I have noticed that the 2014 and 2015 X500s have a line of vents on each side along part of the top of the hood. I would think that, along with the improved grille, would help air flow in the engine compartment a lot, thereby prolonging engine life by allowing it to run cooler. Does anyone care to venture a guess as to how well that vented hood and improved grille would increase air volume and air flow under the hood? Thanks in advance.
Do vented hoods prolong engine lifespan?
- Thread starter Vigilant
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radios1
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not really, because it costs money to do that, if even a few cents, and also, it may make the engine and components last longer than the manufacturer wants, they want to sell replacement parts!.
4570Man
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There’s a lawn guy in town with 2 JD riders with the hoods removed. It seems intentional to me and not that he broke both hoods. Think he did it for better cooling?
beenthere
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Depends on if talking about water cooled or air cooled engines. The X500 I believe is air cooled. If so, getting all the air through to the engine is likely necessary for prolonging engine life.
I would avoid an air cooled engine.
I would avoid an air cooled engine.
From what I have read, an air cooled Kawasaki lawn tractor engine, with proper maintenance, should run at least 2000 hours before anything major goes wrong. That's all I need. For me, a liquid cooled engine would just be more of a pain in the *** to maintain. I should still be able to mow my .9 acre lawn to age 87 or so. During that time, I would put an estimated 1200 hours on a mower. 2000 hours is plenty for me, and I suspect the engine and trans would still be running strong with proper care and maintenance including Mobil 1 full synthetic engine oil and transmission service every 200 hours or so at our local John Deere dealership. They have won my loyalty, and I recommend them to others.
Industrial Toys
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You want most things to run as cool as possible, meaning not hot. HEAT kills a lot of stuff. Engines, hydraulics, electronics and so forth. But at the same time, you don't want to destroy the cooling path intended by the manufacturer or get debris in where it shouldn't be.
The pre-2014 X500 hoods have large open vents on each side of the hood that run the entire length of the hood. I'm sure the little vents in the top of the hood let out a little bit of heat but I doubt it has any effect on actual engine temperature. Keep in mind that inside the hood is a plastic cowl that only allows air to flow from the flywheel fan.
Where the little vents may have a bit of effect is when you park the tractor after use. The top vents would allow more air to rise out of the engine compartment. During the summer when it is really hot, I always open my hood when I park the tractor in the garage to better allow the heat trapped under the hood to escape quickly.
There's nothing wrong with an air cooled engine if properly maintained and kept clean. I ran my JD 175 Hydro for over 25 years and it was still going strong when I sold it. My old Toro was still going strong after 15 years. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with a water cooled engine but it's just not needed on a 2-CYL gasoline lawn mower engine. If kept clean and given regular oil changes a 2-CYL Kawasaki air cooled engine should last 2000 hours or more.
