Which Small Gas Engine Brand Wins?
2023 test4 productsFuel & Additives

Which Small Gas Engine Brand Wins?

In our test we compared 4 small gas engine options head to head. Honda GX200 came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.

The verdict
Honda GX200
Winner

Honda GX200

Price shown in test: $400 to $600

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Predator 212 (Harbor Freight)
Budget pick

Predator 212 (Harbor Freight)

Price shown in test: around $150

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The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

WinnerHonda GX200$400 to $600

the Honda definitely seems like the best engine but we consider the price and performance the Predator definitely seems to be the best value

Budget pickPredator 212 (Harbor Freight)around $150

Best in 1 of 7 measurements, including Fuel used in 48 hours.

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Peak force to spin over engine

  • 1Honda GX200
    17.5 kg

    about 39 lb

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    23.5 kg

    or 52 lb, the highest (hardest to start) of the four engines

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    32 lb

    the lowest (easiest to start) of the four engines

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    16.5 kg

    or just over 36 lb

Noise level

  • 1Honda GX200
    91.7 dB

    quieter than all three other engines

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    94.8 dB

    a little louder than the Honda and Honda clone

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    94.4 dB
  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    94.1 dB

    loudest at the time of that comparison

Vibration

  • 1Honda GX200
    around300 mm

    per second squared

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)

    vibrates a little bit less than the Briggs and Stratton and the Honda

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)

    very close to the same as the Honda

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)

    vibrating too much for the vibration tester to measure, described as way out of balance

Fuel used in 48 hours

  • 1Honda GX200
    57 lb

    of gasoline

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    56 lb

    of gasoline, the best fuel efficiency of the four engines

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    59 lb

    of gasoline

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    60 lb

    of gasoline, the most of the four engines

Oil consumption

  • 1Honda GX200

    did not burn any oil during the 48 hour test, no oil needed to be added

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)

    not burning oil during the first 24 hours, burning a small amount of oil by the end of the 48 hour test

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)

    not burning oil after 48 hours, spark plug looked as good as the Honda's

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)

    burned 178 g (just over 6 oz) of oil in the first 24 hours and needed oil added twice during the second 24 hours to avoid running out

Single pull max pulling force

  • 1Honda GX200
    239 lb

    easily outperformed the Honda clone despite being rated for only 5.5 horsepower

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    233 lb

    a little short of the Honda

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    213 lb

    the lowest of the four engines, ran out of steam

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)

    barely made it to 200 lb, the lowest of the four engines despite being rated up to 7.5 horsepower

Max torque trailer pull average

  • 1Honda GX200
    3.52 seconds

    average (3.59, 3.54, 3.44 seconds)

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    3.47 seconds

    average (3.39, 3.44, 3.59 seconds), fastest of the four, took the lead from the Honda by 0.05 seconds

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    4.07 seconds

    average (4.1, 4.1, 4.0 seconds), the slowest of the four but consistent

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    4.02 seconds

    average (4.15, 3.95, 3.95 seconds)

100 foot full RPM run average

  • 1Honda GX200
    4.83 seconds

    average (4.91, 4.86, 4.71 seconds)

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    4.76 seconds

    average (4.76, 4.76, 4.76 seconds), fastest and most consistent of the four

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    5.35 seconds

    average (5.42, 5.31, 5.31 seconds), the slowest of the four

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    5.24 seconds

    average on the first two passes (5.47 second third pass thrown out as the slowest time)

All measurements (3 more)+

Oil analysis

  • 1Honda GX200

    lowest amount of iron wear metal among the four engines

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)

    highest chromium reading at 1 part per million, an indicator of piston ring wear, though noted as still a very low number

  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)

    highest aluminum wear metal reading and 0.2 percent insolubles versus 0.1 percent for the other three engines, though its oil had been topped up more often during the test

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    not tested

Muffler and cylinder head temp

  • 1Honda GX200

    muffler around 430 F, cylinder head around 150 F

  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    not tested
  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)
    not tested
  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    not tested

Reliability note

  • 3Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine (durabore cast iron sleeve)

    stalled three times during the 4 hour load test powering the alternator and halogen light

  • 1Honda GX200
    not tested
  • 2Predator 212 (212cc overhead valve engine, sold at Harbor Freight)
    not tested
  • 4Honda Clone GX200 clone (unbranded, advertised as 6.5 hp with a 7.5 hp sticker on the side)
    not tested

How it was tested

  • 48 hour engine run test measuring fuel consumption and oil consumption under a 500W halogen light load
  • noise level measured with a sound meter about 3 feet from the motor
  • vibration testing
  • muffler and cylinder head temperature measurement
  • peak force required to spin over each engine (starting effort)
  • oil sample analysis for wear metals (aluminum, chromium, iron) and insolubles
  • max torque test pulling a lawn tractor, trailer, and a person up a track
  • 100 foot full RPM acceleration run pulling a go kart
  • single pull maximum pulling force test dragging a tractor trailer
  • cold weather starting test after sitting outside overnight near freezing

the Honda definitely seems like the best engine but we consider the price and performance the Predator definitely seems to be the best value

From the test video verdict.

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