14 Causes for Toro Mower Power Loss and Bogging Down

It sounds like your car’s engine is lagging and not performing at peak levels. Good performance and the avoidance of expensive repairs both necessitate prompt diagnosis and correction of this issue.

If the Toro lawn mower’s engine is overheated or isn’t getting enough air and fuel, the mower will lose power.

The engine oil may be too low, the air filters may be blocked, the carburetor may be unclean, or the fuel system may be restricted.

If the Toro mower’s ground speed is too high for the conditions, or if the mower deck is clogged, the engine may start to lose power. For further information, please continue reading.

Possible causes of your Toro lawn mower’s lack of power:

Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and fully understood any relevant safety information found in the equipment’s operator’s manual. If you lack the expertise, experience, or physical ability to complete the repair safely, you should seek the advice of a professional.

Why Toro Lawn Mowers Lose Power

Toro Mower with a Clogged Air Filter

The air filter in your mower is one potential source of power loss. To prevent engine damage from dirt entering the air intake, an air filter must be used.

But, if the filter isn’t kept clean, engine harm can occur. Mowing can clog an air filter because it’s a dusty task, what with all the grass clippings and dirt that get kicked up by the mower.

As dirt accumulates on the filter, it prevents air from getting through, which can cause the engine to lose power and stall.

Your air filter should be changed once a year at minimum. Then, throughout the mowing season, clean it on a regular basis.

If you’re mowing in a very dusty area, you may need to clean or replace your filter more often.

Air Filter Maintenance for Your Toro Lawnmower

Follow these steps to clean a conventional paper air filter. If you’re looking for guidance on cleaning a different kind of filter, you’ll find it here.

• The air filter housing must have its cover taken off. Clips, knobs, and wing nuts are typical fasteners for this.
• You should take care when removing the air filter so that dust doesn’t get sucked into the engine.
• Remove any lingering grime from the air filter housing using a dry, clean rag.
• You can get the most dust out of your air filter by tapping it against a hard surface.
• Raise the filter to the light. You can safely reuse the filter if you can still see light through the paper. If you can’t clean the filter or if it’s ruined or oiled, you should get a new one.
• Replace the old filter with the new one, then replace the lid.

Using Outdated Gasoline in a Toro Lawnmower

Your Toro mower’s performance may suffer if you use old fuel. This is due to the rapid decomposition of gasoline after just 30 days.

As ethanol and water are sucked into the fuel system, they may combine to form sticky deposits that clog the system. If the engine doesn’t have enough gasoline, performance suffers.

If you discover stale gas in your mower, you should refill the tank with new gasoline. Toro mowers that run on gasoline need unleaded fuel with an octane value of at least 87 and no more than 10% ethanol.

The modern 4-cycle engine found in Toro lawn mowers runs on regular gasoline, but you can still find some 2-cycle models in use.

Two-cycle motors can’t run on pure gasoline, but rather need a combination of gas and oil. Here you can learn about the many fuel options for your Toro mower.

The gasoline can be stabilized, the moisture can be removed, and the fuel system can be cleaned by using a fuel additive such as Sea Foam Motor Treatment.

Sea Foam is also useful when you have more gas than you can use in a month’s time. As an extra measure to safeguard the fuel system and the engine, I like to add Sea Foam to each tank of fuel.

Reasons why I enjoy using Sea Foam are detailed in this manual.

Toro Mower with a Clogged Fuel Filter

To prevent contaminants from polluting the fuel supply, a fuel filter cleans the fuel as it exits the tank. If the filter is not periodically replaced, it will become clogged and prevent fuel from getting through.

When completing yearly maintenance on your Toro mower, it is recommended that you also replace the fuel filter. This filter is a low-cost component that, if it fails to strain dirt effectively, might lead to problems with the fuel delivery and severe engine damage.

If your mower doesn’t have a fuel shut-off valve, you can use fuel pinch-off pliers to stop the flow of fuel while you replace the filter. First, you need to disconnect the fuel lines from the old filter by releasing the clamps, and then you may remove the old filter.

The directional arrow on the side of most inline filters should be followed. The filter’s arrow should face the direction of fuel flow during installation.

It’s important to direct the arrow toward the carburetor and away from the gas tank.

Toro Mower with a Clogged Fuel Line

Old gas can cause sticky deposits that can choke gasoline lines, as was discussed earlier.

Stopping the fuel flow and removing the end of a fuel hose portion into a container allows you to inspect the Toro mower for a clog. Turn on the gasoline supply and make sure it is properly connected and flowing.

If you discover a blockage in the fuel line leading to your Toro mower, you should turn off the fuel and disconnect the affected part of pipe. Distribute carburetor cleaner through the pipe.

The purpose of this is to break up the ice. To remove the blockage, pressurize the line and blow through it.

If you can’t get the obstruction out, or if the gasoline line is dry and cracked, you should switch it out for a new one of the same length and diameter.

Toro Lawnmower with a Filthy Carburetor

The carburetor on your lawnmower is crucial to its operation. To ensure proper combustion, it controls how much fuel and air are introduced to the cylinder.

Leftover substances from using stale fuel might build up in your carburetor and render it useless. In such a case, your Toro mower’s lack of power may be attributed to the carburetor becoming dirty.

If fuel is not reaching the cylinder, the carburetor should be cleaned. If you want to clean your carburetor before you start dismantling it, take out the air filter and spray some cleaner into the intake.

Try starting the car to make sure it works. If your vehicle starts but immediately dies, you may need to clean the carburetor. You may find detailed instructions on how to clean your Toro carburetor in the article.

