Buyer guide
GX160 vs 186F: What Buyers Should Check Before Ordering
The two designations are often listed side by side as if they were alternatives. They are not the same kind of engine: GX160 is a petrol engine of about 163 cc, and 186F is a diesel of roughly 406 to 418 cc depending on maker. Ordering one as a substitute for the other changes fuel, weight, starting and maintenance, not just power.
The short answer
- They are different fuels. GX160 is petrol; 186F is diesel. A substitution changes the fuel supply, storage and service routine on site.
- The number in the name is not a displacement. GX160 refers to a 163 cc engine; 186F refers to a diesel of about 406–418 cc. Do not size on the digits.
- Neither number travels between makers. Two engines sold as 186F by different factories can differ in displacement, shaft and mounting.
- Compare kW on a stated basis, not horsepower on a badge. Honda publishes 3.6 kW net for the 163 cc GX160, while the same engine is widely sold as 5.5 HP — the difference is the rating basis, not the engine.
- What decides a fit is measured, not named: shaft diameter and length, keyway, bolt-hole spacing, base height and PTO position.
What the two designations actually describe
Read from the catalogue row for each model. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
| GX160 (petrol) | 186F (diesel) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Typical displacement | 163 cc (68 × 45 mm) | 406–418 cc (186F / 186FA variants) |
| Rated output, as published | 3.6 kW net (4.8 HP) at 3,600 rpm | 6.0–7.1 kW (8.0–9.6 HP), variant dependent |
| How it is usually advertised | Often sold as “5.5 HP” | Often quoted by maximum, not continuous, output |
| Dry weight | 15.1 kg | Varies by variant; not comparable on the name alone |
| Starting | Recoil, often electric option | Recoil or electric, model dependent |
| Weight and bulk | Carried by one person | Substantially heavier; handling planned |
| Service routine | Spark plug, air filter, oil | Injector and fuel system as well as oil and filter |
| Fuel storage on site | Petrol can | Diesel tank or drum |
GX160 figures are Honda’s published net ratings. 186F figures cover the 186F / 186FA variants as published by their makers, which is why the range is wide. They are shown to explain the difference in kind, not as a specification of any Fujiheng product.
How to choose
Decide the fuel first
If the site has no safe petrol storage, a petrol engine is the wrong answer regardless of power. If diesel is already on site, the diesel engine avoids a second fuel.
Measure the shaft on the unit in hand
Diameter, length beyond the crankcase, keyway width and position. These four numbers decide whether a replacement couples to the existing pulley or pump.
Measure the mounting
Bolt-hole spacing in both directions, base height, and the height of the shaft centreline above the base. An adapter plate can correct small differences, not large ones.
Check the envelope
Fuel tank position, air cleaner and exhaust direction decide whether the engine fits inside the existing frame or guard.
Then compare output
Only once the mechanical fit is settled is it worth comparing power. A larger engine that does not fit is not an upgrade.
Suited to
- Replacing a worn engine on equipment whose shaft and footprint you can measure.
- Choosing between petrol and diesel for a new build, where fuel logistics decide.
Not the right choice when
- Ordering on the model name alone, without measuring the unit being replaced.
- Assuming that a higher number in the designation means a larger displacement.
How this is checked before it ships
Why we publish our own row instead of a comparison of names
Our engine range is listed by displacement, rated output and net weight, model by model. The FSH160 is 163 cc at 5.5 HP / 3.1 kW and 16 kg; the FSH200 is 196 cc at 6.5 HP / 3.8 kW and 17 kg. Those are catalogue figures, not trade-name equivalents.
A warning from our own range
The engine fitted to our FSH6500DS is listed as FSH186FE at 0.456 L. That is 456 cc — larger than the 406–418 cc usually sold under an 186F name. It is the clearest example of why the digits in a model name cannot be used as a displacement.
More on the production sequence and the documents issued with an order: certifications, testing and quality control.
Models and pages referred to in this guide
About this guide
- Prepared by
- Fujiheng technical sales team
- How the figures were checked
- Figures cross-checked against the printed catalogue row for each model. Third-party engine figures are taken from the maker’s published data and labelled in the text.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-10-20
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- How to Choose a 5.5 HP Gasoline Engine for OEM Equipment
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Contact
Tell us what you need
Send us your market, required output and configuration and we will come back with a suitable model and quotation. We reply to enquiries within one working day.
- Telephone
- 0086-18662020695
- Factory and office
- Yancheng Fujiheng Power Machinery Co., Ltd.
Teyong Industrial Park, Sheyang County, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
Teyong Industrial Park, Sheyang County, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
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