When you pull up to the local gas station, as millions of Americans do every day, how do you decide which fuel to pump? There are, basically, four answers to that question. You look at ethanol content, octane rating, price or nothing at all.
"Look Before You Pump" is a consumer education campaign supported by the outdoor equipment industry (OPEI) since 2013. This program has been very important since the introduction of ethanol-10 (E10) fuels and will become more important as ethanol-15 (E15) fuels become available.
You should know your equipment and what it requires to properly operate, as well as what may damage it. Small equipment such as lawnmowers, chainsaws and generators (as well as UTV's, motorcycles, snowmobiles and boats) have special needs.
Most two-cycle equipment (chainsaws, trimmers, etc.) need a higher octane fuel to prevent damaging the piston and cylinder. Husqvarna-branded fuel is 95 octane. Higher octane fuel "explodes" in the cylinder rather than burning. The explosion forces the piston through the cycle, while fuels that burn eat away at the top of the piston and the cylinder. This greatly reduces power and engine life.
Ethanol promotes water in the fuel, damages carburetors, burns hotter and dissolves plastic fuel lines. Most of the small engine industry has issued warnings that E15 fuels will void all warranties if used in their engines.
So, how do you make your decision? According to a 2016 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of OPEI, 92 percent of consumers will look at price, 56 percent will look at octane, 24 percent will look at ethanol content, and only about 50 percent will pay attention to warning labels.
This is an important topic that we address regularly in this column, and we continue to see engines damaged by fuel. Always use fresh fuel (less than 30 days old) and know what your equipment manufacturer recommends. Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
