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<p>As the temperatures changes across the country it's time to prepare your boat engines as well as small engine equipment for off-season storage. When you're not using your snow blower, lawn mowers, leaf blower, chain saw or other equipment it's best to store them properly so they start up and run well for you when you need them.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-1.jpg" border="0" />
<p>One of the biggest concerns these days is the quality of "re-formulated" and ethanol in gasoline and how it can negatively affect small engines. Here are some tips and a few steps to help you avoid the issues that can arise when small engines are put in storage.
<p><b>Buying Fuel</b>
<p>1. Take note of where you are buying your fuel. Not all gas stations are created equal. Today's ethanol blended gasoline starts going bad in as little as 30 days, so visit stations that tend to have high traffic, meaning they have to replenish their fuel regularly. Remember, the fresher the fuel you buy, the better - no matter what octane rating. The most common form of ethanol blended fuel is E10 or 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Other blends include E15, E20, E30, and E85 but <b><u>these should be not be used in small engine equipment</u></b>. Running any fuel in your small engine equipment with more than 10% ethanol can lead to several engine issues including overheating, failed fuel lines and over-corroded fuel system components.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-2.jpg" border="0" />
<p><b>Filling and Treating Fuel</b>
<p>1. Once you have read the pump and know which fuel you are going to purchase it's important to add a high-quality, non-alcohol based fuel stabilizer, such as STA-BIL® Storage, to your fuel can before filling it with fresh fuel. Again, fuel starts going bad in as little as 30 days, so it is best to treat your fuel as soon as possible. Pouring your fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment directly into the gas can ensures that all the equipment you fill with that treated fuel will be protected from ethanol issues. Your equipment will also start when you want it to, even after long term storage as STA-BIL Storage will keep gas fresh up to two years.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-3.jpg" border="0" />
<p>2. Now that you have a properly treated gas can, you can fill your equipment. It is important to keep all of your equipment about 95% full after every use to avoid condensation forming in your tank. Condensation in your fuel tank causes water to accumulate in your fuel and this will eventually cause phase separation. Phase separation can cause severe issues when you take your small engine equipment out of storage, but if you used a fuel stabilizer before you put it away for the winter, you should be good to go at startup.
<p>With these simple steps toward proper fuel management prior to storage, you will eliminate almost all issues with your small engine equipment and make startup a breeze come springtime.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-1.jpg" border="0" />
<p>One of the biggest concerns these days is the quality of "re-formulated" and ethanol in gasoline and how it can negatively affect small engines. Here are some tips and a few steps to help you avoid the issues that can arise when small engines are put in storage.
<p><b>Buying Fuel</b>
<p>1. Take note of where you are buying your fuel. Not all gas stations are created equal. Today's ethanol blended gasoline starts going bad in as little as 30 days, so visit stations that tend to have high traffic, meaning they have to replenish their fuel regularly. Remember, the fresher the fuel you buy, the better - no matter what octane rating. The most common form of ethanol blended fuel is E10 or 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Other blends include E15, E20, E30, and E85 but <b><u>these should be not be used in small engine equipment</u></b>. Running any fuel in your small engine equipment with more than 10% ethanol can lead to several engine issues including overheating, failed fuel lines and over-corroded fuel system components.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-2.jpg" border="0" />
<p><b>Filling and Treating Fuel</b>
<p>1. Once you have read the pump and know which fuel you are going to purchase it's important to add a high-quality, non-alcohol based fuel stabilizer, such as STA-BIL® Storage, to your fuel can before filling it with fresh fuel. Again, fuel starts going bad in as little as 30 days, so it is best to treat your fuel as soon as possible. Pouring your fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment directly into the gas can ensures that all the equipment you fill with that treated fuel will be protected from ethanol issues. Your equipment will also start when you want it to, even after long term storage as STA-BIL Storage will keep gas fresh up to two years.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/jan16/images/art3-3.jpg" border="0" />
<p>2. Now that you have a properly treated gas can, you can fill your equipment. It is important to keep all of your equipment about 95% full after every use to avoid condensation forming in your tank. Condensation in your fuel tank causes water to accumulate in your fuel and this will eventually cause phase separation. Phase separation can cause severe issues when you take your small engine equipment out of storage, but if you used a fuel stabilizer before you put it away for the winter, you should be good to go at startup.
<p>With these simple steps toward proper fuel management prior to storage, you will eliminate almost all issues with your small engine equipment and make startup a breeze come springtime.
