How to Clean Small Engine Mufflers
Cleaning small engine mufflers will help you protect the life and effectiveness of your equipment. Dirt that accumulates around the muffler can end up being sucked back into the engine, leading to damage. Cleaning this regularly will protect your investments.
There are a lot of benefits with cleaning your small engine mufflers. They tend to get very loud and obnoxious whenever they get a lot of dirt build up on them. You can easily keep them lasting longer and make them quieter by taking the time to clean them every so often.
What You’ll Need:
- Rag
- Scraper
- Compressed Air
- Bucket
- Carburetor Cleaner
- Find your muffler. It can usually be found at the end of your exhaust line. If you are unsure of where to look, then turn on the engine and check to see where the exhaust comes out of.
- Get rid of any noticeable debris first. You can typically wipe or scrape these off pretty easily. Also pay attention to the guard if there is one. Use your scraper and the rag to get rid of the loose debris.
- Check the owner’s manual to see how to properly remove the muffler. Once you have successfully removed it, use carburetor cleaner to clean it up. Once the muffler is clean, give it time to dry before you put it back on.
- Get your can of compressed air out to get the pieces of debris that are harder to reach. If needed, use a bucket filled with a diluted bleach solution to put the muffler in overnight. This will remove any of the tough build up.
- Keep an eye on the muffler and clean it on a regular basis. This will make it easier to keep it looking nice, and keeping it quiet and in good condition.