Tips for preparing lawn and garden equipment for spring
Spring is on its way, and soon home and business owners will be cleaning and preparing their lawn and garden equipment for the season ahead.
“Many are so eager to pull out lawn and garden equipment once spring arrives that they sometimes forget basic steps to ensure that the powerhouse of the equipment — the engine — is in good working order,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.
“One challenge is that most fuel contains some level of ethanol, which contains corrosive alcohol,” Kiser said. “If you left that fuel in the tank over the winter months, you don’t want to use it in the spring. It may damage your equipment. You need to drain it and put in new fuel that is E10 or lower.”
Whether it’s a mower, trimmer, blower, chain saw or pruner, the OPEI offers tips to help users avoid fuel-related problems and prepare their equipment to operate safely.
Check the fuel tank. If fuel has been sitting all winter long in the fuel tank, do not use that fuel in the spring. Drain and dispose of the fuel responsibly and put in fresh fuel.
Use only E10 or lower fuel in your outdoor power equipment.
Do not use gas with more than 10 percent ethanol (E10) in outdoor power equipment. Some gas stations may offer 15 percent ethanol (E15) gas or other fuel blends, but this higher-ethanol fuel is dangerous — and is in fact illegal — to use in any small-engine equipment such as lawn mowers, chain saws, generators and all other lawn and garden equipment.
Don’t leave fuel sitting in the tank for more than 30 days.
Untreated gasoline (stored without a
fuel stabilizer) left in the system will deteriorate. This deterioration may cause starting or running problems and, in some cases, damage to the fuel system.
Inspect your equipment. Check for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. If you find anything that causes you concern, replace the parts or take your equipment to a qualified service representative.
Drain away the old oil, and put in fresh oil.
Remove the oil-drain plug in your lawn mower, and catch the old oil in a container. Replace the plug, and refill the engine with oil recommended by the product manufacturer. Properly dispose of the oil you drained.
Install clean air filters. Your engine and equipment will run much better with clean filters. Paper filters need to be replaced. Some foam filters can be cleaned and replaced.
Sharpen your cutting blade. Have your lawn mower’s cutting blade sharpened so you can get a clean cut on your lawn. Your lawn will be healthier, and your lawn mower will operate more efficiently, too.
Clean your equipment. If you did not clean your lawn or garden equipment before storing it, there may be dirt, oil or grass stuck to the equipment. Give it a good spring cleaning. A cleaner machine will run more efficiently and last longer.
Review your manual. Now is a good time to read the operator’s manuals for your lawn and garden equipment and refamiliarize yourself with the controls and what they do. Make sure you know how to stop the machine quickly if needed.
About OPEI The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, or OPEI, is an international trade association that represents more than 100 power-equipment, engine and utility-vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, as well as a recognized standards development organization for the American National Standards Institute. OPEI is active internationally through the International Standards Organization and the International Electrotechnical Commission in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show and the creative force behind the environmental-education program TurfMutt.com. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.