Those who have lawns at home most likely own a lawn mower to help maintain their grass’ state. This prevents the overgrowth of grass and weeds, keeping the lawn looking clean and sharp. That said, you don’t only need to maintain your lawn, but your lawn mower engine, too.
This may lead to the question, ‘how hot does a lawn mower engine get?’ After all, you need to be wary about overheating, which can cause serious issues. So read on as this article tackles all about your lawn mower engine and any heating issues.
How Hot Does a Lawn Mower Engine Get?
The overall heat of an engine would vary, depending on different factors. That said, it’s normal for properly running lawn mower engines to get hot as it works. The temperature can rise to 400 degrees F and above, but it would depend on:
- The manufacturer and lawn mower model
- The type of engine your lawn mower uses
- How long you run it for
- The temperature of the day you run your lawn mower on
Since lawn mower engines are usually air-cooled, they can actually reach even higher temperatures compared to car engines with liquid coolant systems. What both engines have in common is that they get hot around the exhaust manifold. So sometimes, lawn mower engines can get hotter, but other times, they generally run at the same temperature range, with the air-cooled engines emitting hot air to make it seem hotter.
Another thing to consider is where in the engine parts. The hottest part of your engine would be the exhaust valve area, which can reach well over 400 degrees F. Based on a technical bulletin from Blanke Industries, the exhaust pipe temperatures of engines would be around 600 degrees F when under load, and 400 degrees F when idle.
However, the opposite side of the engine valve, which is the intake, would be around 250 degrees F, similar to how hot a car engine is while running.
How Hot Does a Lawn Mower Muffler Get?
Now that you know more about the lawn mower engine, what about the muffler? How hot does a lawn mower muffler get?
Lawn mower mufflers are used to reduce the noise levels of your equipment. The exhaust gas would enter the muffler, passing through a resonator chamber which will then cancel out sound waves that the engine’s combustion produces. Without your muffler, cool or cold air may get into the exhaust valve, causing it to bend from cooling fast.
The typical muffler would deal with temperatures ranging between 300-500 degrees F. There are even some exhaust systems that can handle up to 1,200 degrees F, though this doesn’t apply to lawn mowers, but with big equipment or vehicles like airplanes.
For lawn mowers that have smaller and air-cooled engines, mufflers would be around 300-400 degrees F when running. If your lawn mower has a larger engine, then expect your mufflers to be around 500 degrees F, depending on the applied load.
Lawn Mowers and Overheating: What to Do
So we know that lawn mower engines and mufflers can get REALLY hot. This is especially for those who apply heavy load on their lawn mowers on a hot day. However, an engine can get too hot to the point of permanent damage, which is something to avoid.
Overheating may cause serious damage, such as blown gaskets, melted parts, and in extreme cases, fire. This is why it’s important to know the temperature range and the signs of overheating engines.
If ever your lawn mower engine goes beyond 600 degrees F, you need to take action and cool it down quickly. Here are a few tips on how to do so:
- Let your engine run on idle for a while
- Change the engine’s oil and/or coolant
- Keep your engine clean, specifically the air cleaners and cutting decks, which are prone to clogging
- Follow the lawn mower’s instructions based on the manufacturer’s manual
- Schedule your mowing during a colder day and mow your grass regularly to prevent heavy loads. It’s also best to mow your lawn when the grass is dry, as thick and wet grass would have a lawn mower work double time
- If ever you notice a drastic change in your lawn mower’s power and temperature, it may have a low output. Switch it off and shut the engine down to check why it is overheating.
- Overheated engines would lock up or shut down, which shows that it is overheating. Switch it off properly to address the issue immediately rather than try to start it up again.
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to your lawn mower, you have to take care of the engine and muffler, which is prone to overheating. By learning the optimum temperature range of the engine while it runs, you’ll know whether an engine is too hot and when to stop using it. If it does overheat, there are ways to cool it down and prevent it from going above its recommended temperature range again.
Hopefully, you found great insight on the temperature range of the lawn mower and what to do in case of overheating. Be sure to monitor your garden equipment as you use it to prevent any safety issues. Happy gardening!