Don’t be fooled this year when filling up your gas cans for your outdoor power equipment.
If you see a new fuel grade marked E15 at your local gas station, don’t let the lower price tag fool you.
Why?
It’s not only harmful to use in your lawn mower — and pretty much every other type of outdoor power equipment — it’s also against the law!
By now, if you haven’t been warned about the damaging effects of ethanol, here’s a quick list to help you catch up:
- Eats away at metal fuel tanks and components
- Degrades rubber fuel lines
- Plugs up the carburetor
- Gums up the fuel system
- Attracts moisture, a.k.a. water in your tank
The Ethanol Mandate
According to the EPA, ethanol-blended fuels aim to lower carbon emissions, making engines more environmentally-friendly. But for your outdoor power equipment, it’s lethal!
In the summer of 2012, the EPA approved the sale of E15 gasoline (15% ethanol, 85% gas). Currently, E10 gasoline is still the widely used and sold fuel throughout the country. But E15 and higher blends have been creeping up in gas stations nationwide.
Here’s an example warning label you may see on a gas pump that dispenses E15:
What Fuel is Safe?
E10 and lower fuel blends are compatible with your lawn mowers, tractors, boats, snow blowers, and other small engine equipment. But don’t forget to add a fuel stabilizer right away. It’s always good practice to read the owner’s manual for fuel grade and octane ratings specific for your equipment too.
Here’s a warning from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the next time you go out to refuel your power equipment — LOOK BEFORE YOU PUMP!
