Lawn mower petrol type. Choosing the Right Type of Fuel for Power Lawn Mowers

Lawn Mower Gas vs Car Gas: Are They Same?

But What kind of gas does a lawnmower use? Is lawn mower gas the same as car gas?

Most of the lawnmowers use the same gas as cars.

However, older models can be exceptions. So, if you’re not sure what type of gas your mower prefers there are ways to find out!

First off, search for your lawnmower brand – they typically list different fuels required by each brand.

This article will go into depth about whether they are the same and what difference there might be between them.

• Lawn Mower Gas vs Car Gas: Are They Same?
• Which Type of Gas Cars Does Car Use?
• Which Type of Gas Lawnmowers Do Use?
• How To Insert Gas in Lawnmower?
• How Frequently We Need To Change The Gas of a Lawnmower?
• Things To Keep In Mind When Changing Gasoline of Your Lawn Mower?
• What Is The Best Way To Store Your Lawnmower For Winter?
• How Long Can You Keep A New Storage Tank Of Gas In Your Shed Without Filling It Up Again?
• What Is The Difference Between Gas And Oil?
• Are Lawn Mowers Engine Safe On Premium Gas?
• Is Premium Gas Worth It For Lawn Mowers?
• Can I Use Unleaded Petrol In a Lawn Mower?
• Can You Use Lawn Mower Gas In a Car?
• What Happens If You Put Regular Gas In a Lawn Mower?
• What Happens If You Put Regular Gas In a Lawnmower?
• Is Ethanol-free Gas Better for Small Engines?
• Wrapping Up

Lawn Mower Gas vs Car Gas: Are They Same?

Lawnmower gas and car gas are the same in terms of composition but they are having different chemical structures. Lawnmower gas smells like gasoline because it has a chemical additive called Tetraethyl Lead (TEL). TEL is added for octane, which helps lawn mowers have enough power. Gasoline for cars typically contains other additives in it like ethanol and octane enhancers that lawnmower gas does not have, so they are different fuels altogether despite smelling similar.

The smell of TEL isn’t harmful to humans, but in high doses can cause serious health problems including kidney failure and decreased brain function.

It’s also important to know that lawn mower engines must be tuned differently from your car engine when using lawnmower gas as fuel; so don’t try filling up with a garden hose at home! Lawnmowers will have a higher compression, which means the engine is tuned to combust fuel more completely.

Gasoline for cars typically contains other additives in it like ethanol and octane enhancers that lawnmower gas does not have, so they are different fuels altogether despite smelling similar. If you choose to use lawnmower gas instead of gasoline because your car can’t run on anything else, be sure your engine has been modified with features like spark plug timing advance or an exhaust system designed for leaded gas before filling up!

To know more – How does the lawnmower engine works – check the linked article.

Which Type of Gas Cars Does Car Use?

Car engines are designed to run on a mixture of gasoline and air, not just gas. If you want your car engine to survive for long periods of time with lawnmower fuel instead, then it will need to be modified beforehand so that it can handle the difference in viscosity between lawnmower fuel and gasoline for cars.

Which Type of Gas Lawnmowers Do Use?

Lawnmowers are designed to run on a mixture of gasoline and air, not just gas. If you want your lawnmower engine to survive for long periods of time with car fuel instead, then it will need to be modified beforehand so that it can handle the difference in viscosity between lawnmower fuel and gasoline for cars.

The bottom line is: if you don’t have an auto-engine tuned specifically for leaded gas, stay away from using car fuel! It might seem like a good idea at first because it’s less expensive than regular gas but could cost more in the end when your lawnmower needs repairs.

How To Insert Gas in Lawnmower?

It’s not hard to insert gas into a lawnmower. The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare the fuel by putting it into a container that has an easy-to-grip handle and spout for pouring purposes. If you’re using a metal canister, make sure to take off its protective cap before turning upside down over your mower so that any built-up pressure will be released safely through the nozzle or opening on top of the canister.

You should always fill up with fresh gasoline when possible but if this isn’t feasible then there are products made specifically for taking care of old stale gas such as Gunk Gas Treatment which helps eliminate buildups caused by ethanol and moisture in older fuels (avoid “octane boosters” as these may cause damage to your lawnmower).

