I bet you despise hearing bad news. especially when you’re in the middle of cutting the grass and suddenly notice your lawn mower blowing of white smoke; it’s understandable if you have a lot of questions, the most important being: is this a serious issue? Will this problem be an easy fix?
You need to relax and take a few deep breaths because we have a straightforward answer for you. It doesn’t make a difference whether you have a 2-stroke mower or a 4-stroke mower; you shouldn’t run the mower and start looking into the common reasons for this issue.
Common Causes Your Bad Boy Mower is Smoking
Bad boy mowers contain an internal combustion engine, which can have many problems, one of them being smoke emitting from the engine or muffler. There are several reasons this may happen:
- Air Filter is Plugged
- Insufficient Engine Oil Level
- Bad Gasket in Engine
- Internal Engine Damage
Bad Boy Air Filter is Plugged
Bad Boy mowers are some of the most popular commercial zero turns and are known for their quality and durability. But even the best lawnmower can have problems if it is properly maintained. One of the most important parts of any lawnmower is the air filter.
The air filter’s job is to keep dirt and debris from getting into the engine, where it can cause damage to internal parts.
If the air filter becomes plugged with dirt and debris, it can restrict all airflow to the engine. This can lead to a number of problems, including smoke emission from the mower, difficulty starting the engine, and decreased power while operating the mower.
A plugged air filter can sometimes cause oil to be drawn from the crankcase and burned off in the cylinder.
To avoid these problems, it is important to regularly clean or replace your Bad Boy mower’s air filter.
I recommend starting each season with a new air filter and then cleaning it several times throughout the season (more frequently if you are mowing in dry dusty conditions).
Keeping your air filter clean will ensure that your Bad Boy mower runs smoothly all season long!
Clean the paper air filter element of a Bad Boy.
- From the air filter housing, remove the filter.
- Remove any remaining dirt from the housing and make sure none of it gets into the air intake.
- To get as much dirt to become loose and fall out of the filter as possible, tap your filter against a hard surface.
- Hold your filter in front of a source of light. Reuse your filter if you can still see light shining through the paper. If you can’t, it’s time to install the new filter that you purchased.
- Attach the air filter cover after replacing the air filter.
Clean the foam air filter element of a Bad Boy.
- From the air filter housing, remove the filter.
- With a clean, dry cloth, remove any dirt that is still inside the housing. Make sure that no dirt gets into the air intake.
- Check the foam filter. Do not use the filter again if it has brown spots, rips, or seems dry and brittle. Replace it with a fresh air filter instead.
- If your filter appears to be in good shape, clean it with some water and mild dish soap to get rid of any dirt and grease that may be present.
- Rinse the filter until all soap is gone and the water is clear.
- To dry by air, lay flat. A sunny or windy day will hasten the drying process if left outside.
- Once the filter has dried, lightly saturate it with foam filter oil. It shouldn’t be oozing with oil. If the filter has too much oil on it, you can squeeze it off or absorb it with paper towels. Add filter oil to your new air filter if you just bought one.
- Attach the filter housing cover after replacing the air filter.

Insufficient Engine Oil Level in Your Bad Boy Lawn Mower
Not only is it crucial to ensure that your Bad Boy lawn mower has enough engine oil, but it’s also crucial to avoid overfilling it. Your engine may suffer severe impacts and start to smoke if either of these oil levels is too low. Clean the foam air filter element of a Bad Boy.
Your Bad Boy Mower’s Engine Oil Level Is Too Low
Running the mower with insufficient engine oil is one of the most frequent issues that might happen. Although it appears to be a little problem, your laptop could suffer significant damage.
The engine’s moving parts start to produce friction when insufficient oil is present. As a result of this heat buildup, the oil itself may eventually begin to burn. Additionally, the engine parts may start to melt, resulting in white or blue smoke from the exhaust. In some circumstances, the damage can be irreparable, necessitating a complete engine replacement.
It’s crucial to give your mower a thorough checkup, including checking the engine oil level, before each mow: Checking the oil level in your lawnmower takes a few minutes, but it could prevent you from having to make costly repairs later. Before each usage, make sure to check the oil and add extra if necessary.
It’s also crucial to pay attention to the oil’s color; if it begins to appear black or abrasive, it’s time for a replacement.
It’s best to identify this issue quickly and avoid operating your mower under these circumstances: As with most things, it’s considerably simpler (and less expensive) to remedy an issue as it first arises than it is once it has already caused significant harm.
If you have any reason to believe your mower might not have the recommended amount of oil, proceed with caution and wait to use it until you’ve checked (and potentially replaced) the oil.
You should send your lawnmower to a qualified small engine mechanic for analysis and repair if the level lowers quickly once more because there might be a leak somewhere in the system.
