Can you use premium gasoline on a lawn mower? It’s commonly known that this type of fuel means better performance, but that’s a myth. Not every engine is prepared to handle a high level of octane. What happens to lawn mowers is that it’s not necessary to use premium gasoline and you will also be spending more money without obtaining any benefit.
It’s true some companies are developing new engines for this type of machinery, but if you don’t own one of those lawn mowers’ engines you should keep reading to know what you need to do when it comes to choosing fuel for your mower. So, let’s get into it!
Premium gasoline for every engine
We tend to think premium gasoline is the best option for every vehicle because it’s more expensive or has a better quality, but that’s far from the truth. This thought doesn’t always work, for example, using this type of gasoline for a lawn mower won’t have any benefit and it will make you spend more money with no need.
Premium gasoline normally has an octane between 91 and 94, which is made for certain high performance engines that require a more controlled combustion. That’s why lawn mowers are not prepared for using this gasoline, because they are not designed to make the most of these features.
Lawn mowers and premium gasoline
Lawn mowers are mostly designed to use regular fuel, which has an octane of 87. So, using premium fuel on your mower won’t improve its efficiency, performance nor durability because they are not prepared for this type of fuel.
What’s more, we need to get rid of the idea that premium gasoline has more energy than the regular one. Whether it has more octane or not it only indicates the fuel’s resistance to premature spontaneous combustion, which is seen in supercars’ engines, but not in lawn mowers’.
Spending more money than you need
If it’s premium you already know it’s going to be more expensive, whatever it is. The price of this premium gasoline varies depending on where you live, but it could be between 5% and 20% more expensive than regular fuel. So, every time you use this type of fuel for your mower, you will be spending more than you should. We have seen premium gasoline is a no for lawn mowers so if you spend more money on this fuel it is for nothing.
What if you still use it?
Using premium gasoline doesn’t mean your mower will be damaged, but you need to be careful with what fuel you use. Look at what you have to take into account when deciding the fuel:
- Old gasoline: if it is kept for more than 30 days, it could start decomposing and block the fuel’s filter, cousin issues on the engine’s performance. So, this tip goes for you: removing the gas from your mower.
- Ethanol added gasoline: in the U.S. there are many fuels with ethanol added which increases the octane. However, this octane can damage small engines like lawn mowers’. Ethanol can rust your engine and attract humidity.
Other alternatives
If you don’t want to be constantly cleaning the tank or dealing with the type of gasoline or ethanol, you can consider other alternatives like electric or battery lawn mowers. These machines don’t use fuel, are free-emissions, require less maintenance, and are less noisy. It’s true the initial investment can be a bit expensive, but it’s worth it in the long term.
So, don’t pay attention to what it’s commonly said and follow the manufacturers’ recommendations and get more information about your mower. I’m sure these two simple things will make a change in the way you use these machines.