How Long Will Your Lawn Mower Engine Last?

Cranking your lawn mower's engine to life is always a bit of a thrilling moment. Will it roar loud enough to wake the neighbors sleeping in? Or will there be a bit of a croak, a whimper, then silence, only broken by the swearing in your head as you search "lawn mower repair" on your phone? (If you know, you know.) The good news is it is possible to nail down how long your lawn mower engine will last, but it all depends on your mower, how often you use it, and how well it's maintained.

The short version? Gas-powered residential lawn mower engines can clock between 500 and 1,000 hours (or, assuming you're mowing for two hours a week for 30 weeks a year, at least eight years). By comparison, electric-powered lawn mowers, which have no engine, have a slightly shorter lifespan at five to seven years, with batteries that last around two to five years. If you're looking for a heavy-duty machine, commercial lawn mowers can range from 1,200 to 2,500 hours.

The best way to keep your lawn mower running in peak form for as long as possible? Regular maintenance. At the core, residential lawn mower engines are fairly simple machines, not too unlike car engines. And, like car engines, lawn mower engines need regular upkeep to keep them in top performance. If you let these responsibilities slip, you could cause accidental damage to your mower. While the maintenance will depend on your exact make and model, there are a few principles to keep in mind.

One of the most important tasks? Change the engine oil and filter on schedule, and make sure that open bottle of lawn mower engine oil is still good before pouring it in. Don't forget to swap out the air filter and spark plug at least annually to help keep the engine running in tip top shape. Give all the engine's hoses, connectors, and belts — especially the drive belt — a once-over at least annually to find problems before they happen. And when you're ready to tuck it away for the winter seal, make sure to clean the lawn mower properly and add a fuel stabilizer to the tank if you're not draining it before storing.