FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Whether you want to know more about how your 4-cycle Kawasaki engine operates or have a question about which Kawasaki Genuine Parts are best for your equipment, you can trust that our knowledge runs deep. We’ve compiled some FAQ here for your convenience. Explore below to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Engine Maintenance, Service, and Warranty

    • Regular service of air filters, oil filters, and the cooling system (flywheel fan, cooling fins, and any radiator or oil cooler) is the best ways to ensure performance and extend the life of your engine. Using Kawasaki Genuine Parts eliminates any guesswork. See your owner’s manual for specific recommendations.

    • See your authorized Kawasaki Engines dealer for correct engine service. You can find your local dealer here. Some brands may require you to contact that brand’s authorized dealer for both engine and service.

    • Yes. See your authorized Kawasaki Engines dealer for the right engine to repower your equipment. You can find your local dealer here.

    • Model and serial numbers are found on the tag located on the engine housing.

    • Your local authorized Kawasaki dealer will be able to help you with all your warranty registration and claim needs. You can find your local dealer here.

    • Information on Kawasaki warranties can be found on our website. Click here for more information. Please contact your local Kawasaki dealer for additional support. You can find your local dealer here.

  • Parts and accessories

    • Yes. Spark plugs have specific gaps and heat ranges, and the wrong plug in your engine will affect performance. Generic air and oil filters may not fit or work properly, potentially damaging your Kawasaki engine.

    • Generic filters, fluids, and parts may not meet all specifications for your Kawasaki equipment, and may not fit with, work with, or protect your engine. The wrong part can potentially ruin your premium engine.

    • Kawasaki KTECH™ Engine Oils, formulated specifically for high-performance, constant-speed, air-cooled engines, are strongly recommended for maximum cooling, lubrication, and protection.

      Although 10W-40 engine oil is the recommended oil for most conditions, the oil viscosity may need to change to accommodate seasonal temperature changes. Using 20W-50 oil in higher ambient temperatures may reduce oil consumption.

      Visit KTECH™ 4-Cycle Engine Oil for more details and to see our oil viscosity guide.

    • Kawasaki Genuine Parts are found only at authorized Kawasaki Engines dealers. You can find a local dealer here.

  • About fuel: ethanol, E-85, premium, and more

    • Regular pump gas is usually a blend of 90% lead-free gasoline and 10% ethanol (E-10). You can use this fuel in any Kawasaki engine.

    • No, E-15, E-85, and other blends can damage your small engine and void your warranty.

    • No. Premium gas, with or without ethanol, will not improve performance or fuel efficiency.

    • Kawasaki engines are designed to run on regular pump gas. In extreme conditions, such as prolonged below-freezing temperatures, gas-line antifreeze may be used. If storing fuel for more than two weeks, use a fuel stabilizer to prevent gasoline breakdown.

      Kawasaki Engines offers KTECH™ Fuel Treatment, designed to help protect 4-cycle and 2-cycle gasoline engines and their fuel systems. Learn more here.

  • How does a 4-cycle (4-stroke) engine work?

    • Yes, "cycle" and "stroke" are the same. A 4-cycle (4-stroke) engine goes through four steps to generate power. A 2-cycle (2-stroke) engine, often used in small handheld equipment, goes through two steps to generate power.

    • In a 4-cycle engine, the piston takes four cycles (strokes) to complete its movement cycle.
      - Intake Stroke: The intake valve opens as the piston slides to the bottom of the cylinder, which brings air and fuel into the cylinder
      - Compression Stroke: The intake valve closes and the piston slides back up the cylinder, compressing the air/fuel mix
      - Power Stroke: The spark plug ignites the mix, pushing the piston back down to the bottom of the cylinder
      - Exhaust Stroke: As the piston moves back up the cylinder, the exhaust valve opens and pushes hot gas out into the muffler

    • Air-cooled engines are cooled by the atmosphere. They have fins that help dissipate heat and often a fan to keep air moving over the hot engine. Liquid-cooled engines have a liquid-filled radiator and fan to help cool them.

  • Kawasaki EFI Engines

    • Open-loop systems use a defined map to manage the air/fuel ratio at the front end of the fueling process. Closed-loop systems are more complicated in that they need to add an O2 sensor to measure exhaust.

  • Horsepower and torque

    • Horsepower is a rate of doing work. One horsepower is the power it takes to move 550 pounds one foot in one second. Torque is a rotating force—the power it takes to turn a wheel or spin a blade. An efficient, productive mower engine requires a precise balance of both, one reason why Kawasaki engineering is so important.

  • Kawasaki Critical Power engines

    • Typically horsepower is measured on a dynamometer, according to standards defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Engine manufacturers can choose which SAE standard to use. Kawasaki Critical Power engines use SAE J2723.

    • Critical Power engines are horsepower tested following the SAE J1995 method, verified by the TÜV Rheinland Group, and then certified according to a strict SAE J2723 protocol. Kawasaki Critical Power engines were the first in the general purpose engine category to have accurate certified power by SAE.

  • Engineering, design, and features

    • No. Kawasaki crankcases are high-pressure die cast, a more demanding method than typical sand-casting. Crankshafts are forge-quality cast iron, not powdered metal. Gaskets are high-temp silicone or metal instead of paper. Pistons are ultra-light alloy with a racing-motorcycle heritage. Flywheels are heavy cast iron to absorb shock and maintain blade speed. Everyone who assembles an engine also inspects it, and every finished engine—not just a sample—is test-run. This results in engines that are consistent, reliable, and durable.

    • High-quality raw materials are critical. Kawasaki uses automotive-grade aluminum, premium steel, forge-quality iron, and industrial-strength seals and gaskets in every engine to withstand the heat, pressure, and loads of heavy, extended use.

    • Whether you’re a commercial landscaper, industrial equipment operator, or a residential user, over time, the heavy use and high loads of outdoor power equipment can be extremely hard on general-purpose engines. And a high-quality engine delivers the reliability and power to keep your machine running stronger for longer.

    • Selecting a brand known for performance is the best insurance. In addition, “fit and finish” indicate a well-built engine—smooth edges along seams and covers, trimmed seals with no overlap, heavy fuel lines and plug wires, and tight-fitting housings and covers. Clearly marked, easy-access dipstick and filters and convenient touches, like Kawasaki debris clean-out ports, are good indicators. Finally, Kawasaki Genuine Parts are designed specifically for Kawasaki engines, ensuring proper fit, performance, and protection.

    • Most Kawasaki engines are assembled from foreign and domestic parts at the Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM) at its plant in Missouri. For a look inside the factory, click here.

  • FT EFI Fuel Line Recall

    • On some FT730V EFI models, the high-pressure fuel line can get damaged by contact with the fuel pump cover, causing a fuel leak that poses burn and fire hazards.

    • Eligible FT730V EFI engines are those with Specification Numbers AS41, BS41, CS41, DS41,AS42, BS42, CS42, or DS42, and an Engine Serial Number Range of FT730VA00107–FT730VA66205.

    • Your local Kawasaki dealer will be able to help you by adding a protective cover to the fuel line, and if the existing line is damaged, replacing the fuel line altogether. Your local Kawasaki dealer will conduct this repair at no cost to you.

    • Search in our Dealer Lookup, or contact us and we will be happy to direct you to a dealer in your area.

    • Your local Kawasaki dealer will be able to help you with all the proper repairs; we do not send parts directly.

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