps , is not letting the oil totally heat up , that would give you the condensation  issue . yup your warmer weather mower deck use , eliminates  all the moisture issues . I  use rotella # 30 spring thru fall , think a multi  weight oil , like 10-30  or 5-30  , check your  oil temp recommendations , would be the answer, the lower weight  , would quickly heat up and transition  to higher weight  heat change over . have any place nearby where you can drive the tractor ?  like a cull de sac ?  that idling  is zero stress / heat , think thats your issue. multi wt. oil  , pete     

I never just start and stop the tractor. Minimum use is 30 minutes and yes I drive around the neighborhood with bit if i'm not mowing. My daughters dog LOVES riding on the tractor so we go for at least 30 minutes. I just let the engine run at 1/2 throttle for 35 minutes and the block is stone cold. During the summer, it's just the opposite. I'll try the Castrol Magnatec 5-30 and see what happens.

[Dennis C. 142]

1 hour ago, peter lena said:

@Dennis C.  just a guess , how long was your warm up ?  did you run it around  , engage your pto lever ?  sounds like not enough engine heat to  evaporate the  cold to  hot  change over , this is only my take on this , not had a milky oil issue , what are you using for oil ?  went over to  Castrol magnatec  oil  for winter , 5-30 , no moisture issues at all , also use  rislone  zinc  in all my oils , have you changed anything that might have caused this ?   pete  

Where do you buy the Castrol Magnatec 5-30.? No one stocks that here in Coventry or close by.

[peter lena 8,632]

@Dennis C.   got it a Walmart  ,  just like everything else , the prices are nuts , good luck , pete 

[peter lena 8,632]

@Dennis C.  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-GTX-MAGNATEC-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-Quarts/44580669   , pretty good pricing , pete

[stevasaurus 22,763]

Just a question...Are you getting moisture or is it maybe what I would call frothing??  I remember frothing would occur in car engines sometimes with Pennsoil in the late 60's.

[stevasaurus 22,763]

Is your Kawasaki oil a detergent oil ??  If so, maybe a non-detergent oil might be the answer.  

[Snoopy11 5,714]

@stevasaurus excellent recommendations. My only thought though... he doesn't have the problem with his other engines...

 

Don

[stevasaurus 22,763]

Understood Don.  Just thinking when you pull out a dipstick and it has white junk on it...could be froth.  A suggestion that Dennis has to think about and let us know.  I know there is a lot of times, we all miss the issue because of not enough information, or discussion.  

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Just now, stevasaurus said:

Understood Don.  Just thinking when you pull out a dipstick and it has white junk on it...could be froth.  A suggestion that Dennis has to think about and let us know.  I know there is a lot of times, we all miss the issue because of not enough information, or discussion.  

Absolutely. To your point... we don't know that what is in the engine is water...

 

I'd be interested to know how the spark plug looks when it comes out... if this engine is burning any oil... any excessive oil or hints of smoke coming from the exhaust or breather.

 

I have seen some engines that... when the rings and cylinder walls are well worn... combustion gets by the rings, making the oil milky as well. Does the oil have a fuel fragrance... things like that...

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Hey Steve, just read this on another forum about milky oil...

 

"Did you take the hose to it or leave it out in the rain? Roof leak?....not likely, unless you left the cover off of the crankcase....sabotage? Got problem with your neighbor, wife jealous of your mower?"

 

 

Don

[stevasaurus 22,763]

Excellent Don !!  A picture of what is on the dip stick might go a long way ??  I'm just thinking, you don't usually get moisture in an engine without a radiator.  Then, you think about the oil??  

[Dennis C. 142]

1 hour ago, peter lena said:

@Dennis C.  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-GTX-MAGNATEC-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-Quarts/44580669   , pretty good pricing , pete

Says not available in my location

[Dennis C. 142]

1 hour ago, stevasaurus said:

Just a question...Are you getting moisture or is it maybe what I would call frothing??  I remember frothing would occur in car engines sometimes with Pennsoil in the late 60's.

Dipestick is all white and the oil on the dipstick.

[Dennis C. 142]

1 hour ago, stevasaurus said:

Is your Kawasaki oil a detergent oil ??  If so, maybe a non-detergent oil might be the answer.  

Not sure, I bought it because it is recommended for older engines and has a zinc additive.

Edited November 14, 2022 by Dennis C.

[Dennis C. 142]

41 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Absolutely. To your point... we don't know that what is in the engine is water...

 

I'd be interested to know how the spark plug looks when it comes out... if this engine is burning any oil... any excessive oil or hints of smoke coming from the exhaust or breather.

 

I have seen some engines that... when the rings and cylinder walls are well worn... combustion gets by the rings, making the oil milky as well. Does the oil have a fuel fragrance... things like that...

 

Don

I changed the oil each Spring and i have only owned this tractor 2 seasons. Engine has 540 hours and the oil is clean. I check the oil before every use and in the warmer months the oil is nice and clean, not dirty or burnt looking.  Plug is fresh with 10 hours on it. I'll pull it tomorrow and see what it looks like.

[stevasaurus 22,763]

Get us a picture...sounds like frothing.   Don't get excited here, we are only trying to figure out and help.  Let us see what is on the dip stick.  

[Dennis C. 142]

28 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Hey Steve, just read this on another forum about milky oil...

 

"Did you take the hose to it or leave it out in the rain? Roof leak?....not likely, unless you left the cover off of the crankcase....sabotage? Got problem with your neighbor, wife jealous of your mower?"

 

 

Don

Never use the hose on any of my Wheel Horse tractors and all are stored inside. After every use, I use my electric leaf blower to clean the tractor and blow out the cooling fins on the engine. Storage shed is brand new but both storage sheds have a moisture problem in the cooler months and winter. Even all my tools are wet.

[Dennis C. 142]

2 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

Get us a picture...sounds like frothing.   Don't get excited here, we are only trying to figure out and help.  Let us see what is on the dip stick.  

 I'll take pictures tomorrow. It's not frothing, the dip stick has water droplets on it when i btake it out.

[stevasaurus 22,763]

OK, but we may want to talk about your shed.  My Dad's pole barn had a condensation problem.  He insulated the roof and it had heat if he ran it.  When he did not run it, especially in the late winter into spring, the insulation would get wet and drip.  After he passed, I ended up ripping out all of that fiberglass insulation.  There were vents in the ridge of the roof, but not enough to take care of that moisture.  Once that insulation was wet, it was going to ruin the sheeting on the roof.  The insulation has been gone for 20 years now and we have no moisture issues since then.  It was like being in a sauna in the spring.  Maybe, that is what you have going on???

[Dennis C. 142]

4 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

OK, but we may want to talk about your shed.  My Dad's pole barn had a condensation problem.  He insulated the roof and it had heat if he ran it.  When he did not run it, especially in the late winter into spring, the insulation would get wet and drip.  After he passed, I ended up ripping out all of that fiberglass insulation.  There were vents in the ridge of the roof, but not enough to take care of that moisture.  Once that insulation was wet, it was going to ruin the sheeting on the roof.  The insulation has been gone for 20 years now and we have no moisture issues since then.  It was like being in a sauna in the spring.  Maybe, that is what you have going on???

It has more to do with the property, my house is the same way. WET. Neither shed is insulated and both have vents. The land is very damp . In the winter   the tools and mowers all have water droplets on them.  Not much I can do about that.