You’ll also want to clean the carburetor and fuel filter which can be achieved through a combination of Gunk Cleaner and Fuel Stabilizer with Old Fashioned Corn Oil (or any other light, natural oil), followed by running the mower for several minutes until you see a significant improvement in engine performance.

The last step is adding gasoline stabilizers such as Sta-Bil or Sea Foam if high octane gas isn’t available locally so that old gas won’t evaporate quickly when left sitting on top of the tank. You should only use this product after filling up because it’s not intended for use during normal operation like standard gasoline additives are.

Want to get a lawnmower for your yard? Check the latest article on the best lawnmower for small yards.

How Frequently We Need To Change The Gas of a Lawnmower?

A lawnmower’s gas tank needs to be replaced at least once a year if it is stored in the garage or shed, and every two years for lawns that are not.

Things To Keep In Mind When Changing Gasoline of Your Lawn Mower?

If you just bought gasoline stabilizers make sure they’ve been mixed before adding them to your mowers fuel tank since they need time to work properly.

Some brands also recommend following up with their own additives called Fuel Additives Stabilizer after using Sta-Bil, Sea Foam, Gunk Cleaner, and Old Fashioned Corn Oil as well as running the engine on the high throttle for several minutes afterward until engine performance comes back.

What Is The Best Way To Store Your Lawnmower For Winter?

If you have an automatic start, make sure to store the battery on a full charge.

How Long Can You Keep A New Storage Tank Of Gas In Your Shed Without Filling It Up Again?

Most experts will say that gasoline can last for up to one year when stored in the garage or shed without being used if it’s kept sealed tightly; some recommend using fuel stabilizers.

What Is The Difference Between Gas And Oil?

There are two main types of gas, regular and premium.

Premium gas is higher octane than regular gasoline. Premium grades can contain up to 93 or 95 octane levels; the lower number means that it’s more likely to detonate (ignite) under engine pressure because it’s less refined and contains more BTUs (British Thermal Unit). Regular has an octave rating between 87 and 91 which makes it cheaper but also worse quality for your lawnmower engine.

Gasoline typically contains lead as a fuel additive, while diesel does not have this additive; this was done in order to improve the combustion process by helping reduce ‘knocking.’ Lead helps keep the fuel’s density relatively stable, as well as decreasing the tendency of a spark to ignite prematurely.

Gasoline contains more BTUs than diesel or lawnmower gas because it is refined from crude oil; this means that it takes less energy to produce gasoline than either diesel or lawnmower gas.

The octane rating for premium grade usually falls between 93 and 95. The lower number on regular grades can be anywhere from 87 up to 91 which makes them cheaper but also worse quality for your lawnmower engine.

Are Lawn Mowers Engine Safe On Premium Gas?

In general, most engines are safe when using high-octane fuels except in older model cars where only low levels of octane gasoline are needed.

If you are interested to know more about – Is It OK to Run a Lawn Mower on Premium Gas?

Is Premium Gas Worth It For Lawn Mowers?

Premium gas is not necessary or worth it to use on lawnmowers.

However, the more you spend and get premium gasoline for your lawnmower engine you will see a decrease in performance as well as increased emissions due to decreased fuel efficiency which means that there’s really no reason why anyone should be using better quality patrols than regular unleaded.

Can I Use Unleaded Petrol In a Lawn Mower?

Many people have asked themselves this question before, but the answer is that unleaded petrol cannot be used in a lawnmower. This is because unleaded petrol contains additives which make it more expensive and less effective for use in small engines like those found on lawnmowers. The same company that makes unleaded fuel also produces leaded fuel, which does not contain these additives and can therefore be safely used as an alternative to gasoline in a lawnmower.

Can You Use Lawn Mower Gas In a Car?

This is a question that many people ask themselves. Can you use unleaded petrol in a lawnmower? The answer to the question, unfortunately, is no. Lawnmowers require diesel fuel which is similar to gasoline except it contains more lubricants and additives for better performance. This blog post goes into depth on what you need to know about lawnmower gas before filling up your tank!

What Happens If You Put Regular Gas In a Lawn Mower?

