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I take pretty good care of all my stuff so was surprised when, after only 80 hours--and after having the oil, plugs, and filters changed every 25 hours, I discovered I had blown the head gasket.
Has this happened to anyone else?
I was told it was because I have a Chinese version of the Briggs & Stratton engine and it runs hot without gas treatment and the use of high octane fuel.
I was a bit surprised that my JD dealer didn't tell me about this. Wondering if I am alone.
Thanks.

I've changed my share of head gaskets. It's not a problem that the "low end" engine manufacturers have, it can also happen to quality engines. The fundamental problem as I see it is as follows:
1. Engine running hot. Folks don't always keep the cooling fins clean for effective cooling. Overloading engine in high ambient temperatures.
2. Excessive use of starting fluids.
3. Parking or storing equipment with the nose down so, over time, oil goes past the rings and you have a partial hydro lock.
4. Others can chime in here.

Always follow the manufacturers recommendation of what octane fuel to use BUT if you KNOW you will be running it pretty hard, put in some 89 octane fuel. Your head gasket will thank you. Why? Because a small engine that goes into preignition or detonation, cannot protect itself as you modern vehicle can (spark knock controls that retard the ignition timing) so the head gasket CAN be the sacrificial part.

I had a tech tell me not to use fuel with octane over 87%, or regular unleaded because it will fry the valve train. I have also had a different mechanic say it helps keep the valves clean? It could be fuel related if you use the higher octane fuel like middle, or high test fuel.

Welcome to LawnWorld!

We moved your thread to the John Deere forum.

Three years ago we switch to 89 or 91 octane non ethanol fuel in the shop. We also encourage all our customers to do so in all their equipment. Since doing so we have found our comebacks, due to fuel related problems, have dropped by 75%. We have not seen any problems with overheating or oil breakdown. Definitely working for us.

I say you just got a bad one.
Ethanol is the Obama of the small engine world it gets blamed for everything.
If low grade gas or ethanol made your head gasket blow then it would make every head gasket blow.
Replace the gasket and I bet it will be fine.

wjjones said:

I had a tech tell me not to use fuel with octane over 87%, or regular unleaded because it will fry the valve train. I have also had a different mechanic say it helps keep the valves clean? It could be fuel related if you use the higher octane fuel like middle, or high test fuel.

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I would not believe that tech or use him for that fact. I run 93 octane in everything and my stuff runs top notch, plus even John Deere, Stihl, and Honda have said the 93 is better for the equipment than the 87 octane since the 93 will burn cleaner.

Carscw said:

I say you just got a bad one.
Ethanol is the Obama of the small engine world it gets blamed for everything.
If low grade gas or ethanol made your head gasket blow then it would make every head gasket blow.
Replace the gasket and I bet it will be fine.

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If it quacks like a duck, then it is a duck. Corn fuel is bad for everything just like osama is bad for USA.


JCVerret the head gasket I am thinking overheating was involved, it very well could have been the cheap gas contributing I don't know and I don't use it but you never know.

Why would you do what john Deere says about gas or oil they do not make engines.

And still no one can come up with any proof or research to show that ethanol hurt there engine.

Carscw said:

Why would you do what john Deere says about gas or oil they do not make engines.

And still no one can come up with any proof or research to show that ethanol hurt there engine.

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Yes sir you are correct about JD not making engines, but where they warranty the different engines on their machines R&D and Design are the determining departments for what engines are used and if they tell me 93 octane is best for the engines along with Stihl and Honda making the same claim, then 93 octane is what I will run.
I also have had certified mechanics with Ford, Chevy and Chrysler state the cheap gas especially if you allow it to sit for periods of time will speed up the dry rotting of the rubber fuel line portion of your vehicle and they also recommend the 93 octane since it is cleaner and burns cleaner.