what is the expected service life of a GX270 Honda

[xtxpete]

Hi, I'm wondering what people have experienced in engine life on air cooled gas 9 to 13hp engines? I have one that's used everyday in a moderate demand application and have tried to be somewhat diligent with oil changes every 100 hrs on Syn blend oil or up to 200-300 hrs on full Syn. As has been mentioned oil in general doesn't cause internal damage but rather the lack of it or degraded oil that causes failures. But this puts up the question, how long can I really expect to go?

 

[NoPaint]

A long time. You'll probably replace more carburetors and fuel system parts than rotating parts.

 

[xtxpete]

I have had real good luck so far and besides cleaning the sediment bowl the fuel system has been flawless and it's almost 12yrs in operation! But the key there is that it's used every single day. So yes I agree, it can last a long time but can someone quantify that? I'd like to avoid a major failure due to it being a daily used piece of equipment, but no sense in replacing what still seems to perform reasonably well! Thanks!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I say, it depends...

The old ones ARE better than the newer ones... I have no idea when that change was made though...

It seemed like the old ones would run forever, of course, it just seemed like that. Personally, I'd not let one go over 100 hours on an oil change, no matter what oil I was using!

SR

 

[PILOON]

LOL, I don't own a Honda but take good care of it and it might just outlive you,

 

[xtxpete]

I say, it depends...

The old ones ARE better than the newer ones... I have no idea when that change was made though...

It seemed like the old ones would run forever, of course, it just seemed like that. Personally, I'd not let one go over 100 hours on an oil change, no matter what oil I was using!

SR

Ya good point, the older ones may last longer due to the newer versions needing to meet tighter emissions standards and running hotter if they're lean. But not sure if they've changed much since mine was built, but I suppose they may very well have!

 

[flyerdan]

Most of the wear occurs during cold starts, and internal corrosion from long periods of inactivity. Using it daily is the best case scenario for long life. Clean oil, clean fuel and keeping the cooling fins clear should keep it going for years.
Look at aircraft engines; an O-235 on a plane that sits outside and only flies a time or two a year will probably need an OH at a thousand hours or less, and the same mill on a trainer that sees 7-10 hours a day will still be in the high 70's well past its 2400 hour TBO.

 

[Ford850]

I have had real good luck so far and besides cleaning the sediment bowl the fuel system has been flawless and it's almost 12yrs in operation! But the key there is that it's used every single day. So yes I agree, it can last a long time but can someone quantify that? I'd like to avoid a major failure due to it being a daily used piece of equipment, but no sense in replacing what still seems to perform reasonably well! Thanks!

Just curious, but do you know how many hours you have on it now?

 

[xtxpete]

Just curious, but do you know how many hours you have on it now?

Hey I was wondering if someone would ask, as I do have it running on an hourmeter, but I hoped someone would maybe first throw some numbers up as to what I can expect. According to the small engine shops I've talked to, they all make it sound as if at 8100hrs it's living on borrowed time!

 

[Ford850]

Hey I was wondering if someone would ask, as I do have it running on an hourmeter, but I hoped someone would maybe first throw some numbers up as to what I can expect. According to the small engine shops I've talked to, they all make it sound as if at 8100hrs it's living on borrowed time!

8100 hours? Holy crap that's impressive to me. That's approximately 2 hours a day, 7 days a week, for your "almost 12 years". You definitely have the daily use, and long run time on your side.

 

[xtxpete]

I know, it sounds high, and I'd be better off with a bigger feeding system but it's been mixing and feeding feed to 40 cows all those years! One thing I'll say and that's that it seldom gets run at the 3600rpm max, it's mostly running in that 2500rpm "sweet" spot or idling while loading

 

[Rosher18]

That's another key to long life; not running it at 100% of rated RPM. As long as it's getting hot enough during use to keep the oil condensation-free, it should keep running well for a really long time.

 

[mini14]

it will last many thousands of hours ala oil is changed regularly and you adjust the valves. ive had good luck with the honda gx motors lasting me years.i never run synthetic ever. straight 30w oil only in my 13hp ground blower and generator. I run my equipment at 3600 rpms constantly.

 

[xtxpete]

Well guys, sounds like I can keep going with it for awhile yet! Just keep it serviced and tuned up! I have wondered about maybe setting the valves sometime but still never have. Starts and runs fine so I figure the valve seats must wear to compensate for and tapper wear or something

 

[big bubba]

go w/ethanol free fuel. full syn oil, but would hold to 150 hr change intervals, not 300. it's a small engine. does it have an oil filter, or just splash oil sump?

also agree w/above to adj valves after 1st 50-100 hrs. check online for your model
Honda Small Engine Intake and Exhaust Valve Clearances

 

[xtxpete]

Ya I'm using ethanol free gas and Syn oil. Since it only needs 1 quart of oil and doesn't have a filter changing it is the only way to get contaminants out so that's likely why they spec relatively early oil changes

 

[bdog]

That’s a lot of hours. Years ago we had a machine powered by those engines. They were mounted on a trailer and powered a hydraulic pump. The trailer was pulled around off-road and the engine was running wide open 10 hours a day in very dusty conditions. I would say on average though it was only used 10-15 days a month but they were hard dusty days. In my 9 years of working with this setup I think we went through three or four engines. The oil was changed regularly and checked daily I think the dust and running while bouncing around on a trailer and WOT conditions got them.

In you scenario with over 8000 hours I would say you are on borrowed time. It may last a lot longer it may not. Regardless it sounds like it is an important engine for you so I would recommend buying a spare and having it on hand for when the day comes that she let’s go so you can swap it out and keep going. Swapping the engines is quick it is the finding them on short notice that is tough. I can tell you a couple stories of engines failing on us on holiday weekends and driving across several states to pick up a replacement so a crew of six guys wasn’t sitting around unable to work.

 

[goeduck]

How is the compression, if okay you may not need to adjust the valves. I would not worry so much about 8100 hours given the oil changes that you have done.

 

[xtxpete]

That’s a lot of hours. Years ago we had a machine powered by those engines. They were mounted on a trailer and powered a hydraulic pump. The trailer was pulled around off-road and the engine was running wide open 10 hours a day in very dusty conditions. I would say on average though it was only used 10-15 days a month but they were hard dusty days. In my 9 years of working with this setup I think we went through three or four engines. The oil was changed regularly and checked daily I think the dust and running while bouncing around on a trailer and WOT conditions got them.

In you scenario with over 8000 hours I would say you are on borrowed time. It may last a lot longer it may not. Regardless it sounds like it is an important engine for you so I would recommend buying a spare and having it on hand for when the day comes that she let’s go so you can swap it out and keep going. Swapping the engines is quick it is the finding them on short notice that is tough. I can tell you a couple stories of engines failing on us on holiday weekends and driving across several states to pick up a replacement so a crew of six guys wasn’t sitting around unable to work.

Hi, sounds like we think along the same lines, I was at an auction and got a pretty good deal on a Subaru engine new in the box that I'm hoping I could pop on if need be! Not that I expect it to last like the Honda but I have no experience with those!
Thanks!

 

[xtxpete]

How is the compression, if okay you may not need to adjust the valves. I would not worry so much about 8100 hours given the oil changes that you have done.

I haven't done a compression test on it, but if you pull slowly on the starter rope it does leakdown and let it turn slowly on the compression stroke but still starts good considering the hours