5 Differences between 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Lawn Mowers

Cases of buying the wrong lawn mower are very common. In the end, the use of purchased lawnmowers could not help them get the job done properly. A critical piece of information that must be understood is the difference between 2 stroke and 4 stroke lawn mowers.

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The two are pretty different, from power output to sound and durability. When you understand the differences, it will be very easy to choose the most suitable lawn mower to meet your needs.

So that you don't make the wrong purchase, the information in this article will explain the overall differences between the two engines. Check out more below!

The difference between 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Lawn Mowers

There are at least two types of lawnmowers that are commonly used, namely 2 stroke engines and 4 stroke engines. These two types of machines have significant differences that you can find in the following points.

1. How it Works

A 4 stroke machine works better when it is used to help cut various types of grass. Thin or thick, everything can be cut with a 4 stroke machine.

The working process begins with mixing fuel and air into the combustion chamber. This indicates that the combustion process has started to produce pressure that pushes the piston to move up and down.

Later the results of this power will immediately rotate the knife and produce a cutting motion to cut various types of grass.

Read Also: How to Start a Lawn Mower

2. Performance or Performance

The performance of a 2 stroke lawn mower is much lower than that of a 4 stroke lawn mower. The power produced by a 2 stroke engine will be less when the engine is hot than a 4 stroke engine.

If you need a lawn mower that can be used in various situations and for a long time, then 4 stroke is more appropriate.

3. Durability

The durability of a 2 stroke lawn mower is much weaker than that of a 4 stroke engine. This happens because the 4 stroke engine has a more optimal combustion process. Then the piston movement system that rises and falls also keeps the temperature in the engine maintained so that overheating does not occur.

Even the cooling system in a 4 stroke engine is also much better. This is inversely proportional to the 2 stroke engine which only uses an air cooling system.

4. Fuel Consumption

Fuel consumption on a 2 stroke engine is wasteful because the combustion process is not optimal. The mixing of fuel and air cannot be properly regulated, so it is not surprising that a lot of gasoline is wasted. On the other hand a 4 stroke lawn mower optimizes every use of fuel.

All systems in a 4 stroke engine work efficiently to convert fuel into stable and large power. Then the mixing of fuel and air is also adequately regulated to meet the needs when the engine is started.

5. Sound

The sound of a 2 stroke engine is much noisier when compared to a 4 stroke engine. This is again caused by a 2 stroke engine combustion system that is not optimal. Likewise with the low compression results produced by a 2 stroke engine.

These two aspects are the reason why the 2 stroke engine is much noisier. In contrast, the combustion and engine compression processes produced by a 4 stroke engine are far more optimal. So do not be surprised if the noise produced is much less.

Recommended 4 Stroke Lawn Mower

From the explanation above you can conclude that a 4 stroke engine is much better than a 2 stroke engine. Honda Power has understood the difference between the two, so it has decided to use a 4 stroke engine for every lawn mower that is issued. Here are 3 recommendations for the best lawn mowers from Honda Power.

1. Lawn Mower UMR435N

Honda Power issued a UMR435N lawn mower which was equipped with a mini 4-stroke OHC engine. The engine can produce 1.3 HP/9,000n rpm with a torque of 1.9 Nm/5,500 rpm.

The UMR435N machine is equipped with a flexible shaft, making it easier for each user to access hard-to-reach areas. A 2-blade cutter with a diameter of 300 mm and a speed of 5,250 rpm is also used so that work can be completed quickly.

2. Lawn Mower UMK450T

Unlike before, the UMK450T lawn mower suits better for large areas with flat surfaces, such as golf courses or commercial parks. The engine uses a straight fast type to have more stable and stronger power.

Equipped with a 350 mm diameter 2-blade cutter, this machine can help complete your work efficiently. The UMK450T lawn mower of course equipped with an OHC and 4-stroke single-cylinder engine that can produce a maximum power of 1.3 HP/9,000 with a torque of 1.9 Nm/5,500 rpm.

The ignition system uses a Transistorized Magneto Ignition system to ensure more efficient gasoline consumption.

3. HRJ196 Push Lawn Mower

Finally, Honda Power also has a special HRJ196 thrust mower using the GXV160 OHV engine with a 4-stroke drive system and air conditioning. This machine can produce maximum power of 3.6 HP/3,000 rpm and torque of 9.0 Nm/25,000 rpm.

Goto Senix to know more.

