OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Peculiar Oil Leak on Briggs & Stratton Quantum (?)

Good-day to you Gentlemen - my very first Post!

I'm gettng a peculiar little oil leak re-occurring on a Briggs & Stratton Quantum XTS50-powered Rover Mulch n' Catch that I purchased brand-new back in 2006, but which hasn't really done all that much work since, due to my preference for the lighter pushing-weight of my 2-strokes. In case it's helpful to the really clued-up Quantam'ites amongst you, the leaking motor's Identification Number is:
12F802-3179-B1 05050658
The following photos should give you some idea of the location of the leak. The motor itself has done about five hours of work since the leak was last cleaned away:








As you can see, the leak appears to be occurring primarily around the base of the Oil Filler Tube, but it is also extending forwards in a thin band along the gasket-line between the Crankcase and the Sump (but only on the Exhaust side of the motor). For some weird reason, it appears that the leak (or at least oily vapours from it) are somehow finding their way up on to the top of the Dipstick! If you have a good look at some of my photos, you can see how oily the top of the Dipstick is, yet how clean the rest of the motor's upper surfaces are. The motor's missing plastic trim-covers, by the way, were all removed (but not replaced) prior to the last time I cleaned away the leak (ie. about 5 running-hours ago). So it might be significant that the upper surfaces you see in the photos are not smeared with oil, in contrast to the top of the Dipstick...

Anyway, due to the preponderence of oil around the base of the Dipstick, the instinctive first inclination of many might be to suggest that the leak is being caused by crankcase oil seeping past the O-Ring at the base of the Oil Filler Tube when the motor is running, due to vibrations from (presumably) worn blades...

Well, I suppose the true cause could end up being something like that, but due to the fact that the blades aren't all that worn, and that the O-Ring in question (which is in a non-wearing application) is still in perfect condition, I'm therefore very interested in whether anyone has seen a similar leak in a Quantum before that was being caused by something else entirely...(?)

This is a terrific forum by the way! It's funny how little-ol' Australia with its small'ish population can often end up producing the best forum in one particular category or another (Woodworkforums.com being another very good example...)

Just by the by, is it possible to change the "justification" when typing a post, from the default "centred"-type, to something like "left" or "full"?

Best Wishes & Many Thanks in advance,
Mike.