Ethanol vrs Straight Gasoline

Ethanol has been used as a gas substitute for years. The alternative fuel produced from corn has been added to gasoline at pumps across the country, but in recent years many have begun to question its effects on small engines.

Gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) has been approved by the EPA for use in cars produced since 2001, but not in small engines like lawn mowers and leaf blowers. They found that the fuel caused small engines to run at higher temperatures than straight gasoline, which caused a number of problems including component failure.

While E15 is prohibited for use in small engines, its diluted counterpart E10 is not. Gasoline with 10% ethanol content can be found just about anywhere. The FDA has given it the go ahead with respect to use in small engines but many in the industry are not quite convinced. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the trade organization for the industry, has indicated small engine repair shops everywhere are reporting the same problems caused by E15 in engines that only use E10. I have seen these issues first hand at my shop, Crowell’s Flying Wrench Mobile Small Engine Repairs.

Proponents of higher ethanol content refute these claims, pointing to a go-cart race park that runs its entire fleet on fuel containing a whopping 85% ethanol. An operation like that puts an incredible amount of stress on their engines; if a higher ethanol content can be linked to increased wear and tear, they should be able to reproduce these negative effects. Al Novstrup, owner of Thunder Road Family Fun Park, has been running his fleet of 135 go-carts on E85 gasoline for over 7 years and has yet to see any of the problems described in the FDA report.

Whichever side of the fence you land on, it is still best to heed the FDA guidelines and not use E15 gasoline in your small engine equipment. Particularly cautious individuals can buy specialty gas at home and garden stores and small engine dealers everywhere. You will certainly pay a higher price for this type of fuel but for many, the piece of mind is worth the extra money. If you prefer not to go this route, you can minimize the risk of damage by trying to run through the gas in your mower as quickly as possible during the summer months. This gives less time for the ethanol to draw water into the fuel system.

By: Kyson Crowell

How Do You Know If You Need To Change Your Oil?

Recently, we posted an article explaining how to change the oil in your small engine, but how do you know if you need do it? First, you should make sure your machine even requires oil changes in the first place. If you have a two-cycle engine, where you mix the oil with the gas manually, you don’t need to worry about it. If oil is added separately, however, you will want to change the oil periodically.

Recommendations can vary when it comes to the regularity of oil changes in small engines, even from the same manufacturer. Small Engine giants Briggs & Stratton recommend changing the oil after every 25 hours of operation at one place on their site, and every 50 hours at another. To be safe, you should check the owner’s manual for your specific machine for specific service intervals.

For most people this means one oil change a summer, but that is assuming the machine was operated under relatively mild conditions. If you have a habit of mowing through wet grass, or letting it grow to the point that your mower can barely make it through, you will need to do this more regularly. Other conditions that can cause you to go through oil more quickly are if you are consistently working in extreme heat, dusty conditions, or operating over rough and hilly terrain.

Any scenario that causes the engine to work harder or run at unusually high RPMs for extended periods of time will require more regular maintenance in all areas, not only engine oil. Changing the oil is an easy thing you can do to increase the life of your machine, so you aren't needing to call for a snow blower repair in the middle of a snow storm! If you aren’t particularly mechanically inclined, you can easily find a nearby small engine repair mechanic to take care of everything for you.

By: Kyson Crowell

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

Spring is coming, and for many of us, that means it is time to pull the lawn mower out of the garage and get to work taming the jungle that your yard has become. But if your mower has seen its share of summers, it may be time to sharpen the blade.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, sharpening the blade is an

easy way to add a few years to the life of your machine. All you need to do is remove the blade, and take care of any rust you may find with a steel brush or some steel wool. Once the blade is free of rust, and the blade is free of major damage, you can start sharpening. Secure the blade in a table vice, and use a file to sharpen the cutting edge. As you move the file, it is important to match the angle of the cutting edge. This will allow the file to sharpen the blade, rather than dulling it.

The blade of your mower can be damaged in a number of ways, but most commonly it is caused by accidentally mowing over hidden hazards like sprinkler heads. If there are deep gouges or dents in the blade, it is best to have it professionally sharpened. There are countless options for lawn mower repair in Salt Lake City, UT. Do your research and find one you can depend on because you’ll need them for more than just sharpening the blade.  Like with cars, a little research and elbow grease can save you money when it comes to lawnmower maintenance. And just like cars, once you find a good mechanic for your mower, you’ll want to keep them around forever.

Lawn mowers aren’t incredibly complex machines. If maintained properly, they can last for many years. Sharpening the blade ever few seasons is an easy way to extend the life of your mower and it can often be done in your own garage. However, if the damage is too bad to fix with a file, you may need to consider having it looked at professionally. But don’t worry; just look at this as an opportunity to vet your new small engine mechanic! 

By: Kyson Crowell