Cub cadet volunteer leaking oil

[bebop86]

my volunteer with the Kohler 624 engine is leaking from the bottom- I think it is oil but not sure- since the whole bottom is a skid plate I can not see- it is not leaking from the filter or the oil pan so really not sure - Also very hard to start in cold weather takes forever even with choke on- I am assuming it is oil but any help would be appreciated thks

 

[Tinhack]

If it looks, feels and tastes like oil, it probably is oil. There's a gear case above that plate too.

If you've run the engine or gear case dry of oil, that might make it hard to start otherwise the two conditions are probably not related.

 

[Norm W]

If the oil smells like gas it is probably engine oil. If it smells like dead dinosaurs, it's gear oil.