The Engine Oil Level in Your Bad Boy Mower Is Too High
Generally speaking, you should always check the oil level in your lawnmower’s engine before using it. However, a lot of individuals are unaware that using too much oil might lead to issues.
Too much oil in the crankcase increases the pressure, which can then push oil into the cylinder and even into the air intake through the valve train. Your lawnmower may sustain severe harm as a result, necessitating pricey repairs.
If you discover that your crankcase has too much oil, adjusting the quantity as quickly as possible is critical.
You can accomplish this by draining a little amount of oil through the oil filter or drain plug. A tiny amount of oil from the fill area can also be sucked out using an oil evacuator or turkey baster.
After removing some of the extra oil, check the level again with the dipstick and drain the oil as necessary until it is at the proper level.
It’s crucial to check your air filter to make sure it isn’t clogged with smoke or covered in grease. If so, swap it out for a fresh air filter to stop your lawnmower’s engine from suffering any more harm.
Bad Gasket in Your Bad Boy Mower Engine
If your mower’s gasket is damaged and engine oil leaks, it may be the cause of the smoke coming from your Bad Boy. A heated surface, such as your muffler, will burn off any excess oil that has spilt onto it and emit a lot of smoke.
Internal Engine Damage on Your Bad Boy Lawn Mower
Without disassembling the engine and carrying out leak down and compression checks, it might be challenging to pinpoint the precise cause of an internal engine issue.
However, there is a straightforward test you may perform to see if your internal engine is malfunctioning.
Remove your spark plug(s) and look for any evidence of oil to finish this inspection. Oil on the spark plug may indicate a piston ring or valve train issue. Even though this check is unable to diagnose your specific issue, it will let you know that a mechanic is required to fix it.

Taking your lawnmower to a small engine repair is crucial to assess the issue and determine the cause if you carry out this inspection and discover oil on your spark plugs. Ignoring an internal engine issue could cause major harm or possibly the engine’s demise.
Your Bad Boy Mower’s Piston Rings Have an Engine Problem
Your engine must be disassembled in order to detect a piston ring issue. Damaged piston rings or scoring is found inside the cylinder wall, oil could enter and burn off, which could cause your Bad Boy lawnmower to start smoking.
Your Bad Boy Mower’s Valve Train Has An Engine Problem
An overheated Bad Boy lawn mower can have a burned valve. Only the cylinder head may be removed and tested for leakdown, which is the only technique to detect burn valve problems.
This examination and repair should be done by a small engine mechanic. The technician must precisely cut the seat and the valve to finish the combustion chamber.
You Bad Boy Mower is Blowing Black, White or Blue Smoke: What’s the Difference?
I always advise using the aforementioned techniques to locate the source of smoke coming from your lawnmower. By examining the hue of the smoke, you might be able to determine most likely its source.
Blue or white smoke is frequently produced when burning excessive amounts of oil. Oil leakage from a harmed piston ring, the valve train, the combustion chamber, or an engine gasket might cause this.
A clogged air filter may potentially be the reason oil is being driven into the cylinder.
When changing the oil, don’t forget to look for oil burning off the muffler or engine as a result of an oil leak or spill.
Black Smoke: Black smoke is produced when fuel is burned too thoroughly. This happens as a result of a clogged air filter, which permits a higher fuel concentration in the fuel-to-air ratio.
The Bad Boy lawnmower can produce dark smoke when operating heavily. Check your mower for another air limitation if the filter is not the problem.
Conclusion
Mowing your lawn should be a relaxing and satisfying experience, but it can quickly become a nightmare if your lawn mower is blowing white, black or blue smoke. If you’re experiencing this problem, you can do a few things to diagnose and fix the issue.
First, check the oil level and grade to make sure that they’re correct for your model of mower. Next, inspect the air filter to see if it needs to be replaced.
Finally, take a look at the angle at which you’re mowing—mowers can start smoking when tilted at angles greater than 15 degrees.
If all else fails, remember that regularly conducting an oil change is one of the best ways to prevent smoking issues (and extend its life overall).
FAQ (Frequent Asked Questions Bad Boy Mower Is Smoking)
How do I fix white smoke from exhaust?
There may be a few possible causes for white smoke coming from the exhaust of your lawn mower. According to two possible explanations, your engine is burning oil or coolant has entered the combustion chamber.
How do I fix blue smoke on my lawn mower?
If your lawn mower is smoking blue smoke, it may be because the oil is too old or dirty. Try changing the oil and see if that fixes the problem.
Can spark plugs cause blue smoke?
Spark plugs that are damaged or worn out can cause blue smoke.
Can low oil cause smoking?
Yes. If the oil level is low, it can cause the engine to run hotter than normal and this can cause increased smoking from the exhaust.