Hi,
Weed eaters and lawnmowers are two effective types of machinery that help homeowners treat growing grass. Due to their pretty similar functions and features, you may wonder: Can I use weed eater gas in the lawn mower?
Though both weed eaters and lawnmowers typically run on gas, there is some complication that hinders you from this practice. I will discuss this issue in detail and give you an in-depth answer. Keep reading to find out!
Can I Use Weed Eater Gas For A Lawn Mower?
Yes, you can use the gas of a weed eater for a lawnmower if the two machines can run on the same type of fuel. However, this practice is not possible in some cases, depending on the condition and grade of your machines.
It will depend entirely on the type and grade of your lawnmower and weed eater.
The specifications of your machine will determine whether your lawnmower can use the weed eater gasoline.
Read more: Do Electric Mowers Need Oil?
It Depends On The Engine
When Is It Not Possible?
The weed eaters typically run on two-stroke engines, which require a mixture of engine oil and gas to operate. Most lawnmowers cannot run on this fuel mixture because they have four-stroke engines.
The four-stroke engines don’t need the engine oil and gas mixture since they feature an additional container of engine oil that lubricates the engine’s components.
For this reason, you cannot use a mixture of gas and engine oil for the lawnmower. In other words, the gas used for a two-stroke weed eater is not compatible with a four-stroke lawnmower.
When Can You Use Weed Eater’s Gas For A Lawn Mower?
However, this premise is totally doable when your lawnmower and weed eater use similar two-stroke engines. The two-stroke lawnmowers require the engine oil and gas mixture, just like most weed eater machines.
For instance, you may not use the gas for your weed eater but store it in a reservoir or container. In this case, you can use this fuel for your lawnmower if it shares the same grade as the machine’s fuel.
In addition, don’t forget that your lawnmower and weed eater must use the same two-stroke engines. With these two conditions met, it’s OK to use the gasoline of weed eaters for lawnmowers.
A further note is that your weed eater gasoline must stay in clean and fresh conditions. Stale fuel and gas can damage both your weed eater and lawn mower machine while decreasing their capacity.
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The Gasoline Must Be In Good Condition
How To Know If Your Gas Is Usable For A Lawn Mower?
Here are some tips to check the conditions of the gasoline:
- Check the gas color: The color of your gasoline should be clear and clean without any discoloration. If it develops a greenish or bluish color, your gas has been mixed with engine oil.
- Smell: The smell of clean and fresh gas is very distinct and recognizable. Meanwhile, the odor of stale gas is less intense, and it may feature the marks of condensed water beneath.
- Staining: You can test the stains of gas using some simple tools like a paper towel or a kitchen napkin. If the gas leaves some visible stains on the towel, it is not clean.
What Happens If You Put Weed Eater Gas In The Mower
There won’t be any significant problems, and your mower can still function well.
However, it is only true if your weed eater and mower feature similar two-stroke engines and the gas is preserved in pure, fresh, and clean conditions.
A four-stroke lawn mower cannot operate on the mixture of engine oil and gas used for two-stroke weed eaters. It will lead to the breakdown of the engine and some serious problems.
In addition, using stale or mixed gas will reduce the capacity of your lawnmower, even if it uses a two-stroke engine.
In severe cases, the machine’s components and the engine will get damaged, affecting its lifespan.
Be Careful Of Damaging Your Device
What Happens If You Put Mixed Gas For A Mower
As mentioned above, it’s absolutely not advisable to put mixed gas for a mower since this machine features an additional engine oil container. This oil reservoir will lubricate the machine’s engine in the process without the need for mixing.
Therefore, putting mixed gas in a four-stroke lawnmower can lead to serious problems like engine failure, smoking, and overheating.
If you see smoke emitting from the machine, turn it off immediately for safety.
If you accidentally use mixed gas for your four-stroke mower, don’t panic yet.
Quickly stop the machine and turn off its power. Then, please wait for the mower to cool down and drain its mixed oil.
Will Old Gas Hurt My Lawn Mower
Gasoline can last between 4 to 6 months before it goes stale under the effects of evaporation and oxidation.
These processes will deprive stale oil of its desirable components, making the fuel no longer suitable for machines. Therefore, you should not use old oil stored throughout the winter for your lawnmower.
Therefore, using old and stale gas can totally damage your lawnmower in serious ways. It can clog the machine’s filters and gas lines, increasing the risk of system failure or wreaking havoc.
What Kind Of Gas Do You Put In The Lawn Mower
Each type of lawn mower uses distinct kinds of gasoline, depending on its capacity and design. The four-stroke machines run best on fresh petrol with a minimum of 87 in octane rating.
The same type of gasoline is also applicable for two-stroke machines, but you need to mix it with two-cycle engine oil. My recommended proportion is 50:1 between gas and oil.
Final Thoughts
In summary, you can use the gas of a weed eater for lawn mowers if the two machines have similar two-stroke engines. In addition, the gasoline must be fresh, pure, and clean to avoid damaging the mower’s components.
You can check the specifications of the weed eater and mower to ensure they run on similar fuel types. Also, don’t forget to examine the state of gasoline to avoid unwanted problems. Thank you for reading!