Does This 10 Ethanal In Gas Harm Riding Mower Performance?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Engines on modern mowers are designed to run on gas with up to 10% ethanol.

You run the risk of getting into trouble when you start messing with fuel containing more than 15% ethanol

, known as E15 fuel. This type of ethanol fuel will absorb water from the atmosphere, which can cause corrosion in the fuel system.

Does ethanol gas ruin lawn mowers?

A The short answer is no. All gas in California contains 10 percent ethanol and while this does not harm cars,

ethanol can damage some small engines — especially older ones — in lawn mowers, chain saws, outboard boats, etc.

Will E10 fuel damage my lawn mower?


E10 fuel is only an issue in your Mountfield lawnmower if it is left to sit inside the mower or stored for longer than 30 days and allowed to go stale

. If you only add the amount of petrol you require and replenish with fresh petrol each time you use your mower, you are unlikely to experience any running issues.

Does 10 ethanol gas hurt the engine?

Ethanol and mixtures like E10 and E15

can negatively impact your engine

, especially if you drive an older model car that isn't equipped to run on ethanol-mixed fuels. Some drivers have reported a breakdown of rubber seals for certain parts.

Should I use ethanol free gas in my riding mower?

However, when you're using gas with ethanol mixture in your outdoor power equipment, like lawn mowers, chainsaws, trimmers and leaf blowers, you run the risk of engine damage and incurring costly repairs.

You should be using ethanol free gas in your small engine outdoor power equipment

.

Is it better to use non-ethanol gas in my lawn mower?

Benefits.

Premium Non-Ethanol Gasoline can improve mileage, provide better performance and safer operations for your summer engines

. Its also more stable for long term storage, and less destructive to engines and fuel systems.

Does gas with ethanol harm small engines?



Ethanol has inherent properties that can cause corrosion of metal parts, including carburetors, degradation of plastic and rubber components, harder starting, and reduced engine life

,” says Marv Klowak, global vice president of research and development for Briggs & Stratton, the largest manufacturer of small engines.

How do you remove ethanol from gasoline?

To remove ethanol from gasoline, first find out how many gallons of gas you have. Then, in a well-ventilated area, pour the gasoline into a safe container and then pour 1 cup of water for every gallon of gasoline into the same container. Tightly seal the container and then shake it vigorously for about 30 seconds.

Will ethanol free gas gum up carburetor?

Although ethanol has been known to gum up and cause clogging in fuel injectors and fuel filters,

the corrosion problem is typically limited to carbureted engines

, according to Scott Diehl, National Sales Manager at Driven Racing Oil.

What fuel should I use in my lawn mower?

Fuel for your lawn mower or outdoor power equipment must meet these requirements:

Clean, fresh, unleaded

.

A minimum of 87 octane/87 AKI (91 RON

); If operating at high altitude, see below. Gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (gasohol) or up to 15% MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), is acceptable.

What fuel does my Briggs and Stratton use?


A minimum 87 octane containing up to 10% ethanol is recommended

. Do not use fuels with 15 to 85% ethanol, these fuels are not approved for use in small engines. Mixing oil with gasoline or modifying your 4-Cycle small engine to run on alternative fuels will damage the engine and will not be covered under warranty.

Can Briggs and Stratton use E10 fuel?

Can I use E10 petrol in my Briggs & Stratton engine?

All Briggs & Stratton engines can use up to, and including, 10% ethanol petrol

. Always use clean, fresh, unleaded petrol with an octane rating of at least 77 for side-valve engines or at least 85 for overhead-valve engines.

Does ethanol affect engine performance?

Some signs that ethanol is affecting your engine's performance include: — Efficiency:

Ethanol-blended fuel's lower energy efficiency may reduce fuel economy of your engine

. — Stalling: Ethanol can cause engine stalling if the water in the ethanol separates from the gasoline and floods the engine.

Does regular gas have more than 10 ethanol?

The ethanol content of most of the motor gasoline sold in the United States

does not exceed 10% by volume

.

What is the problem with ethanol fuel?


Ethanol Causes Fuel Decay

.

High amounts of oxygen in ethanol blended fuels cause gasoline to decay faster, and if left standing for long periods of time, the decaying fuel leaves varnish and sludge deposits as depicted in these carburetor images. Gasoline and milk are both organic — they decompose the same way.

Does premium gas contain ethanol?

Premium gas doesn't provide any more power or contain better additives than regular gas, and

it contains the same amount of ethanol as other grades

. It just resists detonation (knock) better than lower-octane gas—nothing more, nothing less.

Is ethanol-free gas better for 2 cycle engines?

The easiest way to prevent ethanol damage is to simply

avoid gasoline that contains an ethanol mixture

. Always check at the pump to make sure that the fuel you are using is ethanol-free, or at the very least, contains 10 percent ethanol or less (the maximum safe ratio for newer 2 stroke engines).

Does ethanol-free gas make more power?


Ethanol contains roughly one third less energy than ethanol-free (also known as non-ethanol) gasoline does

, which means you will get slightly fewer miles per gallon if you use E10 or E15. The fewer miles per gallon you get is small, but measurable.

What are the benefits of ethanol-free gas?

While not as popular as the ethanol blends, pure gas may be preferable for older car engines, as well as boats, lawn mowers or other tools. Ethanol-free gas also gets

better fuel economy

. However, most drivers use the E10 or E15 blends, with 10-15% ethanol. That ethanol content only reduces gas mileage by around 5%.

Should I use premium gas in my lawn mower?

You should use regular gas in your lawn mower.

Running a smaller engine on premium gas isn't necessary

. Premium gas is designed for engines with a higher compression ratio which are generally found in high powered cars. While premium gas may not hurt your mower's engine, it will hurt your wallet.

What kind of gas does a Honda lawn mower take?

Honda engines are designed and certified to run on

regular unleaded gasoline

. Gasoline is allowed, by regulation, to contain a variety of additives. The same regulation limits how much of some additives, such as alcohol, can be included in the fuel and still allow it to be sold as gasoline.

How do I protect my carburetor from ethanol?

Replace fiberglass fuel tanks with a stainless steel tank.

Use a water separator filter in the fuel line leading to the carburetor

. Since water collects in the filter, you can easily remove it. Change out any O-rings in the fuel system to ethanol compatible rings.

What is the best fuel for small engines?

When it comes to fuel, your best bet for a small engine is

gasoline with an 89 octane rating

.

Does STA-BIL remove ethanol?

STA-BIL prevents the fuel in the tank from deteriorating and stops the above from happening. It also removes water from the petrol tank and cleans carburettors and fuel injectors.

STA-BIL Storage protects against all the dangers of ethanol and E10 petrol

(it in fact protects against ethanol blends up to E85).

What gas additive removes ethanol?

The short answer is no. Any fuel additive that claims to actually remove ethanol from blended gasoline is something you'd want to stay away from, because who knows what other overtly false claims they're making.

There's no fuel additive that could do that

, nor should any imply that they do.

How long does it take for ethanol to separate from gas?

“In a small engine fuel tank in a constantly high-temperature, high-humidity environment, it takes

three months or longer

for E10 and other ethanol blends to take up enough water for phase separation,” the study found.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.