Lawn Mower Fuel Issues- Ethanol & Storage

Lawn Mower Fuel Issues - Ethanol & Storage

Many people are using gas for their lawn mowers that contains around 10% ethanol. Ethanol blended fuel is commonly used as an alternative to unleaded fuel. If you are switching to gas that contains ethanol, check your lawn mower's manufacturer's recommendations on any adjustments that may be required to carburetor first. Lawn mower fuel issues for ethanol & storage are outlined below.

A common problem with ethanol blended gas is that the piston ring may start sticking after a long period of use. This may occur because gas with 10% ethanol has a higher water absorption rate, and can attract water, which can reduce lubrication and allow rubber gaskets and hoses to dry out. The alcohol results in a phase separation occurring in the fuel.

At the end of your lawn mower's season, you should ensure the fuel tank is empty. For lawn mowers that use unleaded gas, you can add a stabilizer to it, to keep the fuel ready for next season. However, ethanol blended fuel has much less of a shelf life than regular gasoline. Its maximum shelf life is only 90 days, which means it's less stable, so to be safe you should replace this type of fuel every 2 to 4 weeks while your lawn mower is in use.


As a general rule of thumb, you always want to store your lawn mower in a dry, well-covered place. This is even more important if you are using ethanol blended fuel, because you need to ensure additional water/moisture does not come in contact with this gas. As a caution against water contamination of the fuel, you should ensure the octane level is over 90, because the water can dilute the ethanol blended fuel, dropping its octane level by as much as three points.
When using ethanol blended fuel make sure you don't put any additional additives or treatment products for fuel systems into the tank, because most of those things also contain alcohol.
It is also worth noting that ethanol blended gas can reduce the fuel efficiency by anywhere between 2 to 40%, resulting in lower gas mileage.


When you are using ethanol blended fuel, you must ensure that you store it in dry, clean tanks that are alcohol resistant. To know if the fuel has gone bad, you can look to see if the gases become layered. If water contamination or phase separation has occurred, you will be able to see two or three different layers in the fuel. There is nothing you can do at this point to restore the fuel - it would have to be properly disposed of.

Knowing these lawn mower fuel issues, relating to ethanol & storage, you can take proper care of your lawn mower and possibly still use ethanol blended fuel. However, you should read your lawn mowers owner's manual to ensure that ethanol blended gas is suitable for your particular model. It is worth noting that any engine, whether it be in a car or a lawn mower, that is older than 1998 will generally not allow for this type of fuel to be used. Doing so can invite damage to the engine's parts and performance issues for the machinery. Always check the specifications first.


About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.

How To Inspect Lawn Mower Deck Belts and Bearings

How to Inspect Lawn Mower Deck Belts and Bearings

A key part of your lawn mower maintenance schedule is knowing how to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings. Keeping these items in good working condition will ensure your lawn mower is performing efficiently and to keep it well tuned up.

Before starting to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings, you'll want to familiarize yourself with your owner's manual and pay special attention to the manufacturer's recommendations in this regard.

Always use gloves and safety glasses when doing any kind of repair or maintenance on your lawn mower. Then, remove the spark plug, so that your engine doesn't start accidentally. Being safety conscious will prevent injury and damage to people and machines. When you turn your lawn mower over, always make sure the side that has the air filter is pointing up. This will prevent your lawn mower's oil from leaking into the air filter. Never turn your lawn mower over more than 90¡.

Next, you should give your lawn mower a good wash. Using soap and water, and possibly a pressure washer that uses less than 1000 PSI, will help clean away dirt. Make sure that you wash the dirt and water away from, and not into, your lawn mower's bearings. You want to ensure your lawn mower's bearings do not become worn and are properly lubricated. Keeping the underside of your lawn mower clean and free of debris will help prevent rust, and prevent fire hazards, which can occur when grass leaves, and grease combine in a hot engine.

Any lawn mower deck belts and bearings that appear worn down or damaged must be replaced. Look for any cracks or separations in the belts, and if you do spot any, the belt will need to be replaced. A general rule of thumb is to replace deck belts that are more than four years old. That way your lawn mower's belts will not break down on you in the middle of your grass cutting. You want to ensure the drive belts are tight. If you tighten them, and they still have too much give, the belts are likely wearing out.

It is always a good idea to clean the underside of your lawn mower with water after each time you use it. Then apply WD-40, or other lubrication, to the moving parts, to allow them to work efficiently.

Keeping your lawn mower's deck belts and bearings clean, and in good working order will prevent noise and vibration problems and allow your lawn mower to do its job properly. Remember to consult your owner's manual for the specific processes on changing lawn mower deck belts and bearings.

Now that you know how to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings yourself, you can save money and time in taking your lawn mower into a repair shop. Staying on top of a regular tune up schedule will prolong the life of your lawn mower and save you money down the road.