This is a question that many people have asked themselves when they are filling up their gas tank for the first time. Many lawnmowers use special gasoline, but what happens if you put regular gas in one? It could cause some serious damage to your engine! We will discuss this in detail and give you tips on how to avoid such an issue.

What Happens If You Put Regular Gas In a Lawnmower?

Don’t do it! Gasoline is a mixture of many different hydrocarbons, and the older gas might have already gone through several chemical changes. Mixing gasoline with an old gas can cause fuel pump malfunctions in your car or lawnmower.

Is Ethanol-free Gas Better for Small Engines?

The debate over ethanol-free gas and its benefits for small engines has been going on for a long time. Some say that it is better than regular gas because the fuel burns cleaner, but others argue that it can cause major problems with equipment.

Wrapping Up

The gas in your lawnmower is different from car gasoline because it’s more volatile. This means that smaller amounts of water will cause the fuel to become unusable. The best way to combat this issue is by adding a fuel stabilizer, which prevents moisture and rust particles from settling into the tank or line.

To make sure you’re using the right type for your needs, read through our guide on understanding what kind of gas you have in the engine of your mower!

Lee Safin was born near Sacramento, California on a prune growing farm. His parents were immigrants from Russia who had fled the Bolshevik Revolution. They were determined to give their children a better life than they had known. Education was the key for Lee and his siblings, so they could make their own way in the world. Lee attended five universities, where he studied plant sciences and soil technologies. He also has many years of experience in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a commercial fertilizer formulator.

Thoughts on Lawn Mower Gas vs Car Gas: Are They Same?

Choosing the Right Type of Fuel for Power Lawn Mowers

Choosing the right fuel for a power lawn mower is not as straightforward as you might have initially thought. You should know about the correct type of fuel to use on your outdoor power equipment.

Several different factors determine the right type of fuel for specific lawn mowers. Here we will provide information that will let you select the right type of fuel to fill up the lawn mower tank.

Fuel Type

Lawn mower engine type will determine the fuel you should use for the outdoor power equipment. Most lawn mowers with two and four-stroke engines require unleaded gasoline. over, the fuel octane rating should be 87 or more.

You can also use gasoline with ethanol for your lawn mower. But the ethanol content should be less than 10 percent.

You must also add high-quality engine oil for your mower. The mixture requirements are different depending on the type of mower. Some require that you mix 50 parts gasoline and 1 part oil. Consult your lawn mower manual to know about the acceptable fuel type and mixture for your outdoor power equipment.

Fuel Stabilizer

You should add a fuel stabilizer if you want to store your fuel inside the mower for more than 30 days. Adding a fuel stabilizer will prevent gasoline from breaking down and damaging the carburetor and engine of the lawn mower.

A fuel stabilizer is a chemical solution that is generally made of petroleum. It prevents the fuel inside the tank from vaporizing inside the tank. Adding a fuel stabilizer will limit the fuel from gumming inside the tank that can damage the carburetor and engine of the lawn mower.

You must select a fuel stabilizer that is recommended for the lawn mower. Using the wrong type of stabilizer will not prevent stored fuel in the mower from damaging the mower engine. The ratio of the lubricants and other chemicals should be suitable for the stored fuel.

Regular vs. Premium Gasoline

Some people have the notion that using premium gasoline will result in better lawn mower performance. You can use premium gasoline for your mower. But most mowers won’t benefit from adding premium gas over regular gas.

Premium gasoline has an octane rating of 92 or higher. The fuel has fewer additives making it more pure as compared to regular gasoline. A mower will require the same amount of gasoline regardless of the type of fuel.

The cost of premium gasoline is generally 6 – 20 cents more than regular gasoline. Unless a power mower has a high compression ratio, it will be a waste of money filling the mower tank with premium gasoline.

You should find out about the manufacturer’s recommendation regarding the type of fuel. Most regular mowers will perform well with regular gasoline. Stick to the recommendations from the manufacturer. This is important, as using the wrong fuel type can void the lawn mower warranty.

Final Remarks

Regular gasoline is most suitable for power lawn mowers. Using regular gas with an octane rating of 87 is recommended for most power mowers. You will end up wasting money if you use premium gasoline instead of regular gasoline.

