StartALawnCareBusiness
05-01-2008, 01:06 AM
I was just doing a bit of research on gasoline containing 10% Ethanol. *We all need to be aware of certain precautions to properly manage our use of Ethanol gasoline.
I will post a few items I found below.
Quote[/b] ]Can I use it in my lawn mower?
No, you'll have to stop mowing the lawn every week. Only kidding, I thought I saw a few people smile at that prospect. The answer is yes, you can use the 10% ethanol blended fuels anywhere you use regular unleaded fuel. It can be used in any lawn mower, snow plow, snowmobile, ATV and any other gas powered engine. There may be some carburetor adjustment needed, so always refer to your equipment's owners manual before using it.
Leaner, richer? What carb. adjustments are required?
Also, from this website: *http://www.ilcorn.org/Ethanol/Ethan_Studies/Small_Engines/small_engines.html * I found:
Quote[/b] ]One area that may warrant further investigation is piston ring sticking. On test units with high hours of operation (i.e. 200 to 400 hrs.) there was a *greater incidence of piston ring sticking.
Additionally, this website: *http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_engine_precautions.html *gives some recommendations on managing E10 fuel use.
Most notably, the website states that E10 has greater water absorption properties than non-alcohol fuel. *Therefore, E10 can remove lubrication. *This has an effect of drying out hoses and rubber gaskets.
We had a post on the boards before winter of the importance of running fuel out of your lawn care equipment before storing it for winter. *E10 fuel has a much shorter shelf life than the gasoline we are used to. *It is recommended to replace E10 fuel every 2 to 4 weeks with a maximum shelf life of 90 days. *The 2 to 4 week replacement window will certainly be a consideration before storing your equipment this coming winter.
Are there any engine guys here with more information on the effects of using E10 in lawn mower and 2 cycle engines? *I want to hear your thoughts.
Keith
I will post a few items I found below.
Quote[/b] ]Can I use it in my lawn mower?
No, you'll have to stop mowing the lawn every week. Only kidding, I thought I saw a few people smile at that prospect. The answer is yes, you can use the 10% ethanol blended fuels anywhere you use regular unleaded fuel. It can be used in any lawn mower, snow plow, snowmobile, ATV and any other gas powered engine. There may be some carburetor adjustment needed, so always refer to your equipment's owners manual before using it.
Leaner, richer? What carb. adjustments are required?
Also, from this website: *http://www.ilcorn.org/Ethanol/Ethan_Studies/Small_Engines/small_engines.html * I found:
Quote[/b] ]One area that may warrant further investigation is piston ring sticking. On test units with high hours of operation (i.e. 200 to 400 hrs.) there was a *greater incidence of piston ring sticking.
Additionally, this website: *http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_engine_precautions.html *gives some recommendations on managing E10 fuel use.
Most notably, the website states that E10 has greater water absorption properties than non-alcohol fuel. *Therefore, E10 can remove lubrication. *This has an effect of drying out hoses and rubber gaskets.
We had a post on the boards before winter of the importance of running fuel out of your lawn care equipment before storing it for winter. *E10 fuel has a much shorter shelf life than the gasoline we are used to. *It is recommended to replace E10 fuel every 2 to 4 weeks with a maximum shelf life of 90 days. *The 2 to 4 week replacement window will certainly be a consideration before storing your equipment this coming winter.
Are there any engine guys here with more information on the effects of using E10 in lawn mower and 2 cycle engines? *I want to hear your thoughts.
Keith