Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > Fuel consumption- 5HP Briggs
Date: 31 Dec 2006 12:27 pm
I was wondering if I should see the fuel consumption on my little 5 hp snowblower as a warning sign of other problems, or if its normal.
5 hp 4 cycle late 70's vintage Briggs&S engine. It has a fairly big tank, I will guess a quart and a half?
I can burn that up in about a half hour. Burns zero oil, no smoke, runs pretty smooth except for loping at idle after its been run for awhile.
BTW, do these engines have an air filter??
Thanks
Joshua
Date: 31 Dec 2006 12:29 pm
Hi...
Snowblower engines typically (all?) do not have air filters...
Excessive gas use... I'd look for a leak...
...but if it's moving a lot of snow... or heavy snow... it could be just normal consumption...
Dave...
Date: 31 Dec 2006 12:36 pm
Joshua - if it isn't blowing black smoke, then the fuel consumption is normal. If it were blowing smoke, I would suspect a rich fuel mixture due to a rich needle setting or a bad/stuck float - but I don't think your carb HAS a float...
Marty
Date: 31 Dec 2006 1:23 pm
Snowblowers don't have air filters. At least none I've heard of. Winter air is quite clean: little dust, no dead grass and debris.
Just thinking. The engine is bound to suck in a little moisture from the snow swirling around, and that could form an ice blockage in an air filter, so maybe these engines are better off without them.
My 7 HP Honda burns about 1.8 quarts an hour, and is designed with the latest emisison requirements, so is stingy on fuel compared to a 70s engine. As long as it isn't smoking, yours is likely doing fine on fuel burn.
Date: 31 Dec 2006 1:36 pm
Windy, yea from what I've read in some FAQs your spot on.
I have to say last year it seemed the new 11hp OHV seemed to use far less fuel than my (now 17 years old) 5hp L head us to in and hour.