Honda Engine Maintenance

Service Schedule

Maintenance Schedule

These maintenance tasks are easy enough that you can do them yourself:

Before each use – Check air filter and oil level.
After the first month or 20 hours of operation – Change the oil.
Every 6 months or 100 hours – Change the oil, clean the air filter and check the spark plug. Clean the spark arrester .
Every 100 hours – Replace the oil filter.
Every year or 300 hours – Replace the spark plug
Every year or 300 hours – Check the idle speed and valve clearance, and replace the fuel filter
Every two years or 500 hours – Replace the paper air filter element.
Every two years – Check the fuel tube and replace as needed
Every 1,000 hours: Clean the combustion chamber (GXV 690 only.)

Oil

This engine is designed to use oil that meets the requirements for API category SJ or later. Honda recommends oil viscosity based on the temperatures the engine will be operating in:

SAE 30 – (50-113ºF)/ (10-45ºC)
Conventional 5W30, or 10W30 – (23-113ºF)/ (-5-45ºC),
Synthetic 5W30 – (5-113ºF)/ (-15-45ºC)

To get an accurate measurement when checking the oil, place the engine on a level surface and let it run for a couple minutes. This will splash some oil on the dipstick, so it needs to be cleaned and inserted all the way into the filler neck before checking the oil level. Some versions of this engine come equipped with Oil Alert, which will shut off the ignition automatically if the oil level is too low.

To change the oil, remove the drain plug, located directly below the starter on the GX 690 and next to the filler neck on the GXV 690. Once the oil has drained, reinstall the drain plug and a new sealing washer. If your engine is due for a new filter, remove the old one with an oil filter wrench. Using a strap wrench can damage the oil pressure switch. Coat the seal on the new filter with clean engine oil before installing. Screw in the filter by hand, then use the wrench to turn the filter another ¾ turn once the filter seats. Pour new oil into the oil filler neck, located on the top of the cylinder directly to the left of the dipstick. Add oil until the level comes up to the upper limit mark on the dipstick. Start the engine and check for leaks.

Air Filter

To access the filter, pull up on the latches at the sides of the air cleaner cover and pull the cover away from the engine. The paper filter and surrounding foam element can be removed by unscrewing the wing nut on the GX 690, while they can be lifted straight out of the air box on the GXV 690.

To clean the paper element, tap it on a hard surface or blow it out with compressed air. When using air, limit the pressure to 30 psi.

To clean the foam element, wash it in a non-flammable solvent or soapy water. Once the filter is dry, soak it in clean engine oil and squeeze it out to remove any excess.

Before reinstalling the filters, wipe out the inside of the air cleaner box.

Spark Plug

To remove the spark plugs, first, clean the area around the spark plug caps and disconnect them from the plugs. Use a 5/8 inch plug wrench to unscrew the plugs.

The spark plug gap should be between 0.028 and 0.031 inches (0.7-0.8 mm.) Replace the plug if it’s damaged, corroded, has a worn electrode or the sealing washer is in poor condition.

Always start the spark plug by hand to prevent cross-threading. Once seated, use the wrench to turn the plug another ½ turn if it’s new or 1/8-1/4 turn if it’s used to get a tight seal. Reconnect the spark plug caps.

Spark Arrester

If your engine has a round high-mount muffler, simply remove the screw from the tailpipe and slide out the arrester. If your engine has a flat side-mount muffler, you’ll need to remove the four bolts holding the muffler protector. With the muffler uncovered, remove the three screws holding in the arrester.

Use a wire brush to scrub off any carbon deposits. Replace the arrester if it has signs of damage.

Keep Your Engine Running with Quality OEM Parts

Hondalawnparts.com is a certified dealer for Honda Engines, letting us sell the parts you need to maintain your Honda engine no matter what it’s powering. Not sure what you need? Just pick your model and serial number, and our site can show you diagrams and descriptions to locate parts on your engine. We ship to any address in the United States or Canada.

Daily - Check Oil Level - 📽️

Regular Engine Oil Checks Are Essential:

It is essential to perform a daily engine oil check before embarking on your route. Conducting this routine check is simple and invaluable, as it offers critical insights into your engine's overall condition. Additionally, it helps prevent costly and time-consuming repairs, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.

Video Demonstrating How to Check Your Engine Oil Level: Link To Video

Replace Air Filter - 📽️

Discussion:

Ensuring an adequate supply of clean combustion air is essential for maintaining the correct performance of the engine. Both the TSf2021 pump and the generator rely on the engine operating at its specified performance levels.(2450RPM under load)

A clogged air filter should be considered as a potential issue in the following situations:

Slower or Underpowered Conditions: If you notice that the engine is running slower than usual or is not delivering the expected power output, a clogged air filter may be the culprit.
Burner Combustion Issues (120v Burners): For 120v burners, problems with burner combustion can often be traced back to restricted airflow caused by a dirty air filter.
Reduced Water Pressure: If you experience a drop in water pressure from the pump, it's important to investigate the condition of the air filter as it can affect the engine's performance and, consequently, water pressure.

