Provided is a general-purpose engine having a sufficient cooling function. A general-purpose engine 1 is provided with: an engine body 10 which has an exhaust system component 13 connected to a cylinder 11; and a cooling mechanism 9 which cools the engine body 10. The cooling mechanism 9 is provided with: a cooling fan 90 which rotates to generate a cooling air flow; a discharge section 92 which discharges the cooling air flow generated by the rotation of the cooling fan 90; and an air guide 93 which guides, toward the cylinder 11 and the exhaust system component 13, the cooling air flow discharged from the discharge section 92.