I have to admit, I wasn’t the most mechanical of minds when I started working for Coeur d’Alene Tractor but I learned a few important lessons in my first 6 months as Service Manager for the Small Engine Shop.
The most common issue that we fix is carburetors and 90% of the time a carburetor issue can be attributed to the type of fuel that customers are pouring into their machines.
Look at it this way…ethanol is made from corn. When corn is heated up it turns to syrup. When syrup cools down it hardens. Sorta like eating fatty food and clogging up your arteries. It might not happen immediately, but repeating bad habits your pathways become restricted and your heart (or carburetor) has a more difficult time pumping those fluids.
The higher the ethanol content in your fuel, the more likely it is to clog up your carburetor and fuel lines. Especially for residential users that aren’t mowing, blowing or trimming their yards and running their engine every single day. Many unleaded fuels contain as much as 10% ethanol.
It’s not something to feel guilty about. It’s simply our job to educate you and help you optimize the performance of your machines. This is the #1 piece of advice I share with our customers daily:
USE NON-ETHANOL FUEL IN ALL YOUR SMALL ENGINES (including mowers, blowers, trimmers and anything that’s not a car, truck or diesel tractor).
Just to clarify, we’re not talking about “Premium Unleaded” or “High Octane” fuel here. It’s specifically “NON ETHANOL” or “ETHANOL FREE” fuel. If you get confused, ask the store or gas station clerk.
Yes, it’s a little more expensive than your traditional fuel but you’ll be saving money in the long run for sure. Keep in mind that carburetor overhauls can cost $100 to $200 (or more). Often times it’s more cost effective to replace the carburetor as trying to clean the tiny channels that atomize the fuel can be time consuming and labor intensive…and rarely remove 100% of the debris or obstructive elements .
If your next question is, “Where do I find this magical fuel?”. Well, you can find them all over the place nowadays and there’s a great website to find one close to you as well: www.pure-gas.org. Just click on your state at the bottom of the page or go to the map and navigate to your state and zoom in on your city. It’s SUPER easy.
If you have questions or any other equipment needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our sales, service, or parts departments at one of our 4 locations in Idaho and Washington. We’d be happy to help out and find ways to make your life easier.
Matt Adams
Service Manager
Coeur d’Alene Tractor Co.