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Over time, your engine could be gradually losing power from the use of bad fuel. You may have no indication whether it results from varnish or carbon deposits in the fuel system. It could be that your gas has just been sitting for too long. On the other hand, ethanol could also play a part.
In any case, the performance of today’s small engines can be diminished from operations in tough conditions with bad fuel, or even from infrequent operation. Either way, whether you are a landscape professional or an acreage owner, the fuel you purchase has not been designed or formulated for the kind of service you require from your lawn mower.
Exmark Premium Fuel Treatment offers you a way to reduce or completely eliminate the harmful effects of bad fuel.
Oxidation
Hydrocarbons in the gas react with oxygen to produce new compounds that eventually change the chemical composition of the fuel. This leads to gum and varnish deposits in the fuel system. These deposits and impurities can clog up gas lines and filters, as well the small orifices in a carburetor and the even smaller orifices in a fuel injector.
Oxygenated Fuels
The ever-increasing use of ethanol-containing gasoline blends makes it more important than ever to use a good, premium fuel treatment. Ethanol-containing fuel is more corrosive and is more prone to water contamination.
Water Contamination
Condensation can form inside your gas tank and lines from heat cycling. Water contamination can be a problem at some gas stations and in some engines because of the area where the engine is stored. The underground storage tanks at gas stations experience increases and decreases in temperature, as can a shed or garage where the engine is stored. This can cause moisture to form and contaminate the fuel.
Water, of course, does not work too well as a fuel in an internal combustion engine. It will cause hard starting and rough running until it is purged from the system. It can also contribute to internal rusting of the gas lines and tank.
Phase Separation
In extreme cases of intermittent use, prolonged exposure to humid environments, or heat cycling, ethanol blended gasoline can “phase separate.” Phase separation occurs when, due to ethanol’s “hygroscopic” tendency to attract water, the amount of water absorbed into the fuel exceeds the fuel’s saturation point. The water (often a water/ethanol mix) then falls out of solution to the bottom of your tank, in a phased separation, severely limiting your fuel’s effectiveness.
Where in a 2 stroke engine, the water/ethanol will compete with oil for bonding to critical engine components, in a four stroke environment, that phase may combust in the engine. This combustion can be damaging to the engine because the water/ethanol phase creates a leaner mixture (i.e.: the air to fuel ratio is higher than ideal). Leaner mixtures tend to combust at higher temperatures and can damage engines.
Volatility
One characteristic of gas is volatility, a term used to describe how easily and under what conditions the gas vaporizes so it can be efficiently burned in your engine.
The most highly volatile components in gasoline also tend to evaporate over time. As they do, the remaining fuel's volatility and ability to combust properly degrades. The less volatile the fuel, the less effectively it burns in your engine.
The result is diminished engine performance. Your engine may still start and run, but it probably will not run as well.
Further effects of ethanol (E10 or higher)
Ethanol is hygroscopic, which simply means it attracts and scavenges water. In fact, ethanol will mix better with water than with gasoline. Additionally, ethanol increases conductivity in gasoline, which is not in itself conductive. This increases the capacity for an ethanol-blended fuel to enable galvanic corrosion within a system.
Another performance-robbing characteristic of ethanol happens when evaporation occurs. All vented fuels evaporate to some extent, but ethanol, having a higher evaporation rate than the base fuel, will cause the fuel’s octane rating to drop 2-3 numbers or more when in storage. That in itself will not cause significant performance degradation, but the remaining, now richer fuel, will produce a higher level of deposits than the original formulation.
No fuel treatment can prevent fuel evaporation, but Exmark Premium can stop the gum and varnish formation on critical fuel system surfaces.
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Fuel Tank
Depending on the type of material used, degrading fuel can cause corrosion of certain metals, which then leads to a plugged fuel intake. At times, this could require the replacement of gas lines and other internal engine components at considerable expense.
Fuel System
Bad fuel can corrode fuel lines and cause line plugging. Along with this, resulting carburetor/injector fouling can cause hard starts, rough running, and fuel starvation.
Engine
Degraded fuel will always diminish engine performance due to some degree of fuel starvation. Gum and varnish deposits formed in the fuel system can clog gas lines and filters, as well as the small orifices in the carburetor. Even smaller orifices in fuel injectors make the consequences of fuel degradation far worse.
If these deposits take hold over a long period of time, removing them can be expensive. Your small engine may not run at all or will run very poorly until they are removed. As the flow of fuel decreases, or becomes leaner in mixture, pistons can be scored and ultimately total engine seizure can occur.
As in the case of phase separation, the following negative affects can occur:
- Hard starting
- Non-starting
- Corrosion
- Plugged fuel lines
- Rough running
- Decreased power
- Engine damage
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Today’s fuels do not store as well as those marketed years ago. Initial specifications for most gasolines apply only for approximately 40-60 days after being placed in a vented environment.
Routine use of Exmark Premium Fuel Treatment helps to prevent these effects. It also forms a protective barrier on metal parts, preventing rust and corrosion from ethanol or water in the fuel. For up to 12 months, Exmark Premium keeps your fuel fresh.
As in the case of phase separation, the following negative affects can occur:
- Lengthens fuel storage life
- Slows fuel oxidation
- Prevents corrosion of fuel delivery systems
- Protects yellow metals that are common fuel system components from corrosion
- Cleans and removes existing gum and deposits from the tank to the intake valves
In short, Exmark Premium reduces or eliminates the negative affects of bad gas in your mower. Whether used routinely or at the end of a mowing season for storage, you can count on Exmark Premium to keep you running longer, and to keep your productivity higher.
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Standard Fuel Stabilizer
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Exmark Premium
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Fuel Stabilizer
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Fuel Line Cleaner
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Corrosion Protection
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Compatible with Ethanol
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Marine Applications
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Carburetor Clean-Up
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Combustion Chamber Clean-Up
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