The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and you’ve pulled your gas-powered lawn mower out of storage mowing the lawn … But when was the last time you filled its fuel tank? If you break your mower down early in the spring and remember it’s sitting in its tank with last season’s old fuel, you might think twice before powering it up. Running your mower on fuel that has been stagnant for months may not be a good choice for your machine. In fact, old gasoline from last season can cause problems like hard starts and poor engine performance.
Old gas sitting in your lawn mower tank (or any kind of tank or container, if you store gasoline in your garage) is a problem because it breaks down over time. Gasoline starts to break down after about 30 days, so it has a very short life. In your car, this is usually not a problem; In your lawn mower, however, it can affect engine performance. And when a gas breaks down, it doesn’t just dissipate into thin air. Instead, it forms a layer of filmy, varnish-like debris on major lawn mower components such as carburetors, fuel lines and injectors. That residue can prevent your mower’s engine from starting, clog the carburetor, and even potentially damage the fuel system, leaving you with a much bigger problem than an empty gas tank.
It’s also not a good idea to mix old and new gas in your lawn mower
If you take your lawn mower out to find it’s sitting with little fuel, it may be attracted. Add new gasoline and obtain a pruning with a Mostly Fresh tank. Unfortunately, that’s not the best idea either; Mixing old and new gasoline can “freshen” things up, but you’ll still be running your lawn mower on degraded fuel, which can leave behind deposits and potentially cause rough starts or running problems. Also, any problem caused by bad fuel can void your mower’s warranty, depending on the specifics of your model. To avoid gasoline-related problems with your lawn mower caused by old, broken fuel, you should completely drain your mower’s fuel tank before storing it for an extended period of time.
Now, if you’re hoping to make your gas last longer, there’s an option: add a fuel stabilizer. These additives can slow the oxidation process, helping your fuel last 12 to 15 months. like you Prepare to store your lawn mowerYou can drain any remaining gasoline and fill the tank with fresh solid fuel. That said, it’s important to remember that fresh fuel is still the best choice. Fuel stabilizers only slow the rate of oxidation, while the new fuel will burn cleaner and smoother, keeping your lawn mower operating smoothly.
