Who Makes Vanguard Engines 2024? [The Manufacturer’s Journey]

Vanguard is a legendary name for power-tool enthusiasts. Its entry into the power equipment industry changed the perception of small engines. Do you know who makes Vanguard engines?

Briggs & Stratton is the manufacturer of Vanguard engines. They produce and market powerful and technically advanced engines under the brand name. Vanguard has a separate production unit and dedicated engineering team to improve these engines with newer innovations.

In this article, we will explore the journey of Vanguard, the types of engines they produce, the list of mower manufacturers that use these engines, and so on.

Who Makes Vanguard Engines? The Background of Vanguard Engines

Vanguard is the power-engine brand, introduced by Briggs & Stratton. The journey of the brand began when Briggs & Stratton realized that there was a gap in the market for engines that are powerful and durable at the same time. 

Based on the concept, Briggs & Stratton released the first engine under the Vanguard brand in 1987. After being released in the market, Vanguard engines quickly gained recognition in the engine industry. It became a trustworthy engine brand for both residential and commercial usage. 

For reliability and performance, Vanguard engines are now the power sources of various equipment like lawnmowers, generators, pressure washers, etc. 

Brand achievement:

Vanguard, as a brand, has achieved several industry awards in its journey. Here is the list of those notable awards at a glance:

• 2019: Diesel Progress’ Notable New Product and Rental Equipment Register Innovative Product Award. 
• 2020: A golden year for Vanguard due to being honored by multiple awards, including:

1. Green Industry Pros 2020 Editor’s Choice Award winner 
2. Diesel Progress’ Electrification Newsmaker of the Year Award
3. 2020 Pro Tool Innovation Award, and
4. 2020 Rental Editor’s Choice Award.

• 2021: Construction Equipment Top 100 New Products of 2021 Award.

• 2022: The Contractors’ Top 50 New Products Award.

Where Are Vanguard Engines Made?

Briggs & Stratton manufactures Vanguard engines in the United States. They might have several production plants in the USA. But Vanguard’s official website has mentioned some specific models and where they are made.

For example, the manufacturing plants of Vanguard’s Small Block, 810cc and BIG BLOCK™ V-Twin engines are in Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Statesboro. 

Choosing these places for manufacturing Vanguard engines must be strategic. Their website also mentions that these places help them to be more active in production and understand the needs of the growing commercial market. 

Types of Engines Vanguard Produces

Generically, Vanguard manufactures two types of engines for mowers with variations. Learn about each engine in the following sections.

• Vertical Shaft Engines:

It is a type of internal combustion engine used in various power equipment. Vertical shaft engines are ideal for appliances where you need to transfer the energy vertically. This characteristic has made them perfect engines for lawnmowers where the engine’s rotational motion is converted into the up-and-down movement. Thus, your mower’s cutting blades become able to cut grass.

• Horizontal Shaft Engines:

These engines have the opposite designs of vertical shaft engines. In this internal combustion engine, the crankshaft has a horizontal alignment. So, they are ideal for appliances where you need to transfer the power horizontally.

Though used infrequently, many mower manufacturers use Horizontal shaft engines for their better cooling capabilities and to reduce the overall length of mowers.

In these two genres, Vanguard offers the following engines for mowers.

1. BIG BLOCK™ V-Twin: Vanguard’s most powerful engines with 32 to 40 HP output to handle the most challenging tasks with reliable power. They are the best engines from the brand to use for commercial mowing and agricultural purposes.
2. Mid-Block V-Twin: Pure commercial-grade engines with 26 to 28 HP output and outstanding zero-turn maneuvering capabilities. They have optional EFI, which enhances commercial mowers’ efficiency.
3. Small Block V-Twin: They are smaller but powerful enough to handle demanding commercial applications. With advanced technologies and 16 to 23 HP output, they are perfect compact engines for mowers.
4. CXi Series V-Twin: Designed for high-debris applications, and robustness to get the job done. These engines (20 to 25 HP) have unique systems to keep debris away from the internal sections.
5. Single-Cylinder: Built for comparatively low-power operation, but still equipped with decent technologies and satisfactory output (5 to 14 HP). They are popular engines widely used in walk-behind mowers.

are vanguard engine any good? Unique Features in Vanguard Engines

As a brand, innovation is a key strength of Vanguard. It offers some unique features in engines that are developed based on users’ pain points. Here are some of them.

TransportGuard

Professionals often require transporting their mowers between sites. During transportation, they face some annoying issues like oil dilution and fuel flooding. 

To prevent them, Vanguard has invented the TransportGuard, a unique feature that blocks oil leakage when the engine is tilted up to 15 degrees from the horizontal position. 

