Did you know that you should Never Ever Use E10 Fuel for your power tools!
We only use 98% octane petrol for all of our equipment, even regular unleaded petrol will be better for your power equipment in the long run.
Did you know fuel “goes off”!
With out getting too technical fuel ,when stored for an extended period of time it looses the gasses which make it “explode”.
How can we stop our fuel going off?
The easiest option is not to store fuel for extended periods, winter would be the worst time of year when we’re not using our outdoor power equipment as often, that’s why when spring comes around your lawn mower doesn’t want to start. You could even empty out the fuel of your machine and fuel container for winter and start a fresh with new fuel again in Spring.
Alternatively you can purchase Fuel Stabilizers, which is an additive to mix in with your fuel, once added to the fuel it can extend the shelf life of the fuel up to 24 months. Bearing in mind that this will vary between suppliers and who and where you buy it from. Personally we have never tried fuel stabilizers so we can’t really tell if it works or not.
Water in fuel.
This may seem hard to believe but water in fuel happens quite easily. A half empty can of fuel stored in the shed, will expand and contract with the weather and condensation can build up inside the can, same goes for the fuel tank on your machine for that matter. When you next fill your mower you now have water in the fuel tank of the machine too. The carburetor on your machines are not designed to pass water through jets and as little as 1 drop of water will stop your machine from running.
How can we stop water getting into our fuel?
Try using a funnel with filters in them that stop the transfer of water and debris into your machines. The other option is not to store fuel for extended periods.
Don’t forget there are 2 and 4 stroke engines for your power tools. Where 4 stoke engines you will require to fill it up with clean premium fuel and for 2 stroke you will need to do a mix oil and fuel. If you are not sure, read manufactures guide or ask at your local lawnmower repair center.
Two Stoke Fuel
With any two stroke machine it is essential that you mix the fuel and oil together and do it accurately. There are a few variables with various suppliers on what they suggest the best ratio is for their machine. As a rule of thumb we use two main ratios when mixing fuel 50:1 and 25:1
Please read your manufactures guide for recommended fuel ratio.
The ratios:
50:1 = 100ml of two stroke oil to 5 liters of unleaded petrol
25:1 = 200ml of two stroke oil to 5 liters of unleaded petrol
Servicing
For both two and four stroke machines as more of a preventative, it would be recommended to have the machine serviced once a year. For a four stroke machine this is definitely an essential just like your car a four stoke machine has separate oil and separate fuel and the engine oil needs to be changed at lease once a year, for domestic use, for a contractor this would vary depending upon how many jobs a week they do.
A couple of major YES and NOS
Do run your two stroke machines at full power, a lot of people make the mistake of not running the machine at full speed as their afraid to hurt the machine. Two stroke machines are designed to work hard and work best when their running a full power. Problems will be caused with unspent fuel and carbon build up when the machine is not run at full power.
Do mix your 2 stroke fuel mix correctly – don’t guess it! It will save you $$$ in the long run.
Do give your 2 stroke fuel can a bit of a shake before refilling your machine as sometimes the oil can settle/separate from the fuel.
Don’t lend your machine once again it will usually end up costing you $$$ in the long run.
Don’t tip your four stroke the wrong way, YES there is a wrong and right way to tip your four stroke, the rule of thumb with four stroke machines is keep the spark plug in the air. With most mowers this means remove the catcher and tip the machine up on it’s bottom or flap if you need to look underneath it. WHY? a four stroke machine has a sump at the back of the engine and if we tip it the wrong way oil will run from the sump to the front of the engine and into places where it’s not required like the air filter, cylinder head and or muffler. This can mean an expensive repair/service to your machine.
A final thought… As with most machines, cars etc, if you look after them they will in turn perform well and give you a few less headaches to deal with. A few dollars spent on a annual service will save you $$$ and prolong the life of your out door power equipment.