How long should a lawn mower engine last? This article looks at maintenance required for long mower life. We also look at the factors that effect how long an lawn mower engine lasts.

How many hours does a lawnmower engine last?

The lifespan of a lawnmower's engine will vary depending on several factors, including its quality, how often you use it and how well you take care of it. With proper care and maintenance, a typical lawnmower engine will last up to 10 years. However, most manufacturers warranties do not measure in years but hours of use. 

Therefore, if a mower will last up to 10 years with good care, this translates to around 300 to 500 hours of use for small engined lawnmowers. Larger engines will last longer, perhaps up to 750 to 1000 hours, when used properly. It is far better to have infrequent but longer mowing sessions than more frequent shorter ones. 

Electrically powered lawnmowers are the other form to consider when assessing how long they will last. While they do not have engines, their batteries are just as prone to wearing out. However, the rate at which the battery wears depends on how often you charge it. After a certain amount of charging cycles, the batteries capacity will gradually deplete.

Factors that influence how long a lawnmower engine last

Here we have listed a few of the main factors that affect how long your lawnmower's engine will last. Again, taking good care of your mower is the best way to ensure it lasts through many uses. Regular servicing and maintenance will help keep your lawnmower in working order.

Brand and Quality

There is a wide variety of lawnmower brands out there to choose from, each differing in quality. For example, some brands prioritise affordability, offering cheaper domestic lawnmowers. However, you always get what you pay for. So, if you want to go for the cheaper models constructed from cheaper components and engine parts, you can expect them to wear out more quickly. 

Other lawnmower manufacturers will offer two different lines of mower models, one for cheaper models and one for more expensive mowers. The more expensive ones will last far longer, is made of higher quality engine parts. However, some of the cheaper models can also last you long enough when properly maintained. 

A standard-sized lawnmower from a reputable manufacturer can last just as long as any other mower when given proper care and attention. Again, the typical life expectancy of a mower is up to 10 years. This, of course, depends on how often you use your lawnmower and how strenuous the work is. For example, mowing larger gardens will wear out your lawn mower far quicker. 

A smaller model lawnmower from a middle-of-the-road manufacturer will typically last around 300 hours in terms of hours of use. The more expensive models, which are most likely bigger than their cheaper counterparts, will last roughly 500 hours. So you can see how the brand, quality and size of a lawnmower affects how long it will last.

The engine size

The power of petrol-fuelled lawnmowers is directly derived from the engine's size, how many cylinders it has and the type of fuel it runs on. These engines range widely, from standard single-cylinder and twin-cylinder models to larger four-cylinder riding mowers. The former basic models will typically last up to 500 to 750 hours of use, with larger models lasting up to 1000 hours.

These hours are a rough guide and vary widely depending on the make and model of the mower you buy. Additionally, these hours of use only apply to the engine itself, relating to how many cycles can run per lawn mower's life. The hours of use for an entire mower will vary even wider, given that there are more components involved, with more wear and tear occurring.

Usage

How often and how hard you use your lawnmower will significantly affect your engine's average life. Smaller lawnmowers, which usually last up to 750 hours of use, have their engine life dramatically cut when used to mow large gardens with thick grass and lots of roots and twigs that put extra strain on their motors. On the other hand, larger-engined lawnmowers can easily handle difficult work, meaning their engine lives are longer. 

In the same vein, lawnmowers designed for domestic use will not be able to handle commercial work. Therefore, professional gardeners or landscapers will need to purchase larger mowers that can operate in large gardens with tough environments without wearing out too quickly. If you use a domestic mower for commercial purposes, you will find it dying much sooner than the prescribed hours of use. 

The way you use your lawnmower will also affect its lifespan. Mowing your garden in multiple short bursts will have a worse effect on its engine than more spaced out but longer sessions. Much like a car, your mower's engine will become more damaged through running hot and cold too often. Keeping the engine warm through prolonged sessions is the best way to go. 

The final thing to consider regarding usage is the terrain where you will use your lawnmower. If your garden has lots of steep inclines, this will put additional strain on your lawnmower as it tries to climb. This strain will naturally lead to greater wear and tear. Ultimately, if your garden terrain is difficult, purchasing a larger mower is the best thing to do.

Maintenance

Lawn mowers, just like any other machine, require regular servicing and maintenance to ensure they continue to operate properly. While the engines of lawnmowers are typically more simple than those of cars, they still have numerous components, each with its own lifespan. Therefore, when any of these elements wear out, they will need replacing. 

One example of crucial engine maintenance is oil changes. It is recommended that you change the oil in your lawnmower's engine after 50 hours of operation. The blades of your lawnmower will also need regular maintenance, requiring sharpening after roughly 25 hours of mowing. 

Due to their size, mowers with larger engines, such as ride-on mowers, will only need their engine oil replaced every 100 hours of operation. Additionally, in terms of servicing your mower, you should have a larger mower checked after every 50 hours of use, or at least once a year, whichever of the two comes round first. 

Other components, such as the air filter and spark plugs, will also need servicing and replacing where necessary. Servicing these elements should be done whenever you change the oil in your mower's engine. If you perform great care and maintenance of your lawnmower, it will easily outlast its prescribed lifespan.

Maintenance for Long Mower Life

Providing proper maintenance and care for your lawnmower is the best way to keep it cutting your grass for years to come. The best way to care for your mower is to properly clean the blades and remove any fuel from the engine when you are storing it for any length of time after the mowing season. This is the best way to prevent any rust or damage from occurring.

How to Increase the Number of Hours a Lawnmower Will Last

The following factors should help you be able to get the most out of your lawnmower for the longest possible time.

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