Vanguard Breather Issue
 

Have a 16 HP Vanguard where oil is coming out of breather tube into air cleaner box. Have replaced head & valve cover gaskets & breather assembly. Seemed to be better last yr, but not now. Oil is at correct level & is not black, just light brown. Compression appears to be good.

Suggestions on where to look next or test?
Thanks

I'm betting you have a bad head gasket. Did you get the heads nice and flat when you replaced the head gaskets?:bigthink:

Believe so. Surfaces were cleaned well before reassembly. Going to replace front seal just in case it is cracked or something else going on & cannot tell.
Tks

Not familiar with the Vangaurd but any time I have had issues with the
breathers like you describe. It has been because of blow by at the rings.
How did the cylinder look when you had the head off?

Ken

Clean is nice but the sealing surface needs to be FLAT.

https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...ad.php?t=22831

The cylinder surfaces were dirty, but no large collection of carbon. Gently cleaned them with brush & Scotchbrite pads. Suspected the rings, but the oil stays lightly stained, not black. Sometime difficult to see oil on dipstick other than a fluid line of course. Engine does not appear to use oil, but if so it is a minor amount. So having a ring issue was not on top of list, but not sure. Compression was good on both cylinders. Wouldn't pressure be off if faulty rings?

Thanks for the link

If issue continues after replacing last seal, this may be my winter project again including rings.

Thanks

I know this is an old thread but I have experienced this same issue. I called my local dealer and he told me this is usually a bad oil dipstick seal and to start there. Changed the rubber grommet seal and it fixed it. So if anyone else runs into this try this $9 fix first. Hope this helps someone.

Hi all,

I am a new member here. I am having the same issue with my Vanguard. Oddly enough I didn't have this problem before replacing the head gaskets. The replies to this post just might have identified my problem...

Thank you.

Maybe it will fix your issue too. Please report back with your results.

Update - I no longer have oil blowing out of my breather. I removed the heads and used the provided method to flatten /sand the cylinder heads. This appears to have solved my problem. Thank you again to the one who posted the guide to flatten the heads.

I do have an issue with my carb but I will create another post on that.