Within the past few years, the repercussions of using ethanol gasoline on small engines has come to our attention. In 2013, Consumer Reports stated that the Environmental Protection Agency approved gasoline with 15% ethanol use for cars from 2001 or newer, yet prohibits its use in mowers and other power equipment, saying that it may cause damage."Ethanol has inherent properties that can cause corrosion of metal parts, including carburetors, degradation of plastic and rubber components, harder starting, and reduced engine life," says Marv Klowak, global vice president of research and development for Briggs & Stratton, the largest manufacturer of small engines. The higher the amount of ethanol that is present, the more severe the effects are.Many people are unaware that over 75% of the gasoline sold in the US contains ethanol and that it can cause big problems when gasoline containing ethanol is left unused for lengthy periods of time. The ethanol in the gasoline attracts water and water is heavier than gasoline, so when the water and gasoline sit together for long periods of time, a layer of ethanol-enriched water can settle on the bottom of your fuel tank and be drawn up into the carburetor and engine. This water-ethanol mixture is terribly corrosive, especially on small engine parts.Ethanol is usually okay to use on larger engines, like automobiles, but it's not so great for small engines like leaf blowers, line trimmers and chainsaws. Ethanol starts to break down in just 30 days which means equipment that is unused for that amount of time can begin to corrode. The reason large engines in cars are okay running on ethanol is because you regularly have to fill up your tank, so the ethanol is never just sitting in your fuel tank for over 30 days (in most cases). Sedentary ethanol is what corrodes your fuel lines and equipment, so using gas with the usual 10% ethanol (E10) can destroy small engines; it can begin to wear away the rubber, plastic and metal parts of your outdoor power equipment.How to Protect Your Equipment From Effects of EthanolWe put so much money and effort into our power equipment, it's no surprise that we want to take the best care of it that we can so that it can have a lengthy lifespan. Knowing what fuel to use and how to store your equipment are important components in caring for your tools. Here are a few ways to help protect your outdoor power equipment from the destructive effects of ethanol:1) Consider using ethanol-free fuel. Ethanol-free gasoline is easy on your engine and will help fight the corrosion of ethanol. Pumping gas and oil into your engines can leave carbon deposits and gunk that can damage your engine and fuel line. This happens because of the heavy-end components that are in pump gas and inferior oils.2) Try to use your riders and mowers often during the mowing season. This will help burn the fuel before the ethanol can attract water and draw it into the fuel system.3) Be sure to treat fuel with a stabilizer. Fuel stabilizers typically contain antioxidants that can protect engines against the damaging effects of ethanol. They also have ingredients that help to prevent gum and varnish build up.4) If you are absolutely set on using regular gasoline, only fill up your tank with enough gasoline to accomplish the task you'd like to accomplish each time you use it. Do not fill the tank up completely if you only plan on using it for a quick task. This way you will have fresh gasoline in your equipment for every use, negating the chance of corrosion.5) Store your small engines with no fuel or a full tank. By doing this, you are restricting the amount of water that can enter and be mixed with the gasoline. Remember, water mixed with gasoline results in an uncooperative engine.TruFuel 50:1 - Ethanol Free FuelMixing your own fuel involves a trip to the gas station, then a trip to the outdoor equipment shop for oil and a trip home where you try to find the perfect mixture for your equipment. With TruFuel, this process is condensed and much easier."TruFuel is a precision-engineered premixed fuel with synthetic lubricants and advanced stabilizers that are specially made for 2-cycle and 4-cycle outdoor equipment" (TruFuel website). This means that your equipment will be easier to start up, have smoother idling and cause a quicker trigger response, all of which are critical and helpful components you want for your power equipment. It will also cause your equipment to perform its best when you need it to.Normal gas station gas begins to break down after just 30 days, but TruFuel lasts for longer than 2 years after it has been opened and for more than 5 years when left unopened, due to its proprietary formulation. TruFuel is also cleaner than other fuel options, enhances equipment performance and is overall just better for your engine.With TruFuel, all you need to do is pour it from the convenient 32 oz. can into your equipment and you are ready to start working. TruFuel will protect your investment, save you time and help your equipment run the way that it is intended to. Plus, you won't have to worry about getting all your products, mixing the correct measurements or making any messes because it is premixed! So, stop wasting your time mixing, and starting spending your time working!(via http://www.trufuel50.com/product-info/50-1/)TruFuel 50:1 is available to purchase from us directly, here. This fuel is specifically designed to work best on renowned name-brand manufacturers such as Toro, Husqvarna, RedMax, and Shindaiwa, just to name a few.
