I’ve done quite a few repairs that were needed due to confusion of how the engine was designed to operate. Without getting into great detail of design and operation I’ll just say the most important difference between a 2 and 4 cycle engines is the fuel and oil you use. Both types of engines need fuel to run and lubrication to prevent internal damage. However, both designs accomplish this in a different way.

A 2 cycle engine is used on many string trimmers, chainsaws, and hand held leaf blowers. The engine uses a fuel and oil mixture poured into the fuel tank that allows the engine to run and stay lubricated. It’s important to read your machines owners manual to know what fuel/oil ratio to use when mixing gasoline with 2 cycle oil.

A 4 cycle engine is used on lawn mowers, tractors, and generators. The engine uses gasoline to run and motor oil to stay lubricated. Gasoline goes in the fuel tank while the oil is poured into the crankcase. Always refer to the owners manual to be sure to use the correct weight oil as well as the proper amount. Oil should be checked before every use of the machine to ensure it’s at the correct level.