It is never comforting to see that your lawnmower is smoking, and it’s generally an indication to pay it some special attention. There are several causes for this problem, and you’re probably wondering: why is my lawn mower smoking? And, what are the actual reasons behind it?
It’s important to be able to identify this problem, what you can do to prevent it, and which steps you can take to solve it immediately.
Check out our complete guide below!
In this content you’ll learn:
Why Is My Lawn Mower Smoking?
There are many reasons behind smoke emitting from a lawn mower and identifying the exact reason is not actually a difficult task.
But you must follow some systematic steps in order to stave off emitting smoke.
The main colors of smoke your mower can release are: white, black, or blue smoke. Smoke is considered a symptom of a problem. Let’s explore each kind of smoke.
White Smoke: Problem And Solution
In this section, we will outline the four main reasons for white smoke.
Firstly, your lawn mower can emit white smoke for various reasons, but an overfilled oil tank could be the culprit.
Secondly, when you overfill the oil tank, white smoke is a very common result. This can happen when you service your lawn mower and spill oil into the engine area. The oil residue may take place while servicing or manufacturing.
However, you simply need to run the lawnmower and the white smoke will generally go away.
Thirdly, if you notice that your mower is emitting white smoke for an extended period and doesn’t stop, then it’s more serious as the problem is that the oil tank has an air leak.
Finally, any sort of malfunction of the head gasket is also responsible for emitting white smoke. In this case, you need to contact an expert professional to resolve this kind of problem.

Black Smoke: Problem And Solution
Black smoke from a lawnmower is generally a product of a high amount of fuel and air mixing together. When the carburetor and fuel system don’t work properly, black smoke can emit.
An improper ratio of fuel to air also produces black smoke. The likely root of this problem is a damaged and dirty air filter.
To resolve any black smoke problem, you have to check the air filter regularly. Most of the time, you will be able to catch the problem here and prevent any further smoke.
If the problem persists after cleaning or changing the air filter, it’s best to contact an expert professional. Alternatively, you could contact the manufacturer for an exact solution.
Blue Smoke: Problem And Solution
Blue smoke has similar causes to what we discussed with white smoke. In the majority of cases, blue smoke is the result of: overfilling the oil tank; spilling oil residue on different parts of the lawnmower; improper use of the spark plug; or poor grades of oil.
To solve the blue smoke problem, it’s crucial to fill your oil tank very carefully, in order to avoid spilling any oil, and never overfill the tank.
It’s also important to avoid any broken and damaged parts on a mower. Damaged parts could include: air filter, oil tank, head gasket, cylinder.
Verdict
It’s fairly common to be confused as to the exact reason for why your lawnmower is smoking. No need to worry though, try going through the possible causes we’ve outlined above. If the problem continues, it’s always a good idea to call an expert and resolve the problem as soon as you can.
We hope this has helped clarify smoke emitting from a lawn mower and the possible solutions.
Good luck!