It's spring and the grass needs cutting. You get the gas lawnmower out of storage and look in the tank - it has gas in it. You pull on its cord to start it and after a few pulls, it sputters and starts but then stalls. How come last fall it would start so easy and now you are having one heck of a time starting it?
Well, you can probably blame it on the kinds of gas we are able to buy today. Ever since ethanol was required to be added to the gas at the pump, an unintended gas storage problem was created. If gas stands for more than a few weeks the ethanol will separate from the gasoline and in the extreme a varnish will develop which can clog the carburetor and internal parts of an engine. You might even have to take it to a small-engine shop to have it fixed.
Storage is not a problem when you are using gas in your car or truck because you probably are burning through tanks on a regular basis. But when you are storing gas in containers or over the winter in a gas mower or other small-engine-powered tool, the separation of the ethanol becomes a problem.
So how do you store gas properly?
First maybe it isn't such a good idea anyway. Only buy gas when you need it and burn through it - don't store it. Storing gasoline is not safe since it is inflammable, highly dangerous, and can act like a bomb if ignited accidentally or otherwise.
At the end of the lawn mowing season drain or siphon all the gas out of the lawnmower tank and then run the engine until it stops for lack of gas. In this way you can store the mower without damaging its gaskets or other parts of the motor.
The second method entails the use of approved-small-engine gasoline stabilizers which you can add to the gas in the tank. Some stabilizers claim to keep the gas from separating and creating problems for up to 24 months. It really doesn't matter in that all a lawnmower needs is about six months and you will be back to burning through new gas all during the grass-cutting season. Note: there are gas caps that can be purchased, that will contain the stabilizer, and add it to the fuel automatically. These work fine so long as you remember to periodically fill the cap, especially at the end of the season if you intend to store the mower with gas in its tank.
Long-term gas storage is a problem that can not only cause you a lot of aggravation - trying to start a gummed-up, small-gasoline engine, but can also cost you in the repair of an engine that has had its parts varnished by the stale gas. So before you put that lawnmower or other small-gas-engine tool away for the season, it is wise to take the steps necessary for the proper storage of gasoline.
4 Tips for Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Sandbox 7 Protective Items To Use With Your Chainsaw Tips on Buying Leaf Blowers and Vacuums The Differences Between Spray Head and Gear-Driven Rotor Sprinklers
0 comments:
Post a Comment