Good Morning: My Skag mower runs off a 26 hp Briggs. There is a slow oil leak somewhere (about 1/4 quart in 4 hours or running. However, this is either the result of or cause for an exciting fire. Its hard to determine where the leak occurs; its somewhere close to the bottom of the engine. The bottom case bolts are at their recommended torque. I was thinking the main shaft seal but this would cause the oil to be pretty much uniformly distributed around the base of the mounting whereas the oil is spread around the right side (oil filter side). I've noticed there is an internal engine seal where the oil filter bracket is installed (not the seal that is standard with the oil filter). Is this seal readily accessible. I don't want to pull the engine if I can avoid it. Any direction you can provide in fixing this leak will be appreciated - Al

If there is a oil sending unit check there.

Hi,
Briggs are "famous" for the sump gasket being pulled in or blown out. I have always washed the machine with engine cold and then cranked the machine to see where it coming from. Easier to see on a clean engine/machine/
Peace,
Clarke