- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 2,596
Just wondering if anyone else has taken the time out of boredom and use an infrared temp gun on their lawnmower to see how hot they actually got during usage?
Last edited:
Just how hot do lawn mowers get?!
- Thread starter RazorsEdge
- Start date
Not really a fun topic. Do some looking. Several people have done this on here alone. Several have added temp gauges.
I have done this, I have aimed the gun at:Fun topic
Just wondering if anyone else has taken the time out of boredom and use an infrared temp gun on their lawnmower to see how hot they actually got during usage?
1) The Oil Filter
2) By the Drain plug on the outside of the Engine
3) Down the oil fill hole on a Briggs 6 HP Engine
Here is where it gets interesting, for my Riding Mower I need to get a Temperature Device with a Probe, because I am thinking my temps may be 20 to 30 degrees higher.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 10,252
Engine block around 250°F. Muffler around 400°F.
Never had anything other than a self propelled standard push mowers. None ever overheated and gave many years of service.
In the summer down here, mower has never overheated.
But I have.
But I have.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2023
- Messages
- 1,457
They get hot never had one fail due to heat.
Interesting side note. Years ago I had a Kawasaki 23 hp air cooled rider. It would run on for quite a bit after mowing. I would have to run it at fast idle for 3 minutes to cool it down enough to prevent it. Heat radiated off the engine like a stove. This machine was using conventional oil at the time. I switched to synthetic and it cooled down tremendously. A 30 second cool down was all that was needed with syn. And the radiant heat was noticeably cooler. I wish I had known what the temps were. I had also read that Briggs and Stratton demonstrated a 10 degree cooler running motor on theirs with syn.
- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 2,596
So I've been tossing around the idea of swapping out say for example "oil X" with "oil Y" just to see if there's much of a difference in temp between the two oils
Air cooled engines are mostly very tough, simple designs engineered to handle higher running temperatures. The most important thing is keeping their cooling fins, air ducts around the cooling fins clear/clean and the oil full. Thermal shock isn't great for them. Better to idle them a couple of minutes before going full throttle, high load and idling a minute before shutdown to limit soaring temperatures due to heat soak after shut down. Doing that and keeping the air filter in good condition is ideal.
- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 2,596
The bottom of my Honda engine measured just 174 degrees Fahrenheit after a 20+ minute mowing session. The block is uncomfortable to the touch but does not burn my hands! Measurements were taken with a Raytek infrared temperature gun.
I put an oil temperature dipstick gauge in mine I don't think it ever made it much over 260f.
supposed to be near 90, and I plan on mowing this afternoon...have to shoot it with my gun if I can remember.
- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 2,596
Where'd you find the dipstick gauge? I've seen them for Harley motorcycles.
Yeah I would like one of those dipsticks on my Honda. That would be cool
Kawasaki powered Snapper commercial mower. The oil temp would always hit 250+ when mowing. The engine was replaced by a Honda GC190. Which runs considerably lower RPM and cooler.
