Maintenance Points to Follow
January 29, 2026
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 Damage to Small Engines
