A lawn mower helps you achieve a lush green lawn with perfectly shaped grass by removing all scorched or wilted grass tips. Lawn mowers were created a long time ago, and today, they have undergone several advancements. Most of the lawn mowing machines work on gasoline, and the question arises, “Do lawn mowers use regular gas?”
Well, that’s a question that needs serious attention, as it decides the efficacy and performance of the mower. So, read this blog till the end, and you’ll have an answer to the question.
Should You Use Regular Gas for Lawn Mowers?
When given the right fuel, a lawnmower performs at its best. But when fed the wrong fuel, it can lead to engine malfunctions, premature wear and tear, and other issues that reduce the lawn mower's performance. Also, it can create issues in starting the mower and significantly shorten its service life.
Here are two major factors that you might need to look at -
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Ethanol Content: You might have seen the label “contains up to 10% Ethanol” at gas stations. Ethanol is great for cars, but using it for lawn mowers is not a good idea. Ethanol attracts water, which may cause corrosion. This degrades the rubber and plastic components, reducing the mower's efficiency.
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Octane Ratings: Octane rating is not required by the mower, as most of them thrive well on regular unleaded gasoline (87 octane). Read through the user’s manual, as some lawn mowers may need a mid-grade (89) or higher octane. It is also worth remembering that using higher octane won’t make it super-fast or super-efficient. Instead, it is just a waste of money.
In short, using a regular gas for a lawn mower is a smart move. But, you need to check the manufacturer’s instructions or the package label to determine which type of gas you should feed to the lawnmower.
What’s the Best Gas for Lawn Mowers?
Here are some professional tips to help you find the right type of gas for lawn mowers -
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Ethanol is a grain alcohol that works well in large engines, such as cars. So, don’t use ethanol-based gas for lawn mowers, as they burn hotter in small engines like lawn mowers, and also cause damage to them. Hence, it is advised to use non-ethanol gas for the mowing machine.
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You can also consider gas with the lowest ethanol content. Avoid anything with an ethanol percentage of more than 10. This is because anything above 10%, such as E15 (which contains 15% ethanol), can damage lawn mowers' engines.
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You can also select precision-engineered fuel with no ethanol. These are readily available premixed and ready to use with 2-cycle or 4-cycle engines. You can use it for string trimmers, walk-behind mowers, leaf blowers, and even snow blowers.
Can You Use Premium Gas for a Lawn Mower?
Premium gas has a higher octane rating (91 or above), and most lawn mowers don’t require such a high rating. Though it won’t harm the mower, it offers no benefits either. A lower rating, such as octane 87, also does the job.
Regular Gas vs. Premium Gas: Which One is the Best?
When filling gas, it is always best to read the manufacturer’s guidelines and use the recommended fuel type. Manufacturers rarely suggest premium fuel and advise using regular unleaded petrol or E10. This is because premium fuel is just a waste of money and does no good.
How to Store Lawn Mower Fuel?
The gas will go bad and become stale if you store the mower or power equipment for more than 30 days. If the fuel becomes stale, it can damage the engine due to acid and gum deposits that form in the carburetor, thereby voiding the engine warranty. You can use a fuel stabilizer for small engines to keep the fuel fresh.
Here Are Some Tips for Proper Lawn Mower Fuel Storage
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Add fuel treatment as per the instructions given in the manual.
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Run the engine for up to 2 minutes. This circulates the stabilizer through the fuel system.
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Keep the lawn mower in a clean and dry place for up to 24 months. Ensure the mower is cleaned before storing.
If you don’t treat the fuel with stabilizers, drain it in a clean container, and run the engine until there’s no fuel left. Remember that the stabilizer helps maintain the fuel's freshness. Also, ensure you buy fuel in quantities that you can finish within 30 days. Some stores even sell fuel as per the season.