A general-purpose engine is provided with an engine body having an exhaust system part connected to a cylinder, and also with a cooling mechanism for cooling the engine body. The cooling mechanism is provided with a cooling fan which rotates to generate a cooling air flow, a discharge section which discharges the cooling air flow generated by the rotation of the cooling fan, and a cooling air flow opening which is disposed in the upper part of a partition for separating a cylinder chamber having the cylinder provided therein from a muffler chamber having a canister muffler provided therein, connects the cylinder head side of the cylinder chamber and the upper side of the muffler chamber, and causes a cooling air flow to flow from the cylinder head side of the cylinder chamber to the muffler chamber.