Fuel type matters, how to choose wisely
The larger than life debate with small engines is what fuel to use. This conundrum regarding what gasoline to use in your small engine(s) is one that small engine repair mechanics and customers of small engine equipment could greatly help each other to sort out. No one knows better than the small engine mechanics what fuel to use in your small engine equipment because they deal with the hard evidence of each fuel type’s use over time. For the small engine user, they’d do well to speak with their local small engine mechanic or repair shop about what fuels to use to ensure the longest, most trouble free small engine life of their equipment. From the small engine repair shops perspective, they may have told customer “x” many times about the benefits or disadvantages of using fuel type x in their small engine equipment and customer “x” may or may not care about what fuel he/she uses in their equipment. When the equipment develops fuel type related issues they simply bring it in for repair. The mechanic may well decide “all is well and good for business and not bother telling customer “x” any more fuel related advice. On the other hand, there are customers who value what info about fuel types their small engine mechanic is passing on to them and they decide to follow that advice regarding the proper fuel types to use and it saves them money over time.
The biggest debate surrounding the fuel for small engine equipment in modern times revolves around ethanol that’s mandated to be in all modern gasoline. Millions of small engine customers use regular gasoline containing ethanol in day to day life. Dealing with the many and frequent hassles that regular gasoline containing ethanol brings to their small engine equipment. It’s merely something accepted and normal in today’s world. There are also millions of informed users of small engine equipment that avoid the use of ethanol gasoline in small engine equipment and thus avoid the many repairs and setbacks incurred with gasoline containing ethanol. It’s one of those debates that society just learns to live with. No matter what side of this debacle you find yourself on, you should know both advantages and disadvantages if you’re an operator and owner of small engine equipment.
Why you might want to avoid the use of gasoline containing ethanol in your small engine equipment; ethanol is an alcohol derived from grains like corn. Alcohol, like ethanol, attracts moisture from the atmosphere and moisture (water) and gasoline do not mix. They are like “oil and water” and keep separate from each other by scientific law. We also know that typical engines do not run on water. Why would we want a moisture attracting component in our gasoline, a component that rusts gas tanks, carburetors, corrodes, tarnishes, breaks down rubber and other pliable gasket materials used in a carburetor. The short answer is, you wouldn’t. The majority of small engine repairs that come to any repair shop are related to bad gas and ethanol in gas. Modern gasoline is designed for a 30-60 day life cycle, couple that with ethanol in the gasoline that breaks down your fuel system and carburetor components and you have a recipe for a steady stream of small engine repair business that you’re taking to your local repair shop or repairing yourself. Gasoline containing ethanol has been proven to break down and disable a small engine in as little as 30 days. There is no benefit from using gasoline containing ethanol in any small engine.
Gasoline containing no ethanol is available at many gas station chains. In the midwest, gas station chains like Kwik Trip, Kwik Star and Caseys feature pumps marked “no ethanol”. This ethanol free gasoline almost always carries a 50-80 cent price premium over its ethanol containing counterpart. Despite the higher price point, it’s well worth the price difference just in the fewer pain points associated with using it. Ethanol-free gasoline lasts weeks longer than ethanol containing gasoline. Gas tank rust is reduced significantly, carburetors stay clean and work much longer without need for repair, gas stored in the off season lasts much longer, equipment starts much easier and trips to the small engine repair shop are less frequent resulting in money saved exponentially. So go ahead, pay more for ethanol free gas and save yourself a trip to your small engine repair shop.
Ready mixed fuels are available at most major retailers in your area. These fuels feature brands like TruFuel and are the precise mix of ethanol free gasoline and premium fuel additives to ensure trouble free long term use in your small engine equipment. These ready mixed fuels are available in 2 cycle form with 2-cycle oil and ethanol-free gasoline mixed to the proper ratios depicted on the container, as well as in 4 cycle form with ethanol free gasoline and premium fuel additives. The downside of these premixed fuels is they are considerably more expensive than any gasoline you will buy at a gas station. They’re a great choice if you desire peace of mind with ensuring your fuel is always fresh and precisely mixed for your small engine equipment requirements all without harming your equipment.
In conclusion, what fuel you use in your small engine equipment greatly influences its performance, problems, repair costs, quality of operation and life span. Gasoline containing ethanol for small engine equipment should be avoided if at all possible. There are technically only two good choices; ethanol free gasoline and ready mixed fuels. Both these choices will result in many fewer problems with your small engine equipment and in most cases result in seasons of trouble free use and that translates into money saved operating small engine equipment.
Whatever fuel type you choose to use in your small engine equipment, it is best practice to empty the fuel from the gas tank of your small engine equipment each off season and running the engine till the carburetor and fuel lines are dry to ensure fuel does not corrode and break down your fuel system in the off season months. Any gasoline type eventually creates buildup in fuel jets and their tiny openings, breaks down the rubber, plastic and paper gaskets and components within a carburetor. Good luck and happy mowing.