How to Use a Fuel System Cleaner for Lawn Mowers
Gasoline can leave behind a gummy deposit in your carburetor and fuel line, especially if your mower has not been started and run for a while. This is especially true if gasoline has been left in a fuel tank or carburetor over a long winter. If these gummy deposits are not removed, your engine may run poorly--or not run at all. The fastest and simplest way to clean your lawn mower's fuel system is to add lawn mower fuel system cleaner to your gas tank.
Purchase a fuel system cleaner designed specifically for lawn mowers.
Fill a gas can with 1 gallon of new, clean gasoline. Measure the exact amount of lawn mower fuel system cleaner recommended by the manufacturer (often 2 tablespoons per gallon of gas) and add it to the gallon of gas. Dump the gas with the fuel system cleaner into your mower's fuel tank. If your mower's fuel tank already has fuel in it, add enough additional fuel system cleaner to approximate the manufacturer's recommended strength.
- Gasoline can leave behind a gummy deposit in your carburetor and fuel line, especially if your mower has not been started and run for a while.
Start your engine and allow it to warm up for two minutes. Mow your yard using the throttle setting you normally use. Mow until you have run almost a full gallon of gas through your mower's engine and fuel system. Add clean gasoline without fuel system cleaner to your tank once the tank is almost empty.
Add the manufacturer's recommended amount of lawn mower fuel system cleaner to your mower's gas tank once every 30 to 60 days to keep your system clean.
Clean A Lawn Mower Fuel System
Don’t get choked up if your tried and true machine makes a sputter and ceases to function. But make sure to read the owner's manual for the lawn mower. Most manuals can easily be found online. Locate the fuel valve if the lawn mower has one, and turn it to the "off" position. A compromised tank needs to be replaced to avoid any serious injury the next time the lawn mower is in use. Check the line with a flashlight to ensure it isn’t clogged with debris or has any obvious holes or cracks.
- Start your engine and allow it to warm up for two minutes.
- Locate the fuel valve if the lawn mower has one, and turn it to the "off" position.
Tip
If using a fuel system cleaner designed for an automobile, use it at half strength in your lawn mower.
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References
Tips
- If using a fuel system cleaner designed for an automobile, use it at half strength in your lawn mower.
Writer Bio
Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for television, everything from "Smurfs" to "Spider-Man." Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide.
