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About This Quiz
When the average person thinks of an engine, often the first thing that comes to mind is a car or truck engine — something large, powerful and complicated. However, the most common type of engine you will find are small engines, and whether you know it or not, they are everywhere. For example, that snowblower or lawnmower you just pulled from the garage is powered by a small engine. But would you know the first step you take when attempting to repair that engine?
Machines such as leaf blowers and lawnmowers are powered by small engines to clean up the yard effectively. The same goes for your rototiller that helps to prepare your garden in the spring, plus small motorcycles, fishing boats and snowmobiles.
Being able to repair an engine on the go saves you a lot of money and, in many cases, time. But how much do you really know about small engine repair? Do you know what a "choke" is? Or, how about a "fuel stabilizer?" What happened if your governor is adjusted incorrectly? And how much do you know about the temperature and viscosity of engine lubricants?
Think you know enough to keep your garage machines running? Take this quiz and impress yourself and others with your engine repair knowledge!
What is the best routine for servicing your small engine?
Wait until it breaks.
Make annual checks.
Perform regular maintenance.
It is best to service your small engine regularly. That way you can rely on the machine to work. When you can catch potential problems earlier you'll prevent bigger problems down the road.
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What are smaller gas engines usually cooled by?
Air
Combustion and friction produce heat that can damage the engine parts. To prevent this, air is used to cool the engine and lubricant is used to reduce the amount of friction — smaller engines generally don't have liquid coolant systems.
Water
Refrigeration
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What’s the first step to any small engine repair?
Disconnect the spark plugs.
It’s best and safer to disconnect the spark plugs before working on an engine. Internal combustion can't start without a spark, so removing the spark plug makes sure you don't get any surprises when you get to work.
Drain all the gasoline.
Arrange all the tools you'll think you'll need.
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What should battery terminals be cleaned with?
A damp rag
Engine cleaning solution
Baking soda and a wire brush
A little corrosion on your battery's terminals is normal, but they should be cleaned off so the battery terminals are making good contact. Battery cables and terminals should be cleaned with a little baking soda and a stiff wire brush.
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What does the term “viscosity” describe?
Color
Life expectancy
Thickness
Viscosity is the thickness of an oil, grease or other lubricant. Different grades of oils are designed to work optimally in various temperatures.
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Which of the following small engine parts are an example of a "wear" part?
Block
Bearings
Wear parts, such as bearings, wear out as part of their function and are designed to be replaceable. Your engine will generally let you know, through noises or decreased functionality, when parts such as these need to be replaced.
Turbocharger
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Most small engines can be repaired using standard general procedures, but some have specific or unusual requirements. What’s the best way to proceed if you’re stuck?
Contact the manufacturer.
If you have trouble with a repair, many equipment manufacturers can provide copies of their products’ repair manuals. Even more helpfully, many of these manuals are available online in PDF format on the manufacturer's website.
Throw it away and buy a new one.
Post on Reddit.
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If there is white or blue smoke coming from the exhaust, what might be wrong?
The engine may be burning oil.
White or blue exhaust is a sign that the engine is burning oil. This could be due to overfilling the crankcase with oil, operating the engine at an extreme angle or using an incorrect oil grade, or something more series, like a blown head gasket or worn cylinders.
The catalytic converter could be on the fritz.
Your exhaust fluid reservoir needs to be refilled.
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Which of the following are types of ignition systems used with small engines?
Magneto-powered and battery-powered systems
Magneto-powered and battery-powered are both examples of ignition systems commonly used in small engines. A magneto is a type of electrical generator that has been designed to make high-voltage pulses that supply power to the spark plug.
Battery-powered and throttle-powered systems
Mechanical-breaker and rechargeable-battery systems
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What does a mechanical governor use to determine the load on an engine?
Sensors
Flyweights
A governor maintains the speed of the engine, keeping it constant whether it is undergoing a light or heavy load at any given moment. A mechanical governor uses a system of flyweights and springs to measure the load on an engine; an air vane governor uses changes in air pressure around the rotating flywheel to determine the load.
Cables
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What does a choke do?
Controls the amount of fuel moving through the lines.
Controls the amount of air entering the engine.
A choke is a valve that controls the air entering the engine and used in the air/fuel mixture. When starting a small engine, the choke restricts the amount of air to run a more fuel-rich mixture until the engine warms up. Once at operating temperature, turn the choke off and allow more air in for a more-balanced mix.
Controls the amount of throttle the driver can apply.
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What does fuel stabilizer do?
It preps the fuel system for replacement.
It preps the fuel system for storage.
Fuel stabilizer should be added to the fuel when a vehicle or piece of equipment is being stored. If the water content of gasoline is allowed to evaporate, the remaining fuel can form a resin that can damage an engine. Stabilizer helps to prevent this process.
It turns the fuel from gasoline into water.
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How long does it take for untreated gasoline to break down?
Never
Between three and six months
Untreated gasoline breaks down with exposure to oxygen but should last between three and six months if stored in a tightly sealed plastic container or metal tank. Gasoline that has been fuel stabilized can be kept between one and three years.
One year
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What do two- and four-stroke engines mix with gasoline for combustion?