Read Also: 4 Ways to Repair Push Lawn Mower Carburetor

The ignition system is also efficient with a Transistorized Magneto Ignition system. Keep in mind that the type of gasoline used must have an octane rating of at least 86 so that its performance does not decrease.

Now, you probably have knowledge about the differences between 2 stroke and 4 stroke lawn mowers. Don't make the wrong choice again. Find the best and most trusted lawn mower according to your needs only at Honda Power Products!

Small engines from many different manufactures are made as a 2 stroke or 4 stroke engine, but you may be wondering what the difference is between these two kinds of small engines.

2-Stroke Engines

A two stroke engine is an engine that does not have valves, or a specified lubrication system. A two stroke engine is very simple, much simpler than the 4-stroke engine.  It has very few working parts and is very light. This means that there is very little maintenance required and it is much cheaper to manufacture.

2-stroke engines are generally used in handheld lawn equipment because the power per weight is greater than 4-stroke engines; this means that a smaller engine will pack more power than a smaller 4-stroke engine. Engine life isn’t really a concern with a chainsaw like it would be with a vehicle, because they aren’t being used constantly so they will last long enough with the way they are generally used.  They are also used in shorter time increments, so the problem of pollution is not as serious.

In a 2-stroke engine, it is required that oil be mixed in with the fuel, at a very precise ratio, in order to determine the ratio, you should check the owner’s manual of your equipment. The fuel and oil mixture running through the engine is what lubricates the parts, however, because it is not a specified lubrication system, these engines usually wear down quicker.

How it works:

• Fuel and air compress in the main cylinder (compression stroke)
• The spark plug fires, causing an explosion that drives the piston downwards (power stroke)
• When the piston is nearing the end of its stroke the exhaust port is uncovered (power stroke)
• The pressure in the cylinder drives most of the exhaust gasses out of the cylinder through the exhaust port (power stroke)
• As the piston hits the bottom, the intake port is uncovered and more fuel and air and pulled into the main cylinder to start the process over again (compression stroke)

This process can also be known by 2 kinds of strokes, the compression stroke and the power stroke. The compression stroke is when the piston moves upwards and compresses the fuel and air, or step 1/5. The power stroke is all of the other steps, the steps that actually produce the explosion and create the power.

Pros of a 2-Stroke Engine:

• No valves, simpler construction
• Fire once per revolution which means that I has a higher power output than a 4-stroke engine
• It is lighter, thus making it cheaper to manufacture
• They have potential for twice the power than a 4 stroke engine of the same size
• Less maintenance

Cons of a 2-Stroke Engine:

• Don’t live as long as a 4-stroke engine because of not having a specified lubrication system
• Having to mix fuel and oil to lubricate engine, can get expensive
• They are not fuel efficient engines
• They produce more pollution
• They are very smoky engines
• The air/fuel mix leaks out through the exhaust port

4-Stroke Engines

A 4-Stroke engine is the kind of engine that is common on lawn mowers. It is heavy and has to remain in an upright position to be used, so it doesn’t work so well on lawn equipment such as weed eaters or chainsaws. They also are more expensive due to the complexity of the engine and the repairs that would be necessary to fix them if something went wrong.

A 4-stroke engine has a cycle that consists of 4 strokes, in those 4-strokes, the piston goes around twice in the engine, so the spark plug fires every other rotation. There are two separate valves in this kind of engine, one for intake and one for exhaust, unlike the 2-stroke engine.

In a 4-stroke engine, the oil is contained in the crankcase, and there is usually a splash lubrication system where the oil is released and the only job of the system is to keep everything lubricated. Because of this, the oil needs changed after a certain amount of hours and the level needs to be checked frequently. Since the only function is to keep everything moving smoothly, wear happens much slower on a 4-stroke engine than a 2-stroke engine.

How they work:

1)  The piston moves up and compresses a fuel and air mixture in the chamber (compression stroke)

2)  Fuel is ignited by the spark plug and it drives the piston down providing the necessary   momentum to keep the crankshaft turning (power stroke)

3)  The piston moves back up and pushes the used/burned gasses out of the exhaust valve ( exhaust stroke)

4)   The piston goes back down and draws the fresh air and fuel in preparation to move back up and compress the air (intake stroke)

Pros of a 4-stroke engine:

• More torque, the engine is quieter and more reliable
• Last longer than a 2 stroke engine
• You don’t have to mix the oil and fuel
• Runs cleaner than a 2 stroke, less pollution
• Much more fuel efficient

Cons of a 4-stroke engine:

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