Use Trufuel in your small engines. Pure gas.
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Use only SAE 30 oil in small engines!
That is what is shipped with every mower.
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Never second guess the mfr’s recommendations...................
Try reading the damn manual. Most, if not all of your questions are answered there.
Best recommendation? Don’t use ethanol fuel.
I have worn out several mowers in my lifetime.
I was just thinking a few days ago that the engines were the one thing which just kept on working. Briggs & Stratton always were thought to be superior until Honda, but actually they all have worked until the things just rusted out or broke down.
I don’t do anything except run them. What ever gas I get at the station. Just plain 30 wt. oil. I have replaced the air filter but only because the old one was oil soaked.
This!
The most important time for a small engine is storage — run the best, cleanest gas through before you run it dry for the winter.
If you want to remove the alcohol from the gas, add water. The alcohol and water separate from the gas, leaving it dry and alcohol free. You’ll loose a couple octane points.
Motor Medic combined w/ Aviation Fuel got the saw running. 100LL @ the small airports, no Ethanol, much cheaper than the quarts at the box stores, some pumps are self serve via a credit card.
Their is a new AV fuel being rolled out "Swift Fuel" 94 no-lead, see if you can find it in your area....
Just always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never follow advice you get on the innerwebs and you’ll be fine.
Based on my experience with that Troy Bilt don’t put gas in it. It will fail and be un fixable. Period.
I’ve eliminated gas with ethanol in ALL small engines. Everything runs better from chainsaws and string trimmers to tillers and lawn tractor. Not going back. Corn is for eating not burning.
1.Do you use synthetic oil? What brand and what weigh?
-Synthetic oil is truly conventional oil with specific additives, or a truly synthetic that is used for highly selective application. For a simple engine, not worth the cost.
2.Or do you use regular oil? What brand? What weight?
-Two stroke or small engine oil. Any brand. 5W.
3.Both of the above are climate dependent You will use different oil if you live in New Mexico compared to Minnesota
-Is there a question? Altitude has everything to do with fuel mix, nothing to do with oil.
4.How often do you change your lawnmower oil?
-I check it at the end of every season, typically changing it if the viscosity is too high.
5.-
-I’m gonna pretend you didn’t ask that...
6.Is it OK to use 94 octane premium gasoline right from the beginning? As soon as I start using this new lawnmower?
-Octane is an measure of how susceptible to detonation a fuel happens to be. Your motor is a low-compression type and 89 Octane is more than sufficient. Were it to be Turbo or Supercharged, you might consider higher Octane rated fuel. Otherwise, unnecessary.
7.Will using 94 octane gasoline stress out the Briggs Stratton engine? Make it run too hot?
-Only if you added alcohol to the mix.
8.Is it worth the effort to buy gasoline with ZERO ethanol in it? My closest place is ten miles away so I would have to buy a few gallons to make it worthwhile....and add stabilizer or not?
-Ethanol is alcohol and causes problems with small engines as well as their fuel lines. Non-ethanol fuel is preferable.
9.-
-See #5 above.
10.What is a good additive for the 10% ethanol gasoline that we find everywhere. Additive For small engine use with this 10% ethanol gasoline
-No need. Keep your fuel clean and check your hoses often.
11.
-Please, how can you ask that???
12.How much hotter do small air cooled lawnmower engines get compared to water cooled automobile engines
-Air cooling is far more efficient with small engines as well as more cost effective. If you are just cutting the grass, air cooled is simplest and best. If you plan on putting the engine into a scooter, consider water cooling.
13.Is there a superior gasoline filter I should buy and install on the Briggs and Stratton
-”Superior” is subjective. You can purchase $100 filters, but they will need replacing as often as a $5 filter.
I have a tb230:
87 octane gas with ethanol is fine
Pennzoil sae 30.
Sharpen and balance the blade every 4 uses.
Runs like a top.
I use 93 octane premium gasoline and 10W-30 semi-synthetic lube oil from Schaeffer of St. Louis. Schaeffer is a compounder, bringing several advantages into their products.
I dump the oil as soon as it turns dark.
Use only regular unleaded ethanol-free.
I use multi-weight synthetics in my small engines. 10W-30. The “Tech” brand from Walmart.
Use it in my cars too. Significantly less than the name brands and every bit the same. These oils are refined and packed in the same facilities. Just change the labe on the container.
Use regular gas treated with Ethanol Shield.
I have stored fuel in my generator for over 4 years with gas treated with ES with no issues. IMO the best fuel stabilizer on the market bar none.
Available at Home Defect.
Geezus just fire it up and cut the grass already. :-)
I know you just bought a new mower, but others might want to consider avoiding all the gasoline/ethanol/oil/carburetor issues and buying a corded electric mower like the Ryobi they sell at Home Depot.