Oil
Water
Air
Gasoline is a highly combustible liquid but still needs oxygen to make it burn. This combustion occurs in the cylinder and moves the piston to turn this explosion into mechanical force. In a two-stroke engine, oil is mixed with the fuel to help lubricate the crankcase. The four-stroke engine is structured differently and doesn't need this fuel/oil mix.
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Which of these parts controls the speed of the engine?
The throttle
The throttle controls the speed of the engine by controlling the amount of air that is delivered to the engine which affects how much fuel is delivered — the correct proportion determined by the carburetor — and therefore controls the engine's speed.
The carburetor
The muffler
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If you have to pull the cord to get your lawnmower started, which type of ignition system do you have?
Manual-powered
Battery-powered
Magneto-powered
By pulling the cord, you're actually rotating the crankshaft which is connected to the magneto. The magneto generates the electrical charge that ignites the internal combustion process, which then keeps the crankshaft rotating and the process moving along.
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What component maintains momentum between the engine's power strokes and keeps the process moving?
The flywheel
The flywheel — a round-shaped, weighted wheel — maintains the momentum between the engine's power (combustion) strokes. The crankshaft is moved by the piston's up-and-down motion in the cylinder via the connecting rods, but since there is a moment between combustion strokes, the flywheel keeps the crankshaft in motion.
The crankshaft
The connecting rod
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How often should you change your engine oil in your lawnmower?
After every 25-50 hours of use.
You should change your engine oil in your lawnmower after every 25 to 50 hours of use. Most small engines come with a service chart which helps you keep track of which parts need to be serviced when.
After every 100-150 hours of use.
After every 150-200 hours of use.
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What are in-line fuel filters usually made of?
A metal mesh screen
Disposable, pleated paper
In-line fuel filters are usually made of disposable pleated paper, which should be replaced when cleaning the fuel system. Other engines have a fuel strainer in the bottom of the fuel tank, or a removable sediment bowl type strainer in the fuel line.
A plastic sediment bowl
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What are the two types of air cleaners used in a small engine?
Oil bath and dry
Air cleaners keep particles in the air from blocking the carburetor. There are two types: oil baths, which can be cleaned (but are messy to work with) and dry cleaners, which must be replaced.
Paper and metal
Dry and metal
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How many types of carburetors are usually used in small engines?
One
Two
Three
There are three types of carburetors that are usually used in small engines: natural draft (or side draft), downdraft and updraft. These describe the direction of air flow from the inlet to the engine.
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How many systems does a gasoline-powered engine have?
One
Three
Six
An internal combustion, gasoline-powered engine has six basic systems: fuel, exhaust, ignition, combustion, cooling and lubrication. Each of these systems, of course, has many components.
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What could an incorrectly adjusted governor ultimately do to an engine?
It will damage or destroy it.
An incorrectly adjusted governor will damage or destroy an engine by causing it to operate at excessively high speeds. All governors operate differently, so read your service manual to see how to correctly adjust yours.
It will slow the engine down.
It will use up large amounts of fuel.
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What is the function of an electrolyte in a battery cell?
It provides cooling.
It acts as a catalyst.
In a battery cell, the electrolyte material provides a medium of transporting the ions between the lead plates that generate electricity.
It balances out the electrical charge.
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How much voltage does a new spark plug require?
2,000 volts
5,000 volts
A new spark plug requires 5,000 volts to work. An old spark plug can require double as much, so it's important to change out the plug on a regular basis.
10,000 volts
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What should you use to mix the correct ratio of oil and fuel for your two-stroke engine's lubricating system?
Special mixing bowl provided by the manufacturer.
Any non-metal mixing bowls.
A vented gas can only for mixing purposes.
Two-stroke engines are lubricated by mixing oil and gasoline. You can buy a premixed product, or mix it yourself using a vented gas canister that is set aside for mixing only.
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What are common lubrication grease grades for small engines?
20-30
50-60
80-90
Some engines require that their parts be lubricated using lubrication grease, a high-viscosity petroleum product. Most lubricating greases have a viscosity of between 80 and 90. Check your owner's manual for recommendations and which parts, if any, require lubrication grease.
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What temperature does an internal combustion engine reach?
500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius)
2,800 degrees Fahrenheit (1,538 degrees Celsius)
4,500 degrees Fahrenheit (2,500 degrees Celsius)
Because it's a machine built around a series of explosions, heat quickly becomes an issue. An internal combustion engine reaches about 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit (2,500 degrees Celsius). Therefore, an engine's cooling system is an essential component of its functioning.
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How are most single-cylinder engines cooled?
Through petroleum
Through air
Most single-cylinder engines are cooled by air that is generated by fan blades on a flywheel. This system is easy to service; it just needs to be cleaned and kept free of debris.
Through electricity, in a similar way to a refrigerator
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Which of the following problems could cause the engine to overheat?
A leaky or blown gasket
Many problems can cause an engine to overheat, such as a gasket that needs to be replaced. Other causes might be low oil levels, dirt and debris clogging the air filter or damaged cooling fins.
Fouled spark plugs
A missing engine shroud
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You Got:
/30
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