You should not make the mistake of selecting premium gasoline on the assumption that it will improve engine performance. Consult the lawn mower manual to find out the recommended fuel type for your mower.

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This is the Type of Gas Lawn Mowers Use

When spring starts knocking on the door, every homeowner knows the headache of breaking out the lawn equipment and getting it ready for the season, especially the lawn mower.

But many are left scratching their heads at the gas pump because they aren’t sure what type of gas their lawn mower is supposed to use!

Lawn mowers use unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 and an ethanol content of 10% or less. This type of gasoline can be easily found at the local gas station and sold as regular or E10 gas.

Whether you have owned a lawn mower for years or are just now purchasing one, you will want to learn more about the care of this equipment. Proper care will lead to a much longer life for your mower. To learn more about which gas to use and how to care for your lawn mower, keep reading.

4-stroke (4-cycle) engines use a straight gas. When finding fuel for a 2-stroke (2-cycle) engine, read my article “This is the Gas to Use in a Push Mower” to find fuel requirements for a 2-stroke engine.

This post may include affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may provide a commission for us, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual before diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.

What is the Best Gas?

Those with all sizes of yards rely on a lawn mower to cut their grass and create a yard they are proud of. While lawn mowers come in different sizes and styles, they are all relatively similar when it comes to internal components.

Most lawn mowers will feature the same four-stroke engine style, which uses unleaded gasoline.

While most lawn mowers use unleaded gasoline, some will require other styles of gasoline, and it is critical that you look over your manufacturers’ guide to see what works best for your lawn mower.

However, if you are using any major brand lawn mower that has a 4-cycle engine, traditional unleaded will be the best choice.

Some things to keep in mind when purchasing fuel for your lawn mower:

• You should always purchase fresh gasoline. Never let gasoline sit for weeks before using and never allow it to get mixed with water if stored outdoors.
• Most choose a gasoline octane of 87 or more for their lawn mowers.
• You should try to get gasoline with lower ethanol content. If gasoline in your area has over 10% ethanol, you may want to purchase it elsewhere.

I will further break down how to choose your gasoline and why these key components are important.

Choosing Gas

When purchasing a lawn mower, the first thing you must realize is regular refueling is a must. Similar to a car, your lawn mower simply will not run without being filled with gas regularly. The fuel used is vital to extending the lifetime of the mower and ensuring it runs smoothly.

Here are some tips to ensure you are buying quality gas for your lawn mower:

Always Buy Fresh Gas

One of the absolute most crucial steps to ensuring you are using quality gas is to always refill your mower with fresh fuel.

The problem is that many will fill up a plastic gas can for their mower and allow this to sit for long periods of time. When left outside, this gas is subject to the elements and can become less potent or even ineffective over time.

The best option is to always get gas prior to mowing and ensure that you use the gas you have purchased quickly. You will want to get your gas from a larger, well-known gas station.

This ensures that the gas you are choosing is of higher quality and often fresher than smaller gas stations may offer.

Avoid High Amounts of Ethanol

Ethanol, a corn-based product added to most gasoline, works well in our cars and trucks but can be damaging to the small engines in our lawn mowers. Ethanol is corrosive to the lawn mowers fuel system.

Ethanol-based gas attracts moisture from the air and when the gas begins to break down, the water and ethanol mixture will sit at the bottom of the fuel tank.

Running this solution can cause your lawn mower to run extremely hot causing your engine to overheat and experience significant engine damage.

Purchase High-Quality Fuel

Buying more expensive unleaded gas is not always the best, but I do highly recommend purchasing ethanol-free fuel as this doesn’t damage your fuel system like gas with ethanol does. This type of gas can be found at the pump at fuel stations or in canisters at your hardware store.

Recreation fuel (REC-90), an ethanol-free fuel, is sold at select gas stations. It can be up to 3.00 per gallon more expensive than regular gas. You can find a list of fuel stations in the United States and Canada that carry that recreation fuel at puregas.org.

Canisters of 4-cycle fuel can be purchased at your hardware store or online. This is definitely the most expensive way to purchase ethanol-free fuel, but it is very convenient.

If you are running a small lawn mower or smaller handheld equipment, this is a great convenient option to have sitting on your shelf.