About the Author
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.

Tips on General Lawn Mower Maintenance

Tips on General Lawn Mower Maintenance

You want to keep your lawn healthy, green and lush all season long, and your lawnmower is an important part of maintaining your lawn's overall health and appeal. By following these tips on general lawn mower maintenance, you will ensure that your lawn mower is working at peak efficiency every time you need to use it.

Tip #1
Keep your lawn mowers blade sharp. A dull lawn mower blade makes for an uneven cut to your lawn, and may even damage your grass. In addition, a sharp blade means cutting efficiency, reducing wear and tear on your lawn mower's engine and other parts.

Tip #2
Ensure your lawn mower's air filter is kept clean and free of dust and dirt. You can usually just shake the air filter out to remove dust and debris. However if your air filter has been in use for a while, and has a lot of build up on it you should replace it immediately. All of your lawn mower's parts work in conjunction with one another so saving money by not replacing an overly dirty air filter will only cost you money in the long run.

Tip #3
Clean your lawn mower's carburetor. Just like your car, your lawn mower's carburetor needs to be looked after. Before removing the carburetor, make sure the fuel line has been turned off. Once you have the carburetor out give it a good clean so that it's floating valve is able to move freely. Then replace the carburetor and turn the fuel on back on.

Tip #4
Check your lawn mower's fuel. In addition to keeping the fuel topped up, to at least halfway, you want to replace any gas that was left over from the previous season that did not have a stabilizer added to it.

Tip #5
In addition to keeping the fuel topped up and in good shape, you also want to inspect your lawn mower's fuel line. It's very common to switch your fuel line off at the end of the season, so it's easy to forget about it. If your lawn mower isn't starting check that first. If the engine still doesn't start the gas may not be getting to the carburetor. To check that, remove the fuel hose from the carburetor to see if the fuel is flowing through. If it is, you can reconnect the two. If it isn't your fuel line may be plugged or the filter may be blocked.

Tip #6
Check the spark plug. That's one of the most basic things you can do if your lawn mower is not starting or working properly. To check it, detach the wire at the end of the plug before removing it. You want to ensure the spark plug is not wet or dirty.

These tips on general lawn mower maintenance will keep your lawn mower doing its job properly throughout the season. You will save money on costly lawn mower repair and part replacement by performing regular upkeep on it. Your lawn mower will last much longer, and your lawn will be a lovely sight to behold.

About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.

The Most Common Lawn Mower Problems

The Most Common Lawn Mower Problems

You depend on your lawn mower to keep your lawn healthy and properly maintained. Lawn mowers have many moving parts, and like any piece of equipment may break down from time to time. Troubleshooting common lawn mower problems can save you time and money in expensive lawn mower repair. Of course, the first step is to familiarize yourself with your owner's manual, to ensure proper procedures are followed for safety and to avoid damage to your lawn mower.
The most basic and common lawn mower problems involve a lawn mower that won't start or runs rough. There may be many reasons why this happens, but here are some easy things to check:

#1. Check to see that the fuel line is switched on. This is an easy one to forget at the beginning of the season, because several months may have passed since you last used it. In addition, you want to ensure you have enough gas for the engine to fire. That's another easy one to forget the first time you bring your mower back out.

#2. If your lawn mower has enough gas (at least half a tank) and the fuel line is switched on, the next thing you can check is to see that your fuel line is clear and enough gas is getting to the carburetor.

#3. While you're checking your gas, you may want to think back and try to recall if you had added a fuel stabilizer to it at the end of last season. If not, replace the gas.

#4. A dirty or faulty spark plug is a common culprit of lawn mower problems. Your lawn mower's spark plug should be dry and dirt free.

#5. Dirty air filters can also hamper the lawn mower's function. Before you replace your filter, you can shake it out to get rid of dust and dirt. However if the air filter looks oily and has a lot of caked on dirt you need to replace it.

#6. If you are finding your lawn mower is leaving a ragged edge on your grass, it probably means that the blade needs to be sharpened. A dull lawn mower blade will not only leave your lawn looking uneven, but it can also damage your grass.

#7. Clean your lawn mower's blade often. It's a good idea to clean grass and dirt off your blade after each mow. That goes for the rest of your lawn mower, too.

#8. Check your engine oil. The same way your car's oil needs to be clean and properly topped up, so does your lawn mower's oil. The oil provides a vital function in lubricating your lawn mower's engine parts, so replace it frequently to avoid damaging the engine.

Those are the most common lawn mower problems that people face. Checking each one of these items when your lawn mower is malfunctioning can save you costly repair bills. In addition, you want to make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommended guidelines carefully. Each lawn mower will have different specifications, so have a read over the owner's manual before attempting any repairs on your own.

About The Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.