B&S Vanguard life?

[Hal]

What’s the expected life of a 16 hp. B&S Vanguard engine? I just did a 900 hour service on mine. Oil and filter, new spark plugs, and fuel filter. There was a small amount of engine oil in the air filter housing. I assume that’s blow by through the PCV system.

It’s on a Badger firewood processor.

I have owned this engine since new, and kept up with the oil and filter changes. Blow the sawdust out of it regularly, and generally try to keep it happy.

I really hope I can get a lot more hours out of it before it needs rebuilding or replacement.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, You are "doing right" by the engine with regular maintenance it should serve you and your descendants for many years.

Inattention to oil checks and changes, filter changes and allowing the engine to be overheated will shorten the life of any engine.

 

[Firebrick43]

2500 hours is pretty typical of vanguards if they are maintained and oil kept on the full mark.

One thing in all dirty environment vertical v twins is top oil seal seeping/leaking.

A fine coating of oil coats the cooling fins on the cylinder and head which dirt, grass, and in your case saw dust.

Blowing them out regularly is good but not enough. You need to pull the top cover at least every 6 months and check it’s just a few bolts that holds the tin on especially after they get some hours/age on them. If you don’t the heads over heat and valve inserts fall out, possibly breaking a valve and destroying the engine. If there is any oil residue, change the top seal.

Also no one really ever did rebuild the v twin engines anymore. They are not like the old kohlers with ball bearings on the crankshaft. Pressure lubed means they use plain bearings on the crankshaft and they are not available separately from the case halves. Sometimes an re ring will get them another 500 hours but after that toss them and put another one on. You are left with a crank and all the auxiliary outer items. The pistons, rods, heads, and case halve are going to be close to the cost of a new engine.