If you buy higher-end gas and worry you will not use all of it, there are some ways to keep gas fresh. The best way to store gas is by adding an additive to stabilize your fuel.

Here are a few tips when storing gasoline:

• Use a plastic gas can that is designed for unleaded gas. Other types of plastic containers can break down.
• Add a fuel additive to stabilize your fuel while the fuel is fresh. Once your fuel begins to degrade, the additive is not able to reverse the process. I like a fuel additive called Sea Foam because it reduces moisture buildup, and stabilizes and cleans your fuel system. Read more about the advantages of Sea Foam in my article.
• Try to avoid buying more than a 30-day supply of gas. The quicker you use the gas, the better. However, it can be hard to know exactly how much you have in your tank and how much you will need with each mowing.
• Always rotate the gas you store to use the oldest fuel first.

Once you get the hang of buying gas for your mower, it is relatively simple to know what you need and when you need additional gas. By adding a fuel stabilizer and routinely alternating through your gas, you will not waste expensive gasoline, and it will be well worth the price.

Don’t Overthink It

Truly refueling your lawn mower should not be a stressful process and is relatively simple, even for beginners. The basics to keep in mind are simply:

If you have any questions concerning your lawn mower, the manufacturer’s guide is always a great place to start for additional help.

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What Kind Of gas Does A Zero Turn Mower Take? (Does It Need Premium?)

Zero-turn mowers are increasing in popularity because of their sweet rotation mechanism. That feature makes zero-turn mowers extremely handy. But, of course, you’d want to make the most out of such a machine while keeping it safe. So what should you feed it? What kind of gas does a zero-turn mower take?

The best gas for your mower is always the one recommended by the manufacturer. If there are no direct instructions about the fuel type, then use regular gas rated 87 octanes or premium gasses rated 91 octanes or more. In both cases, avoid gas with ethanol content above 10%

Understanding what octane ratings and ethanol percentages mean and how they would affect your zero-turn mower is essential.

We’ll tackle that while also telling you what types of gas you should avoid, along with a few extra precautionary measures.

Best Gas for Zero-Turn Mowers

When it comes to gas, there are two main things you should FOCUS on: octane rating and ethanol. The first measures the fuel’s ability to resist “knocking.” The second is the percentage of alcohol mixed in with the gasoline.

We’ll start with octane ratings because it concerns gas quality, while ethanol content only determines how much alcohol is mixed in.

Octane Rating

Octane rating is a number between 0 and 100.

An octane rating is a measure of how heat-resistant a fuel is. The higher the octane number, the greater the fuel’s ability to resist knocking or pinging during combustion.

This high resistance means the fuel won’t ignite before it’s supposed to.

In other words, a higher octane rating means less fuel burn and higher efficiency. That being said, you’d want your gas to have an octane rating of at least 87.

Ethanol Percentage

We add ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) to fuel to help oxygenate the gas. Oxygenation leads to completely burning out the fuel, which in turn helps in reducing harmful emissions.

We’d love to reduce the harmful effects of the gas we use. However, using too much ethanol will lead to faster fuel burning, reducing efficiency.

over, ethanol is one of the hygroscopic materials. These materials absorb moisture and water vapor from the air.

When ethanol mixes with water, it forms a gummy-like deposit inside the fuel system, which leads to clogging.

This deposit will build up over time and damage your engine by clogging the fuel line, filter, or carburetor. That’s why you should always check the ethanol percentage before refueling to make sure that it’s not higher than 10%

You can tell how much ethanol is in your gas by looking for the letter E on the container. For example, if you see a 10% next to the letter E, that means there is 10% ethanol in your gas.

Does a Zero-Turn Mower Need Premium Gas?

The true answer to whether your lawn mower necessitates premium gas lies within the user’s manual and your reasoning for using better fuel.

Premium gasoline is any gas that has an octane rating over 91.

Deciding whether to switch your car to premium gas depends on what the owner’s manual recommends.

Some mowers have high-compression engines, and they require premium gas. These mowers work optimally only with premium gas, and regular gas would decrease their performance.

If you have one of these high-compression mowers, it’s better to stick to the manual and use the premium gas.

If your manual doesn’t directly point out that your mower needs premium gas, you could use the 87-octane gas without issues. The question is, do you need premium gas for those too?

