ethanol gasoline will it hurt my lawn mower?

Question

I have a fairly new Sears (Craftsman) mower.

Are there additives to correct problems caused by 10% ethanol mixtures?

Answer 1

Standard 10% ethanol gasoline (the type you purchase at the pump) will NOT hurt your lawn mower. (Applys to both 2 stroke and 4 stroke motors.)

Manufacturers of small engines realize that up to a 10% blend of ethanol is very common in gasoline, so they make their engines compatible with this fuel.

Many gas stations such as Race Trac, QT, along with many others have been selling us, the public 10% ethanol gasoline mix for decades. The only difference in straight gasoline and gasoline mixed with ethanol is that they burn at a slightly higher temperature . But, today's engines are all designed to run at hotter tempertures than what they are rated for. In fact, ethanol fuel provides a slight increase in power when compared to power generated from straight gasoline.

You can ask a Sears service center near you if it's okay or not, if it makes you feel better, but I've been burning ethanol mix in my Craftsman mowers for years.

As far as Sears voiding your mowers warranty if you use ethanol fuel, it will not.

As far as burning Super unleaded in your mower, this, in comparison would be far more damaging then an ethanol fuel would be. Even though running a higher octane premium fuel through your lawnmower wouldn't hurt it, it would still run at a higher temperture then it would if it was burning a 10% ethanol unleaded gasoline. Very few lawnmowers are designed to take a premium fuel, so I'd save your extra pennies and opt for the regular fuel.

Note: My comments DO NOT refer to the new fuel, recently being pushed by our Congress, E85. The E85 fuel is a specially designed fuel mixture to help us (U.S.), become less dependent on foreign crude oil. The auto manufactures are receiving large government grants in order to produce, what's known as, "FFV" (Flexible Fuel Vehicles). These are vehicles that are designed to run on a fuel mixture made up of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of E85 fuel alternative in a non-FFV will void all manufacturer's warranties and cause permanent damage to your engine, large and small.

Take care and happy mowing.

Answer 2

Standard pump ethanol gasoline mix (10% ethanol) will work just fine for your lawn mower.

All modern spark ignition engines are designed to run on a 10% ethanol mix. For higher concentrations you might need to adapt your engine, because ethanol is corosive and has a higher octane rating, which means it burns at a higher temperature.

I doubt that the changes needed to run this king of fueel are worthing for a lawn mower

Answer 3

If you mean by ethanol gasoline the stuff you get at the pump then no. It has all of the additives in it to run in a Toyota Prius or a Hummer, I doubt your lawnmower will care as it is designed to run hot with a lot of vibration. If you have to add oil to the gas (this makes it a two stroke engine) it still will not care. Craftsman tools are well built and the engineers know what you can and will have to run it on.

Answer 4

most new equipment is actually made to burn the ethanol gas at a higher mixture then 10% to adjust for the future of increasing the amount but 10% will not affect your mower

Answer 5

Use regular unleaded gas or eat the warranty, eat the mower and have to eat the grass, because you killed the lawn mower.

Answer 6

To play it safe run super unleaded in it mixed with the proper amount of fuel stabilizer. This will allow it to run and keep the fuel from gelling.

Answer 7

well if it has a warntey run whatever its a craftsman. But seriosly I wouldn't do that.

Answer 8

It may destroy the paint but if you wipe off the paint after you spill it you should have no further problems.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

If it's not meant to run on it, YES