# Leaking Lawn Mower - Repair or Replace?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-lawn-mower-repair-or-replace/500946
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 25, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-lawn-mower-repair-or-replace/500946 "2009-06-25T16:06:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-lawn-mower-repair-or-replace/500946/1 "2009-06-25T16:06:08Z")
My lawn mower is leaking oil from many places and I can’t identify exactly where it’s coming from. The muffler is very black and the two bolts that hold it in place are covered in soot, which, for all I know, is normal. Smoke is coming from the exhaust frequently. When I shut it off, smoke wafts out from all sides and the top. I know nothing about small engine repair. The only person I know who might be able to fix it is my brother who, if I take it to him, will get it back to me in a year or two. (In his defense, this is a family trait that I share as well.)
I have never paid to get a lawn mower repaired, so I have no idea what I’m looking at for a price. I can replace it for around $300. Those of you who know about these things, is it worth trying to get it repaired, or should I just chuck it and buy new?
Thanks in advance.
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### Author:  [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-lawn-mower-repair-or-replace/500946/2 "2009-06-25T16:41:36Z")
Presumably it’s old and hasn’t been very well maintained, or it wouldn’t be in the state it’s in. The smoke is likely a sign of fundamental engine problems that would not be easily repaired. That said, you might be better off just replacing it with a new one. It has been my experience that new models have become easier to start and simpler and safer to operate in recent years, and while they’re still environmentally unfriendly, I would assume at least some advances have been made in that area as well.
Rather than just scrap the old one, you might offer it up to a local small engine repair place. They might fix it up as time permits and sell it for cheap, or perhaps cannibalize it for parts.