Will Premium Gas Make My Zero Turn Run Better?

Don’t waste your money on premium gas for your lawnmower- it won’t make it run any better.

Higher octane rating only increases fuel efficiency. For example, If you have 10 liters of regular gas that generally last for 20 days, the same amount of premium gas would last for 23 days.

Throughout those 23 days, your mower won’t work any faster or cut the grass any better.

The premium gas gives you a bit more time as far as fuel usage and costs a few cents more, but that’s about it. Remember that the number of days we used is just for explanation.

What Type of Gas to Avoid for a Zero-Turn Mower?

When you need to fill your lawnmower with gasoline, the first thought is probably going to the nearby gas station and buying one or two gallons.

That sounds like the sensible thing to do. It’s just an engine, after all.

However, in most cases, it’s not a good idea. Most gas stations have fuel with up to 85% ethanol.

Any ethanol percentage above 10% will harm smaller engines like mower engines. The higher the ethanol percentage, the more harmful it would be.

High ethanol gas won’t immediately damage your mower, but if you’ve been using it for a while, have a professional check your engine.

If possible, try to avoid this in the future, as it could lead to more significant issues in the future.

Other Considerations

Before purchasing gas for your zero-turn, there are other things to consider. Here are some questions to tips to keep in mind.

These tips will not only help you save money, but they’ll help your mower run better too.

Buy What You Need

It’s not a good idea to store gas for more than 30 days as it will start to evaporate and break down, making it less effective and potentially damaging the lawn mower engine.

We recommend getting enough gas to use within 30 days to keep your fuel system safe.

Use Fuel Additives

Fuel additives are compounds that increase the efficiency of fuel in engines. In addition, these compounds lubricate the engine parts they go through.

This reduces friction and makes the engine run smoother. As a result, your mower will use less gas while working more efficiently.

Additionally, ethanol’s water absorption could cause corrosion in the fueling system. Fuel additives reduce the risk of such corrosion.

Without delving too much into chemistry, these additives prevent the ethanol from attacking the oxide coating on the metal. That oxide coating is what prevents corrosion, so keeping it intact is necessary.

Two of the most popular fuel additives are Stabil and Sea Foam. You can get them at any auto parts store or online.

Don’t Mix Gas With Engine Oil

Unless recommended by the manufacturer, avoid mixing gas with engine oil. It could damage the engine.

Two-stroke engines are an exception. They require you to mix gas and oil in a specific ratio before adding them to the tank. The oil helps lubricate the pistons on the engines.

Mower engines could be two-stroke or four-stroke engines.

Only the two-stroke engines require mixing gas with fuel because it lubricates the pistons.

Since mower engines can be two-stroke or four-stroke, it’s essential to check the manufacturer’s manual before doing anything.

Don’t Modify Your Engine

Avoid modifying your engine to run with different fuels – you may get the engine working, but damaging the fueling system by using incompatible fuel is a high risk.

Additionally, this will void your manufacturer’s warranty.

Read the Manual

This might seem pretty basic, but we can’t stress this enough. Some mowers require only regular gas; others require only premium gas.

On many other occasions, a mower can safely run on both. But, again, follow the manual’s instructions to avoid any issues.

Using the wrong fuel type against the manual’s instructions will also void the warranty.

Final Word

So, what kind of gas does a zero-turn mower take? The best answer is to follow the manual. If the manufacturer isn’t recommending a specific fuel type, it’s best to use the regular 87 octanes and 10% ethanol gas.

The premium 91 and 93 octanes won’t harm your mower in that case, but they won’t improve the performance either.

Understand the difference between octane ratings and ethanol to get the right fuel for your mower.

Avoid fuels with high ethanol content, as they can cause permanent damage to your mower.

Following the manual is the key to good maintenance. Unfortunately, the warranty doesn’t cover any damage caused by not following a manufacturer’s instructions.

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I love working in the yard and coming up with projects around the house. In addition, I am blogger. I’ve decided to start this blog to share stuff I learn about yard work, or any projects that are house related. These days I blog about everything related to anything pertaining to the outside of the home. Everything in this blog should be used for educational purposes only.

