RED-Z06 2,365 #51 Posted January 20 Kohler Oil capacities are strange, my M10 and M12 kohlers both took almost 3 quarts of oil, the manual said 2, i put in 2 and the oil alert light flashed when I tried to start it, added half qt and it was on the stick, almost the other half got it to full..never smoked or leaked. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alrashid2 355 #52 Posted January 21 Yes this thing is weird, I'll just go forward knowing that I need to fill to just 1.75 quarts... It kept snowing last night so we had another 1.5" on the ground. Driveway is steep and long (120 ft, 15% grade) so even that small amount needs moved one way or another! Well, the Horse plowed it just fine! Checked the engine again when done, and again no leaking oil... there might have been a small area around a gasket or two that looked slightly wet but nothing to even drip, unlike my first time plowing. Think I've learned to use 15w40 Rotella T4 and to only fill to 1.75 quarts. Only thing i noticed was the dipstick had a lot of milky white condensation, some of it was even frozen to the dipstick before running! Unfortunately my new dilemma today is that I had a hard time bringing the tractor up to the house from the shed where she sleeps downhill from the house... kept spinning out in the snow where it's a thick bed of leaves and dirt underneath. I'll have to think of something as I need to haul more firewood up to the house this weekend... maybe the snow will harden up enough to give me some traction? We'll see... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,299 #53 Posted January 23 My $.02 is the issue was overfilled oil. You were filling above the 2 dots for full which was overfilled. Glad things are working out for you now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alrashid2 355 #54 Posted January 23 @Sailman I'm hoping that was the issue too Sailman. Unfortunately I didn't have the time or wherewithal to experiment with one variable at a time... Part of me is shocked that being overfilled by just 1/4 quart would cause such issues, but then again, that is 12% overfilled (2.25 qt vs 2 qt max). I guess I thought the Full mark was the correct oil fill, but after doing some reading it seems like the Kohler is designed to run with the fill somewhere between Add and Full, which would be more like between 1.25 and 2 qt, averaging out around 1.75 qt in the middle. If that is the case, you could argue I was nearly 30% overfilled! Has anyone else here seen issues from overfilled even just a bit beyond 2 quarts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,447 #55 Posted January 23 6 hours ago, Alrashid2 said: it seems like the Kohler is designed to run with the fill somewhere between Add and Full I think that you will find that just about every engine on the planet is made that way. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lagersolut 697 #56 Posted January 23 (edited) 8 hours ago, Alrashid2 said: Has anyone else here seen issues from overfilled even just a bit beyond 2 quarts? Years ago after I bought my 315 8 there were no specifics in the manuals how to measure the oil with the stick - my C 101 has a threaded stick into the block oil checked from the top of the threads - the 315 stick goes to the O ring - then seated past the the O ring another 1/8th inch - I was filling measuring to the top of the O ring - these newer Kohler's vent to the carb - after a few mows the oil always went down and was pushing it into the carb - long story short - after I started filling to the marks with the stick fully seated the usage and mess in the carb completely stopped ......so to answer your question - yes - if you overfill my 315 by even 2 drops spits it right back out . Edited January 23 by Lagersolut Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alrashid2 355 #57 Posted January 24 3 hours ago, Lagersolut said: Years ago after I bought my 315 8 there were no specifics in the manuals how to measure the oil with the stick - my C 101 has a threaded stick into the block oil checked from the top of the threads - the 315 stick goes to the O ring - then seated past the the O ring another 1/8th inch - I was filling measuring to the top of the O ring - these newer Kohler's vent to the carb - after a few mows the oil always went down and was pushing it into the carb - long story short - after I started filling to the marks with the stick fully seated the usage and mess in the carb completely stopped ......so to answer your question - yes - if you overfill my 315 by even 2 drops spits it right back out . Thanks for sharing this! So glad to know I don't have blowby (or not bad blowby at least!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
