A hood and a blower housing form an air induction cavity in the side of the mower hood, which draws the ambient air into the air intake and from there into the engine. Two shield members on the blower housing prevent the ambient air from mixing with the hot air of the engine. A method of air induction is also disclosed, including the steps of forming an air induction cavity by connecting the upper hood to the housing, having the lower lip of the air induction cavity lower than the air intake of the blower housing, channeling the air into the air intake, and preventing the hot air of the engine from mixing with the ambient air drawn through the air induction cavity.