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What Kind Of Gas To Put In A Lawn Mower?

We’re all familiar with the unmistakable hum of a distant lawnmower. Love them or loathe them, combustion lawnmowers are an integral part of landscaping and lawn care, as they provide ever-increasing levels of efficiency and reliability. But have you ever thought about what makes them tick?

For most lawn mowers putting in gas from a local filling station of 87 octane will work just fine. If it is a diesel mower, then you will need either diesel or bio-diesel to fill it up. For 2-stroke mowers you will need mixed gas or an oil additive to mix with the gas you purchase from the station.

That is our FOCUS today, as we discuss the various kinds of fuels used by combustion lawnmowers. We will help first-time mower owners get to grips with the properties of certain fuel types…as well as those of the mowers that use them.

What Type Of Gas Goes In A Lawn Mower?

Most people use the word “gas” even when discussing fuel types other than gasoline.

Combustion engine mowers usually use gasoline, diesel, or a gasoline and oil mix. Some companies even sell a premixed gas-oil fuel known as “two-stroke fuel”. Bio-diesel is also emerging as a “green” alternative to other combustion fuels.

Diesel For Mowers

Diesel lawnmowers use regular diesel fuel or (depending on the manufacturer) a variation of bio-diesel fuel. Diesel packs a mightier punch per drop than regular gasoline, which makes it much more efficient. In fact, diesel has been found to have up to 12% more power than an equivalent volume of gasoline.

Diesel’s superior efficiency and output are the main reasons it is used to power commercial lawnmowers. These mowers are made to tackle large-scale jobs (parks, school grounds, golf courses, etc.) so fuel efficiency is a must. The benefits of diesel are among the reasons why, on average, diesel motors are more expensive.

Bio-Diesel For Lawn Mowers

Bio-diesel is a renewable form of diesel that is made from crops like rapeseed and soybeans. This makes it more environmentally friendly than petroleum diesel, and less toxic.

Bio-diesel is also an excellent lubricant, which is good for engine longevity. Brands like John Deere encourage the use of specific bio-diesel concentrates for their mowers.

Gasoline For Mowers

Traditional gasoline (aka “petrol”) is the most widely used fuel for combustion lawnmowers. Almost all home-use combustion mowers use straight gasoline or a gasoline-oil mix.

In the U.S., gasoline is graded in terms of fuel stability (octane). This “stability” reflects the gasoline’s combustibility at certain pressures. This means that high octane (high stability) gas requires higher pressure for spontaneous combustion than low octane gasoline. As a result, high octane is likely to produce combustion exactly when needed, which then makes the mower run at peak efficiency.

Most gas stations will have these three options, although they may have different names. However, the octane rating should still be visible on the pumps so you know which is which.

Mixed Gas For 2-Stroke Mowers

The other common fuel used by lawnmowers is a mix of gas and oil. A lot of brands sell this mix as two-stroke fuel but DIY mixtures are also the norm. This mix is used for mowers with 2-stroke (or 2-cycle) engines because there’s no other way to put oil in them.

You see, 2-strokes do not have a dedicated oil reservoir but they still need lubrication for piston movement and other engine functions. The only way to get oil in the machine is to mix it with fuel.

Can You Use Regular Gas In A lawn Mower From A Gas Station?

While regular unleaded gasoline works perfectly fine, you can get better performance out of your mower by using (pricier) higher octane gasoline. The choice is, therefore a matter of cost vs performance.

4-Stroke Gas From A Filling Station

Regular unleaded gas (also known as low octane gas) can be used to power a gas mower, provided it has a 4-stroke engine. I am addressing only unleaded gasoline here, since unleaded gas is not sold at filling stations. Most won’t have access to leaded gas and it is not recommended for any mower.

All mowers can run on gasoline bought from filling stations. This goes for gasoline and diesel. This is the main way gasoline is acquired for cars, trucks, and even lawn mowers.

2-Stroke Gas And Oil From A Filling Station

If the mower in question runs on a 2-stroke motor, then you will need to use an oil-gas mix. Using straight unleaded gasoline, regardless of its octane, will result in an unlubricated engine. If the mower continues to run with this fuel, the engine will overheat and suffer serious damage or even total failure.

