Maintenance Points to Follow

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:45:46 GMT

Maintenance Points to Follow

Use 93 octane fuel with ethanol treatment in tanks, or better yet, use non-ethanol fuel .
S.A. White Oil Company on Atlanta Street sells non-ethanol fuel, or Google ‘where to buy non-ethanol fuel’ in your City of County.
Burn out fuel if engine will sit too long without running.
Fuel and ethanol will separate within 60 days; use Sea Foam.
Check oil level regularly but do NOT overfill oil container.
Walk-behinds use 2/3 quart of oil and riders use 1 1/2 quarts, maximum.
Change oil if dark black or the oil smells burned.
Keep oil side of engine up and level or below fuel/carburetor.
Clean air filter of dirt and debris regularly.
Do not cut grass too low or allow blades to hit objects.
If grass is too tall, cut yard once high and once lower.
Clean under plastic self-propel cover to keep pulley/belt free.
Clean under the mower deck if the grass is wet.
Clean your equipment after each use, even if you are tired.
Spray wheel adjusters with WD-40 type lubricant occasionally.
Lift the drive wheels off the ground when pulling in reverse. This will protect your drive belt, cable and pulley.

Ethanol Gasoline

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:18:15 GMT

Ethanol Damage to Small Engines

Ethanol – an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling plants that have been broken down into simple sugars – burns cleaner and releases less toxins into the environment. However, many questions are arising regarding what effects a higher level of ethanol will have on small-engine equipment.

ALL GASOLINE SOLD LOCALLY HAS A MINIMUM 10% ETHANOL

Ethanol-based fuels can cause corrosion by attracting moisture from the air. Ethanol is also a solvent, which can loosen debris and deposits that have built up in a fuel tank over time, resulting in clogged fuel systems. As a solvent, ethanol has been linked to deterioration of plastic and rubber parts. This can lead to hard starting, rough running and even stalling of equipment. Ethanol causes ‘gelling’, which can look like petroleum jelly, in your fuel system.

Ethanol blended gasoline causes engines to run leaner and hotter – which impacts small engine performance. It can shorten engine life and cause equipment to be prone to fuel leaks. Ethanol does eat away at rubber components which will impact fuel lines and critical carburetor components. Ethanol absorbs water and makes fuel unstable and destructive to engines when seasonal equipment is stored for months between usage seasons. Ethanol can also create pitting in engines and create valve damage.

Solutions for your small engines

Look for ethanol-free gasoline stations . When purchasing regular gasoline for your equipment, add an ethanol treatment to the gasoline container.

Consider a higher-octane purchase for your small engine equipment.

Use your equipment regularly or run the fuel out of the engine before storing your yard maintenance equipment.

Keep your equipment covered or protected against rainfall.

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Maintenance Points to Follow