Troy Bilt Pressure Washer Problems: Engine. Helpful Tips

Troy Bilt pressure washers are renowned for their reliability and robustness. All pressure washers produced by Troy Bilt use gas engines. Despite their high power-to-weight ratio, these engines are liable to undergo performance hitches occasionally. If you’re a user, you could encounter such instances and wonder how to fix them without professional intervention.

Troy Bilt Pressure Washer Problems:

The fuel system must be thoroughly inspected if your Troy Bilt pressure washer doesn’t provide sufficient power or stalls shortly after starting. This includes the fuel lines, the fuel filter, and the carburetor. You should ensure that your carburetor jets are free from deposits and that the fuel filter is in good condition. Occasionally, inspect your spark plug electrodes. In case of oil leaks, check the seals in your engine and replace them if needed.

This blog post contains some commonly occurring problems in Troy Bilt pressure washers, and I will show how to fix these issues. Please note that Troy-Bilt only produces gas pressure washers and associated spare parts.

Problems with the Troy-Bilt Gas Pressure Washer Engine

A four-stroke gasoline engine is employed in gas pressure washers to drive the pump. In these machines, the engine and the fuel system components increase the overall system’s complexity, thus increasing the maintenance requirements. Hence, the probability of a problem’s occurrence and its possible causes are multiplied, which might become different for an average user to resolve.

To begin with, let’s first understand how the fuel system works in a gas pressure works before going right into how any problem originates.

Working Mechanism of Gas Pressure Washers

In gas-powered engines, the carburetor is responsible for providing a continuous flow of air and fuel charge to the engine for combustion. The fuel is withdrawn from the fuel tank via the fuel lines, and the fuel filter is located right at the tank’s exit. As evident from the name, the fuel filter filters out foreign particles from the fuel and allows uncontaminated gas to flow into the carburetor.

At the carburetor, air flows through the venturi duct, resulting in a pressure drop across it. This causes fuel to be withdrawn from the corresponding jets in an appropriate proportion and ultimately mixed with the air. The air-fuel mixture then gets delivered to the engine for combustion.

● Issue 1. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Keeps Stopping and Starting

If your pressure washer starts and stops repeatedly, it might be due to a clogged carburetor jet or a vapor lock in the fuel lines. Occasionally, a bad fuel filter could also become the source of the problem.

Most engine problems in a pressure washer are caused due to a problem either in the carburetor or in the filters. The carburetor jets are likely to get plugged due to stale fuel deposits. As a result, the fuel quantity entering the engine affects the combustion, ultimately lowering the engine’s power output.

Apart from the clogging in the carburetor or the filters, a vapor lock is also a common cause of a pressure washer that keeps stopping and starting. Vapor lock occurs due to a continuous buildup of fuel vapors within the fuel lines. Most fuel tank caps have proper vents to escape fuel vapors and maintain the pressure equilibrium. However, when the buildup occurs, it lowers the fuel flow rate across the lines and affects the engine’s output, causing it to shut down just after starting.

– Solution:

To solve the problem, you can perform the below-mentioned steps one by one to see if that helps:

Step 1. Servicing the carburetor:

To fix the issue, you must clean your carburetor’s jets using a carb cleaner liquid or WD-40. First, you must obtain the carburetor access by removing your air filter assembly. When you can reach the carburetor, detach the bowl by opening its nut. Now you should spray the cleaner liquid at the carb’s interiors and the jets to ensure no deposits remain.

One way to ensure that the cleaner fluid comes out of the jet’s end when sprayed from one end. Also, clean the bowl nut as it’s a jet itself. Once the cleaning is done, reattach everything and start your pressure washer by adding fresh fuel into the tank.

Step 2. Replacing the filter:

If carb cleaning didn’t fix the problem, consider inspecting your device’s fuel filter, which is right at the bottom of your fuel tank. Before you do it, it is better to drain your tank and store your fuel elsewhere. Using a pair of nose pliers, gently pluck out the fuel filter and check its condition. If it appears damaged, replace it with a new one, otherwise, proceed to the next step.