These oil additives can be bought from gas stations, home improvement stores, and landscaping centers. Here is what I suggest that can be shipped directly to your house for your 2-stroke engines.

Small engine maestro Briggs Stratton also gives the proverbial seal of approval to regular fuel.

Is It Better To Use Non-Ethanol Gas In My Lawnmower?

Ethanol-free gasoline is the best choice for lawnmowers and other machines with small engines. In fact, you should be warier of ethanol content than the octane level.

Ethanol is a chemical compound that is often blended with gasoline to boost its stability (octane) for more efficient combustion. Gasoline is most commonly blended with 10% ethanol, which gives us E10 gasoline. E15 gasoline (15% ethanol blend) has also emerged in the last few years.

However, for small engines, E10 is as far as you should go. While ethanol has its benefits, it is a double-edged sword.

Ethanol contains hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Sometimes, when mixed with gasoline, ethanol may react and give off water as a by-product. Over time, this water may cause metal parts of the engine and fuel system to rust.

Not only does ethanol raise your fuel’s octane level, but it also raises its temperature. Ethanol blends are much hotter than their pure gasoline counterparts. This is bad news for small engines, and continuous use of fuel with a high ethanol blend (E15 and up) may result in overheating and eventual engine failure.

Ethanol-free gasoline has none of these drawbacks. Running your mower on this kind of fuel should see it last for much longer than machines running on ethanol blends. Unfortunately, non-ethanol fuel is not as widely available as ethanol blends. When you do find it, expect it to be significantly more expensive.

Also, despite its benefits for a mower’s engine, ethanol-free gas is not great for the environment. Without ethanol, gasoline will give off greater CO2 emissions when it combusts.

How Do You Mix Gas For A Lawnmower?

Mixing gas for a 2-stroke lawnmower is fairly easy. The machine’s instruction manual should be your first reference point, especially if the mower is still under warranty.

A lot of brands, including Briggs Stratton, recommend a gas to oil ratio of 50:1 (one part oil per fifty parts gasoline) for the best performance.

Do not experiment to “see what works” if you are unsure of the correct mix. Visit local small engine shops or scour online forums to get help.

Will Mixed Gas Hurt A Lawnmower?

Mixed gasoline will not hurt your lawnmower if it has a 2-stroke motor. The mix itself must have the correct proportions of gas and oil.

You should never use mixed gas in a 4-stroke engine, as oil and gas have designated reserves and fillers. Running a 4-cycle mower on a gas-oil blend could result in excessive smoking and engine misfires. However, no serious damage will occur from a once-off incident.

The consequences of using an oil-gas mix in a 4-stroke could be worsened if you neglect to add oil to the oil reservoir. The mower’s engine will not be sufficiently lubricated, which can lead to overheating.

How Much Does A Gas Mower Cost?

With so many manufacturers and models, the of combustion mowers vary.

Gas-powered push mowers range from as little as US140 to over 400. Self-propelled walk-behinds range from about 170 to 500. There are very few diesel-powered walk-behind mowers.

Both gas and diesel-powered riding mowers, garden tractors, and rear engine mowers range from 1,200 to over 5,000. Brands like John Deere and Cub Cadet have far pricier models though.

Zero-turn mowers can range from just over 2,000 to over 15,000!

The Final Touches On What Kind Of Gas To Put In A Lawnmower…

You can be confident going to your local filling station and using the gas there to fuel your mowers. This is how most everyone gets the gas for their lawn equipment.

You should use caution though, and make sure if you are dealing with a 2 or 4-stroke engine on your machine. This will determine if you need an oil additive.

If you have a diesel mower then only use diesel fuel. If you don’t have a diesel, then definitely do not put diesel in the gas tank.

Mathew has worked in landscaping professionally for over 10 years. He is a grandpa and frequently interviews other experienced landscapers and lawn care experts who are also grandpas for these articles.

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About Us

We are Jerry McMillan and Mathew Booe (Father-In-Law/Great-Grandpa and Son-In-Law/Grandpa). Jerry has been in the landscaping business professionally for over 45 years and 10 of those years Mathew worked with him and helped him run his business. Together they answer landscaping, lawn care, and gardening questions of all types from hard work, first hand knowledge, and experience.

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