Defective Toro Mower Spark Plug

A loss of power may arise from a fouled spark plug causing an intermittent spark. Carbon, dirt, and oil accumulation on the spark plug’s tip are all things to look out for.

When mowing, check the spark plugs to make sure they are clean and undamaged, and swap them out if necessary.

You might also try cleaning it with a wire brush and reusing it if it’s only filthy and not too dark in color.

Toro Mower Engine Oil Level Too Low

A lack of engine oil in the Toro mower’s crankcase will cause the machine to lose power. Perhaps you didn’t put enough oil into the crankcase when you last changed the oil, and now you’re running low.

Oil leaks or oil burning from using the incorrect oil viscosity in the engine are also possible causes.

The oil level in your mower should never drop too low. If you do this and fail to notice it in a timely manner, you may end up with a very expensive repair bill, if not have to replace the engine altogether.

Lubrication of the engine’s interior components is impossible without engine oil. When moving parts aren’t properly lubricated, friction builds up and produces a great deal of heat.

This can lead to the Toro mower overheating, which in turn can cause the oil to burn and the parts to melt.

Before each time you use your Toro mower, make sure the engine oil is at the proper level. I know it’s an extra chore on top of everything else you have to do, but it won’t take long and will help you spot oil leaks and engine problems early on, when they’re easier to fix.

You can see how much oil is in your engine by taking out the dipstick and wiping it with a dry cloth. To take out the dipstick again, simply replace it. It’s time to check the oil. There should be no gaps between the oil mark and the top of the dipstick.

If not, fill it up with fresh motor oil. Don’t cram too much in there or you’ll have even more issues.

If you have filled your engine to the maximum level and are still experiencing issues, you should have a qualified small engine repair examine it.

It’s possible that a lack of oil in the engine has created internal damage that new oil won’t be able to cure.

Toro Mower Engine Oil Excess

If you load the crankcase to the top with engine oil, your engine will start smoking. When there is an excess of oil in the engine, pressure builds up and oil can be forced into the cylinder through the valves.

When this occurs, the oil in the cylinder burns with a bluish white smoke.

This dense plume of smoke may clog your air filter, preventing your engine from receiving the clean air it requires to function properly. You should clean or replace your spark plugs and air filter as needed.

If you continue to operate your Toro mower with oil levels beyond the recommended range, you risk damaging the seals, hydrolocking the engine, and bending the piston rod.

Take Out Some of the Engine Oil

By loosening the drain plug and then swiftly retightening it, you can drain the oil from the engine with minimal loss of pressure. A turkey baster or oil evacuator can also be used to drain oil from the oil filter or the oil fill area.

Toro Lawnmower with a Filthy Engine Cooling System

To maintain its operating temperature, the engine draws air through a cooling system. The engine’s block and cylinder head are subjected to a cooling air flow.

If grass clippings and mud become stuck in the cooling fins, airflow around the engine will be reduced, so keep them clean. Mend the cooling fins if they are broken.

Cleaning the engine shroud and air intake areas is as important as keeping the cooling fins clear to prevent the engine from overheating and losing power.

Toro Lawnmower With Blocked Air Vents

To avoid the engine overheating and losing power, proper cooling is essential. Remove any debris, such as grass clippings or dirt, that may have accumulated around your engine to ensure proper airflow.

Clear out the junk that has accumulated under your engine cover. Check that the heat shield is properly fastened.

While using a Toro mower, you can cover a lot of ground quickly.

Whilst it may be tempting to rush through your mowing so you can get to the enjoyable part of your day as soon as possible, doing so may drain the power from your Toro mower.

When mowing thick, wet, or tall grass, going at a fast speed might put extra strain on your mower.

Adjust the pace of your Toro mower’s operation based on the terrain you’re cutting, and the mower’s workload will be reduced. Mowing on a slope requires a slower pace.

Mowing the Lawn with a Toro Mower in Rain or High Grass

Wet grass should not be chopped. Vehicle engines have to work harder when driving over wet grass.

More of it will clump together and become stuck on the mower deck’s underside. Mowing your lawn when the grass is dry can give you the best results.

Cutting your grass on a regular basis will help keep it at a manageable length. Allowing your grass to grow too long can cause your mower to become bogged down when you try to cut it.

Though you may make an effort to maintain your lawn short, there will inevitably be occasions when it grows uncontrollably out of control.

For the best results when cutting tall grass, mow it twice or even three times. To achieve this, raise the mower deck to its highest setting before making the first cut and then lowering it before making subsequent cuts.

Loss of Toro Mower Power Due to Clogged Mower Deck

To prevent the engine from overheating and burning out, the space under the mower deck must be kept clean and clear at all times. The Toro mower blades should have enough of room to spin and move underneath the deck when in use.

When the mower’s deck is full, the engine has to work harder to turn the blades through the debris, which is tiring for the engine. You should scrape the deck of your mower frequently to keep it clear of debris.

This is beneficial for both the health of your engine and the prevention of a nasty injury.

Toro Lawnmower with Dull Blades

A blocked deck is made much worse by dull mower blades. It will take more power from the engine to turn the blades if you add them to a plugged deck that is already losing efficiency.

Make sure your blades are sharp or get new ones if they are dull. Further details on how to check your blades and how to sharpen them may be found here.

Is Your Toro Lawnmower Still Giving You Trouble?

Owning a lawnmower that never breaks down would be fantastic, but that almost never happens. The longer you keep a mower, the more issues it will have no matter what brand it is.

I’ve compiled a list of symptoms, likely causes, and potential solutions to assist you diagnose and repair issues with your Toro mower. The Most Frequent Issues with Toro Mowers and How to Fix Them is a good resource.