Went to get the Craftsman riding lawn mower out of the scary shed. It looked like oil had leak out onto the dried grass clippings. If mice have eaten through the line, how do I check it and replace it? (It started smoking when I started the engine.)
Fortunately, the engine oil doesn't go through any rubber hoses, so they are mouse-proof. The oil probably leaked out through an engine seal. Oil on the engine surfaces would smoke when it gets hot. Check your oil level and top it up if necessary, before you run the engine again. The engine can run fine even with a slow oil leak; you just have to watch the oil level from time to time. The leak could be easy to fix - by tightening up a few bolts -- or expensive.
The gas runs through rubber hoses, though. If mice ate through that, I think you would have smelled the gasoline, and the engine wouldn't run for more than a few seconds. But if you see a severed hose, you should replace it. Take it off and bring it to a mower shop or auto supply shop, and buy something the same diameter. Inexpensive.
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