Annual Small Engine Service

How to Maintain Your Own Small Engine Equipment

Why Service your small engine annually?

An air cooled small engine needs 4 things to operate correctly: Fresh Clean Fuel, Clean Air, spark source, air flow over cooling fins.

A small air cooled engine commonly found on lawnmowers, rototillers, string trimmers, pressure washers, and generators, require regular service to operate correctly. Much like your automobile, if your small engine is serviced on an annual basis, you will enjoy many years of reliable service. The annual service will in most cases cost you less than $15.

Small air cooled engines (SACE) are all very similar. The all have a fuel tank, and air cleaner with a filter, a spark plug, and they the engine case is typically made of aluminum or cast iron. The case or "block" of the engine has raised fins along the length of the engine. The fins dissipate heat created in the combustion process.

Fresh Clean Fuel

Let's start with fuel. Your engine requires fresh, clean fuel to operate. The most common reason a SACE will not operate is old, stale fuel. When fuel sits for a period of time, it begins to deteriorate. It will end up a gummy green varnish. This varnish will clog the tiny fuel ports inside the carburetor. When the ports are clogged, the fuel doesn't flow. The clean part I eluded to is in regards to debris in the fuel. Small particles of dirt and grass make its way into your fuel tank and into your carburetor, clogging the tiny ports much like the varnish. The key to ensuring your SACE will start when you need it to is to ensure you always use clean fresh fuel. Fuel older than a few months should not be used. If you live in an area that you store your SACE for a period of time longer than 3 months, it is best to remove the fuel from the tank before storing to prevent using stale fuel.

Clean Air