The Impact of Ethanol Fuel on Outdoor Power Equipment

Are you aware of the effects of higher blends of ethanol gasoline on your outdoor power equipment, lawn mowers, and other small-engine products? Most people are not. Outdoor power equipment is designed and warrantied to run only on 10% or less ethanol blended fuel.

EPA has approved some mid-level ethanol blends for use in some automobiles. This means that this type of fuel will be available at gas stations. But they are illegal and risky to use in hundreds of millions of small engine products and applications. And most people don’t know that.

The survey found:

• 71%of Americans are “not at all sure” if it is illegal or legal to put high level ethanol gas into small engines such as those in boats, mowers, chain saws, snow mobiles, generators and other engine products.
• 64% of Americans say they assume that any gas sold at the gas station is safe for all of their cars, as well as boats, mowers, chain saws, snow mobiles, generators and other engine products.
• Only 25% of Americans notice the ethanol content of gasoline at the gas station.
• 71% of Americans use the least expensive grade of gasoline whenever possible.

These figures are troubling for outdoor power equipment. Most outdoor power equipment is designed to run only on 10% or less ethanol blended fuel. The above numbers show that most consumers are uneducated about ethanol gasoline and that the potential for putting the wrong fuel in their power tools is high.

Many consumers buy the least expensive gasoline, and they still assume that the same fuel can go in their car as well as their mower, chain saw or generator.

Owners small engines, power tools and outdoor power equipment need to understand the effects of ethanol these small engines and should learn to identify the right fuel for their outdoor power equipment. and should buy ethanol free gasoline.

For more information on the right gas for your outdoor power equipment, contact Monnick Supply in Marlborough and Framingham.

OPEI