Mowers, chain saws and high-ethanol gas With warm weather on the way, many Americans will be heading outdoors. Whether you’re beautifying your landscape with a lawn mower and hedge trimmer or using a chain saw to clear space for that deck you’ve always dreamed of, it’s important to take proper care when using outdoor power equipment. Safety measures help protect both the equipment and the people using it. “Many people are so eager to pull out lawn and garden equipment once spring arrives that they sometimes forget basic steps to ensure the powerhouse of the equipment – the engine – is in good working order,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). OPEI offers homeowners some tips as they use outdoor equipment this summer: The finer points of fueling Fuel keeps your outdoor power equipment going, so it’s important to use it properly and safely. Before starting any equipment this spring, be sure to drain old fuel from the tank – especially if it’s been sitting all winter. Untreated gasoline left sitting in a tank for more than 30 days can deteriorate and destabilize, causing problems starting or running equipment. In some cases, bad gas can even damage the fuel system. After you’re done using the equipment, switch the fuel valve off and leave it that way until it’s time to use the equipment again. Fill a lawn mower’s tank between uses to minimize the amount of air in the tank. Store gasoline in a clean, sealed plastic container that’s specifically intended and designed for fuel storage, and store it away from direct sunlight. When it’s time to refuel your equipment, be aware of the type of gasoline it needs and look before you pump. “Don’t assume that the gas you put in your car can still go in your mower, chain saw or generator,” Kiser cautions. Never use greater-than-10 percent ethanol gasoline blends, which are now commonly available at gas stations throughout the country and may be lower in price than other blends. It is illegal to use higher-ethanol gasoline blends in small engines such as your lawn mower, leaf blower or trimmer. What’s more, such fuels can be harmful and cause damage to small engines. Be aware of what blender pumps look like. These pumps dispense higher ethanol fuels such as E15, E30 and E85 blends. Know when it’s appropriate to use them and when it’s not. To learn more about proper fuel use in smaller engines, visit OPEI’s educational site lookbeforeyoupump. Read and understand your owner’s manual, which contains the manufacturer’s instructions for taking care of your small engine, including fueling instructions.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:40:36 +0000
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