To maintain optimal engine performance and prevent issues related to clogged air filters, it's crucial to regularly inspect and replace the engine air filter as part of your routine maintenance procedures. This proactive approach helps ensure that the engine continues to operate efficiently and reliably.

Tools needed:

channel locks
crescent wrench
oil filter wrench
catch pan
paint pen.

Air Filter Maintenance Process:

Remove the Plastic Cover

- Lift the two clips located on either side of the cover to detach it.

Remove the Wing Nut Washer

- Unscrew the wing nut washer that secures the filter onto the carburetor.

Inspect the Filter

- Examine the pleated filter; if it's dirty, replace it with a new one.
- If the filter is clean, wash the outer foam filter with warm soapy water.

Record Replacement

- If you've replaced the filter, note the date and the number of hours on the top of the new filter for future reference.

Reassemble

- To reassemble, follow the reverse procedure:
  - Place the clean or new filter in position.
  - Secure it with the wing nut washer.
  - Reattach the plastic cover by securing the clips.

Honda Air Filter Replacement: Air Filter Replacement Video

Replace Fuel Filter - 📽️

Discussion:

The Honda engine's fuel system is protected with an inline fuel filter. A clean fuel filter allows adequate fuel flow and catches any contamination. It is highly recommended to change the filter on a regular basis. A clogged fuel filter should be suspected if the engine dies intermittently or becomes difficult to start.

Tools needed:

Channel Locks
Pliers
Razor Knife.

Process:

Locate the fuel filter
Use pliers or a screwdriver to loosen the clamps
Wiggle the fuel hose off both sides of the filter. ( Note: If you are unable to remove the hose & you have enough surplus hose. Cut the hose with a razor knife as close to the filter as possible)
Insert the new filter with the directional arrow pointing towards the engine.
Tighten or replace the clamps and test for leaks.

Link to Fuel Filter Replacement Video: Link To Video

Replace Oil and Oil Filter - 📽️

General:

Changing the engine oil at regular intervals is vital for engine longevity and performance. We recommended changing the oil with 10w30 synthetic oil every 150 hours. You should refer to the Honda owners manual to verify your use case.

Tools needed:

channel locks
crescent wrench
oil filter wrench
catch pan
paint pen.

Procedure:

Warm Up the Engine

- Start the engine and let it run for 2-3 minutes until it reaches operating temperature.

Prepare Drip Pans

- Place a drip pan under the oil drain plug.
- Place another drip pan under the oil filter.

Open the Oil Filler Cap

- Remove the oil filler cap from the engine.

Drain the Oil

- Open the oil drain plug to allow the oil to drain completely into the pan.

Remove the Oil Filter

- Take off the oil filter
- Note the engine hours and date for future reference.

Lubricate and Reinstall the Oil Filter

- Apply oil to the rubber seal on the new oil filter.
- Reinstall the filter, ensuring it's not over-tightened.

Mark the Filter

- Record Engine Hours and Replacement Date
- Make a vertical paint mark on both the filter and filter housing.
- Monitor to ensure the filter remains securely in place.

These steps provide a clear and concise process for changing engine oil, helping to maintain the engine's performance and longevity.

Oil Change Video: Link To Video

Link to Costco Oil 5w30 synthetic oil - Costco link.

Replace Fuel Pump

General:

The fuel pump is located behind the red plastic flywheel cover. The fuel pump is driven by abvacum that is generated while the engine is rotating. The fuel should be replaced on a regular basis (once a year)
A defective fuel pump should be considered in the event that the engine starts and intermittently fails or the engine fails to start after ignition spark has been confirmed.6

Tools needed:

metric socket set - 10 & 12 mm sockets
channel locks or pliers.

Procedure:

Remove red flywheel cover by removing the 4 or 6 10mm bolts.
Remove the two 10mm bolts holding the fuel pump mounting plate.
Remove the hose clamps on all of the hoses - it is recommended that you remove one hose at a time and place the removed hose on to the new pump
Connect the new pump to the mounting bracket.
Secure the mounting bracket to the engine
Start the engine and check for leaks
Replace and secure the red flywheel cover.

Picture of fuel pump - link to purchase

VIDEO

500 hrs - Valve Adjustment

Why it’s important and the effect of improperly adjusted valves
Link to Valve adjustment procedure. Valve Adjustment PDF
Link to valve adjustment Video. Link to valve adjustment video Coming Soon

How to Check Compression of a Honda Engine & Why You Should if You’re Experiencing a Low Pressure Issue

General:

The rotation speed of the engine, RPM, is critical for the correct functionality of the pressure pump and the generator (if equipped)
The engine operates in one if two modes, under load or not under load. The correct RPM when the equipment is under load should be 2400 RPM otherwise 2600 RPM.
In order to accomplish this the compression on each cylinder should be XXXX.
If the compression is significantly lower than specified the engine will not reach the desired RPM under load.
When this happens the pump and the generator will slow and the performance of both will diminish resulting in lower pressure and lower voltage.
The lower voltage will result in degradation of the heaters combustion cycle.
The follow steps should be taken to check the compression in both cylinders:

Tools Needed: