An engine that runs fine for 5 minutes and then stops, but restarts after 2 minutes may indicate what condition?

An engine that operates well for a short period and then stops, only to restart after a brief period, is often indicative of a problem related to the fuel system or ventilation. In this case, an improperly functioning gas cap vent can create a vacuum within the fuel tank. When the engine runs, fuel is drawn from the tank, but without proper ventilation, a vacuum builds up, preventing fuel from flowing into the engine. This leads to engine failure after a few minutes of operation. Once the engine stops and the vacuum is allowed to equalize after a couple of minutes, the engine can restart, as fuel flow is briefly restored until the vacuum issue occurs again.

The other options, while they may cause different engine performance issues, do not explain this particular symptom effectively. Carburetion issues might lead to performance problems but are less likely to cause this specific pattern of cutting out and restarting. A broken governor spring would influence engine speed and load handling rather than fuel delivery, and being low on oil usually results in immediate engine damage or a shutdown without the characteristic restarting behavior after a short pause. Therefore, the gas cap vent malfunction is the most fitting explanation for the symptoms described.