The features ensure the engine’s longer life, struggle-free starting, and less maintenance requirements. 

Oil Guard™ System

Small engines that are used a lot usually require oil changing every 25 to 50 hours of operation. However, Vanguard’s revolutionary Oil Guard™ System lets the engine utilize the same oil for an unimaginably longer time, up to 500 hours. 

It means you have more consistent working time without frequent oil-changing intervals. This feature is a blessing for professionals as it saves time and money equally. 

EFI and ETC

These are two user-friendly features included in most Vanguard engines. The EFI ensures easy starting of engines at any temperature. Moreover, it delivers smooth performance at all altitudes with less fuel consumption. 

On the other hand, ETC is a smart system where the flywheel speed sensor detects changes in RPM and transmits signals to the throttle body to keep the engine speed consistent. Thus, users can enjoy smooth and consistent power without caring about the terrain and load on the engine.

Mower Brands That Use Vanguard Engines

Vanguard engines have been the top choice for manufacturers that want to include value in their mowers. These engines are powerful, durable, and technically advanced which makes them undeniable.

Here is the list of top mower manufacturers that include Vanguard engines in their mowers.

Hustler: 

Hustler is known as an innovative mower manufacturing company. They are happy to find another innovative partner, Vanguard. Their mowers often come with Vanguard engines, including the Super Z, HyperDrive, and Super S.

Scag: 

Scag mowers are famous for their heavy-duty construction and jaw-dropping durability. Vanguard’s engine quality is quite compatible with their mower lines. Scag includes these engines in a lot of models. But the notable series are Cheetah II, Turf Tiger II, and Tiger Cat II.

Ferris: 

Ferris has a particular focus on comfortable design. Vanguard is also improving their engines to reduce unwanted vibrations. So, Ferris has chosen Vanguard for their premium mower models including the ISX™ 3300, ISX™ 2200, and SRS™ Z3X.

Toro: 

Toro, the name, represents versatility and reliability in the mower industry. To offer users the experience of powerful mowing, Toro also includes Vanguard engines in some of their mower models including the 2000 Series, and Z Master® 6000 Series. 

Spartan Mowers: 

The brand believes in customization and premium features to make mowing enjoyable. So, they have included Vanguard engines in some of their models, like KG-XD King, KGZ-XD Blackout, and SRT-XD to make them technically advanced. 

Vanguard Engine Warranty

For any manufacturing default, Vanguard stands beside customers. The brand offers a 3-year commercial warranty for engines. However, you get 1–year bonus warranty when registering the engine. 

To enjoy the additional warranty, register the engine on their official website by submitting consumer and purchase information. 

Note: The offer is not applicable to users in California, the United States, and Quebec, Canada. Also, the Three-year commercial limited warranty applies to Commercial Series engines manufactured from July 2017

Compared vanguard with Honda and Kawasaki 

We compared two other renowned small engine manufacturers, Honda and Kawasaki, to Vanguard. Here is our finding below.

Point	Vanguard	Honda	Kawasaki
Performance	High-end engines with excellent performance and features.	Great performance with consistent power delivery.	Powerful engines with great efficiency.
Fuel consumption	EFI is included to be fuel efficient.	Features integrated for fuel efficiency.	Excellent for fuel efficiency.
Build quality	Designed for challenging usage.	Well-built with good longevity.	Admirable build quality.
Innovation	Advanced technologies like V-Twin design and EFI.	Innovative technologies like OHV and GX Series.	Advanced engineering and components.
Application	Heavy duty usage.	Professional power equipment.	Various applications in small machinery.

The Best Alternative Engine to Vanguard

Comparing various factors, Honda is the best alternative to Vanguard engines. Here we mention a few reasons why you can consider Honda engines instead of Vanguard.

• Innovative engineering:

Vanguard and Honda, both are admired for their innovative engineering. Honda’s Overhead Valve (OHV) design and low-emission technologies are futuristic features that tech-savvy customers prefer. Also, they have advanced mechanisms in engines for fuel efficiency. 

• Diverse applications: 

A similarity between the two brands is – their engines can be used for versatile purposes. Honda is already a dominating brand in the small engine industry for their wide range of applications. On the other hand, Vanguard is gradually becoming a reliable power solution for various needs. Both get priority when it comes to powerful and versatile engines. 

• Proven reliability: 

They have exceptional reliability with a proven performance record. For consistency and trouble-free operation, both have achieved a strong reputation in the market. When quality and reliability are the concerns, most customers put their trust in Honda and Vanguard. 

• Similar warranty:

Both brands offer the same warranty period for their engines. So, choosing between one will provide you with similar after-sale facilities that also make them comparable.

FAQ about Who Makes Vanguard Engines