Ethanol can be found in most of the regular, unleaded fuel sold in the United States. Typically, the fuel contains 10% ethanol, and it’s known as E10. While this fuel works well for many cars, could it be damaging your small engines?
Some small engine equipment you may use E10 fuel for include lawn mowers, snow blowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and trimmers.
If you’ve ever wondered whether ethanol is bad for small engines, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to help you learn about how it can affect them.
Some people believe ethanol can cause corrosion to small engines. It’s true that high concentrations of ethanol can lead to corrosion. However, the typical 10% you would find in regular fuel is far less corrosive than some of the other additives that are put in straight, unleaded gasoline.
Highly aromatic additives, such as benzene, which are found in regular gasoline are far more likely to cause corrosion to your small engines than ethanol is. If your small engine is corroding, chances are it’s because of another additive, not ethanol.
E10 is considered to be non-corrosive and has been approved to be used in most small engine equipment. As long as you’re using a fuel with 10% ethanol or less, you shouldn’t need to worry about it damaging your small engine.
Another thing some people worry about when using ethanol on small engine equipment is water separation. When water mixes with your fuel, it can cause the two to separate. This leaves you with a pool of water at the bottom of the container, which could then lead to rust and engine problems.
There is a misconception that E10 can attract more water than straight, unleaded fuel. In fact, ethanol can actually help prevent water separation more than straight, unleaded gasoline can.
Fuel that contains ethanol, such as E10, is better at absorbing water than straight, unleaded gas. Because it does so well at absorbing water, water separation is extremely unlikely when using fuel with ethanol.
It’s important to note that water separation is possible no matter what type of fuel you use. However, it is more common with straight, unleaded gasoline.
Overall, ethanol will not harm your small engine equipment. You just need to be sure you’re using a fuel that contains no more than 10% of ethanol. If you still don’t feel comfortable using ethanol, though, you can switch to an ethanol-free fuel. Just keep in mind that straight, unleaded gas has issues of its own.
If you are going to use fuel with ethanol, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, is its shelf life. Never store E10 for more than 30 to 60 days, depending on your storage conditions. Only buy enough fuel for a month’s supply at a time.
To make your fuel last longer, you can add a fuel stabilizer. Also, be sure to seal your fuel containers correctly.
And to prevent problems such as water separation, which can happen regardless of the fuel type you use, be sure you’re properly storing your small engine equipment where they will be safe from water. Keep them away from dirty or damp places, and don’t store them outside under things like tarps, as water and moisture can collect easily that way.
As always, be sure to refer to your owner’s manual for the correct fuel to use for your specific equipment.
For more tips on how to care for your small engine equipment, visit our Outdoor Power Equipment Blog.
