I purchased this motor used around July of 07. I believe it came off a Murray riding lawnmower. It ran fine for the first three months (occasional smoking) or so then after a 2 week break of cutting it was hard starting. Took about 2-3 minutes but it started, a little smoke at start up, I made a mental note to clean the carb and plug. About a week after that it would not start and I noticed oil in the carb, literally all over the bottom of the filter. I thought maybe a good cleaning would fix it up.

Cleaned the carb, then tried to start it and got a fountain of oil and gas shoot straight up out of the carb through the oil breather hose. Drained the oil and it was like water because it was so diluted with gasoline. This is where I am at now. Usually I can figure these things out but this one has me stumped. Any help or advice is much appreciated. :D

Anybody want to take a stab at it?

Did you replace or clean the oil breather? Dilluton of the oil and oil in the air cleaner are classic symptoms.

Yes I have cleaned the oil breather. Sprayed it pretty good with carb cleaner. What would the cause be for gas & oil to shoot from the oil breather?

Sorry if the first post was too vague a description but I didn't know it was a common problem, at least not to this extent.

Then there is only a few other causes: Valves, rings and/or timing. In order for oil to get into the carb, the rings or valves would have to allow that to happen. The standard car test for rings and valves is to take a compression reading and then take one again (after squiring oil into the plug hole) and see if the compression improves. If it does, it's rings. If it doesn't, it's valves. Since the engine ran, it not likely timing.

If the valves were not seating and the would either bring gas into the crankcase or oil into the cylinder head. I doubt the rings alone could cause that.

The compression release, if the engine has one, makes things a little difficult. You have to spin the engine backwards to test compression.

EDIT: The add oil part

All right, I'll have to test the compression then. Thanks so much.

See the edit about adding oil in the plug hole. That was important info I left out. Sorry.

Here is what I think happened to you. Your float and needle valve were starting to not seal 100% while the machine was sitting idle, that caused the white smoke. The needle failed further and gas kept dripping into the cylinedr head for two weeks eventually filling the crank case. In some cases like this the crank will fill to the point that the engine can't be turned over. You need to flush the crank with clean oil but first check the float and needle valve. I think you will find that the float, needle or seat have failed, esay fix.

Bb:

Not a bad idea. His definition of "cleaned the carb" might be off. Your solution does require a disassemble and clean plus check for a rusty fuel tank.

I have a 2600 psi power washer that does the same thing and I have not located a carb repair kit for the Kohler engine. Got a source? I have to shut off the fuel valve after each use.

Bb:

Lot's of lawn mower sites use this for reference to look up part numbers. They do lisy Kohler Engines.

http://www.jackssmallengines.net/parts.asp

I added that one to my favorites. Thanks,
KISS

Ball could be correct, or the breather assembly could simply be bad.

Excess Gas = Black smoke

Excess Oil = White Smoke

I have a 26 hp Briggs it's sucking oil into the carb I replaced the breather vent and it did not help, what else can I look for

Check the o-ring on the bottom of the oil fill tube.