Step 3. Releasing the vapor lock:

In some cases, the issue might have been caused due to a vapor lock. Releasing a vapor lock is quite simple, you need to open your tank’s fuel cap for a while and the pressure to equalize. Keep your fuel cap’s vents free of dirt as a preventative step.

● Issue 2. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: The Engine won’t run

If your engine doesn’t start, make sure the spark plug is in an acceptable condition. If it still doesn’t work, remove and disassemble the carburetor, then clean the ports with carburetor cleaner liquid.

Carbon buildup frequently wears away the electrodes of spark plugs, reducing spark quality and making engine starting difficult.

– Solution:

Examine the electrodes of your spark plug by removing the plug. If they seem damaged, replace the plug with a new one. If the issues continue, consider examining the carburetor on your pressure washer. Remove the carburetor and thoroughly clean it of any residual fuel. I recommend purchasing a carburetor repair kit, including a cleaning liquid, to remove sticky residues.

● Issue 3. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Engine Stops

If your engine stops soon after starting, your air and fuel filters should be carefully examined and cleared of any debris lodged. Check the tank for vapor lock and ensure the carburetor is clean and properly adjusted.

The air and fuel filters keep foreign particles out of the carburetor. As a result, these filters become clogged with debris regularly, affecting the engine’s air-fuel mixture and leading to loss of power.

– Solution:

Check these filters separately and clean/replace them as needed to resolve the issue. If the problem continues, check the gas tank for a vapor lock and consider setting the carburetor’s adjustment screws.

● Issue 4. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Engine not providing enough Power

If your engine isn’t delivering enough power, check the water supply and make sure the hoses aren’t kinked. Ensure the air filter is clean and the carburetor jets aren’t clogged with dirt.

The air-fuel combination may be too rich if the engine isn’t producing enough power. This means the engine is getting too much gas but not enough air to create enough power after combustion. Either the carburetor, the filters, or both, might cause the problem.

– Solution:

Check the air filter, which should not be blocked with dust, to ensure enough air supply. The L and H screws on the carburetor should be correctly adjusted. These screws regulate the engine’s RPMs at both low and high speeds.

Tightening the L screw inhibits fuel flow to the carburetor, resulting in a lean air-fuel combination. This boosts the engine’s RPMs. Loosening the screw, on the other hand, causes the RPMs to fall. When adjusting the carburetor, keep the screw halfway between the two extremes. This ensures that the RPMs stay adequate and that the engine produces enough power.

Furthermore, ensure that no air is trapped in the pump and that the hoses are not kinked, as this generates considerable back pressure on the engine. As a result, it may not deliver sufficient power in that situation.

● Issue 5. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Oil Leak

If your engine is leaking oil, the most likely cause is a faulty seal. In almost all cases, replacing the seal would fix the problem. Oil may flow from an overfilled tank in some cases.

You may purchase an oil seal kit to assist you in replacing seals as needed. These oil seals are present in the oil inlets. On each side of the engine, there are usually two inlets sealed with caps.

– Solution:

Using a screwdriver, remove the seal and inspect its condition. Replace it if it appears to be damaged. As a precaution, you should avoid overfilling your oil tank, which might result in oil leaking from these inlets.

● Issue 6. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Water in Oil

If water enters the engine oil, the oil seal is broken. In this situation, you should change the seal as instructed by the manufacturer.

When you add water to oil, it gets milky. A leaky oil seal is one possible cause, and a worn-out engine piston is another less prevalent cause. Mechanical wear causes metal to chip off from pistons over time, increasing the gap between the piston and the cylinder walls.

As a result, water entering the piston via the inlet manifold may enter the crankcase and mix with oil, resulting in a milky suspension.

– Possible Fixes:

If your engine is not too old (less than 5 years of use), the problem is probably with the seals/gaskets. As a result, you’ll need to replace the seal/head gasket on your engine. If your engine is still under warranty, contact the dealer or manufacturer and request that this replacement is done for you. I would not advise risking your warranty by replacing it yourself.

In the event of a worn-out piston, check with the manufacturer to see if the engine’s warranty is still valid. If not, the engine in your pressure washer might need to be replaced.

Troy Bilt Pressure Washer troubleshooting table:

● Troy Bilt Gas Pressure Washer Engine troubleshooting table: