Kohler CV23 Oil Consumption

[JimQ]

Slapper, Resto, Dutch...

Looking to pick the part of your brains where you file away all of the good Kohler stuff...

Kohler Command Pro 23HP - Vertical
CV23S / 75520

Approx 700 hours

Consuming oil at a rate of about 1Qt / 8hrs

No obvious leaks

I have yet to perform compression and leakdown tests. I'm just wondering if there is anything particularly problematic or any words of wisdom you could share to point me in the right direction.

I appreciate your time.

Thanks

Q

[piston slapper]

Look at the sparkplugs..the darker one will be on the cylinder with the problem.
Probably a breach in the headgasket between the oil drain hole and the cylinder.
Possibly a broken reed valve..
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[dutch1]

Partially blocked oil drainback port?

Slapper, what is the acceptable oil usage for the larger Kohler stuff now. About 10 years ago, Kohler stated that 1oz/hr was acceptable. I recall an LCO with that consumption, changed from a multiviscosity oil to straight 30W and cut usage to 1/3-1/2oz per hour. Thoughts?

Pending leakdown and compression tests, i'm out of ideas.

[piston slapper]

1 oz an hour would be way too much..that would be 8 to 10 oz a day on our crews..I would say 1 to 2 oz a day ...would be acceptable..when they start using 8 oz a day I start looking for the problem...
Filthy oil and air filters can accelerate oil usage.
The Magnum engines used a bunch of oil...probably what you were referring to.
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[JimQ]

Not as bad as I would have expected but the plug on the right is worse than the plug on the left.

BUT

Compression Test - 185PSI Left / 80 PSI Right

Right Side Leakdown - At 90PSI it holds 10PSI. There is air coming out of every opening on the engine! I can spin the engine 360 degrees by hand and it never holds more than 10 PSI. Sometimes more or less out of the intake and exhaust as they open and "close" but always out of the crankcase.

Looks like it's time to pull this one apart.

On a side note, when the guy pulled the machine into the shop, it sounded like it was running fast. 4K RPM if I had to guess. I didn't tach it before I tore into it.

So, any predictions?

Q

[piston slapper]

Plug on the left has black soot...unburnt fuel..
Plug on the right has crusty burnt oil..

I predict the problem will be very obvious once you remove the head....
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[Restrorob]

Just to show I wasn't sleep'n...... Ole Slapper mopped up the gravy pretty well......

[dutch1]

Slapper, my memory gets pretty foggy, but in this particular instance it was a Command I could be wrong on the acceptable usage although I do remember what Kohler said was acceptable seemed quite excessive to me at the time.

[piston slapper]

Quite possible Dutch...I have 5 binders with everything Kohler ever printed...up to 2010..if I ger a chance I will see what they had to say...
After moppin up all that gravy and almost running out of fresh biscuits...
It could take awhile to get a definitive answer....
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[dutch1]

Don't sweat it, Slapper, it's not a big deal. Don't waste your time pouring through 5 binders--you've got better things to do.