An automatic choke apparatus (54) for use in an internal combustion engine (10). The choke apparatus (54) includes a choke valve (18) automatically operable in response to the speed of the engine, a thermally conductive assembly that conducts heat from exhaust gases produced by the engine (10), a thermally responsive member (118) in thermal communication with the thermally conductive assembly (66), and a mechanism (62) that moves in response to the thermally responsive member (118) to cause the choke valve (18) to remain in at least a partially open position during engine starting when the thermally responsive (118) member senses a temperature above a predetermined temperature. The thermally conductive assembly at least partially surrounds the path of the exhaust gases.