Based on the symptoms, I'm assuming you tipped with the carb facing down? Is the air filter saturated with oil?

I tilted the mower the same way as draining the oil, to the right. No, the oil filter is dry. The small amount of oil being puked ends up in mid way (from front to back)on the left side deck.

Forgot to say, the carb was up when I tilted the mower.

Go ahead- warm it up good and change the oil and report back.It may be possible that the breather is simply saturated w/ oil. Let it drain and vent for a while before refilling.

The symptoms may relate to overfilling with oil or tilting. If your engine has the internal governor with the shaft through the crankcase at the left rear side, that could be the source of the oil on the deck. Make sure hot oil level is correct. Even with correct oil level, the governor shaft may continue to leak, and there is nothing you can do except clean it up every so often. My Harmony with GCV160 leaked there and left an oil spot on my shed floor that's still there. That's not why I sold it though, it was because cutting height only went to 3". Later, I picked up a Lawn-Boy commercial with the GSV190 and it leaks there too (both mowers bought new). Because of a different deck design the oil doesn't get through to the floor, and the leak is minor enough that washing the mower once or twice a year keeps it presentable.

The problem also could be the cylinder is worn out after 15 years, which is a long time for any mower. Why the symptoms would suddenly appear after tilting the mower correctly is unexplained and would not be expected. Normally, oil-burning gradually gets worse, not overnight.

Appreciate the replies. Pretty simple fix. Changed the oil. Left the mower on its side for awhile to get as much of the old oil out as possible. Mower didn't smoke or puke oil today.

Thanks again,
Mike