C&G Small Engine Repair & Handyman Services - Maintenance Repair Article, Do Not Use Regular Gas Anymore

DO NOT Use Regular Gas in small engines anymore

.....Gasoline formulas have changed over the past 5-10 years. The biggest change is that Ethanol has been added to most gasoline but the small engines were never designed to burn Ethanol. Automobiles can burn the Etnahol in the regular and mid grades gasolines because they were formulated for automobile usage. The vehicles are used almost every day and the gasoline never sits in the tank very long. Gasoline put in small engines can sit there from weeks to months depending on the usage of the mower or other small engine. The Ethanol can separate from the gasoline as little as one month and leave a tar buildup in the carburetor. Over time the buildup with cause the needle valve to stick and the jets to get completely blocked. It does not take much to block the jets they are as small as needles.

.....All carburetors pretty much work in the same way. They mix air and gasoline as a mist in the carburetor thru the use of small jets within the carburetor. There is a float and a needle valve in the carburetor that controls the flow of gas to the engine. The jets or the needle valve gets blocked by trash in the gas or the buildup of tar in the carburetor from the Ethanol in the gasoline.

.....A good test for the condition of a non-working mower is try spraying starter fluid in the intake of the engine. First, remove the air filter. Second, spray starter fluid in the hole leading into the carburetor. Third, try starting the engine. If the engine starts, then dies after a few seconds, the engine is starving for gasoline which means the carburetor needs cleaning or overhauling.

.....Regular Gas has the highest amount of Ethanol in it and also has to most trash and water in it. Regular gas is the lowest grade of gasoline for a reason. STOP using this grade in ALL your small engines and start using Premium Grade

.....Mid Grade Gas also has less Ethanol but still has no detergent in the gas to help burn the Ethanol off. STOP using this grade in ALL your small engines and start using Premium Grade

.....Premium Gas has Ethanol and detergents added to the gasoline formula. The detergent helps break down the Ethanol and helps it burn. The detergents also keep the jets clean and minimizes and buildup of tar in the carburetor.

.....RECAP - DO NOT USE regular or mid-grade gasoline in your small engines anymore. Use Premium only. When it comes to enignes that require you to mix gasoline with oil, still use Premium. Mix oil and gasoline per manufactures instructions. You can also used premixed gasoline in a can but it is rather expensive.


© 1994 - 2018 Internet Plus