Not all gas is created equally. When it comes to your power equipment you have heard Bill’s Outdoor Power Equipment stress that non-ethanol fuel is the best for your equipment (if you need to know where to find it click this link) but did you know that there are also different blends of gas? You probably did since you do drive an automobile and that is important since you are using that same gas in your power equipment. So what is the difference between the blends and how can it affect your equipment?
RVP! RVP!
Here in Central Pennsylvania we have two different types of gas, a summer blend and a winter blend. It kind of goes along with the two seasons that we have here with winter and road work season, though road work season lasts longer. The blends of gas are different, which is why there is a noticeable price fluctuation at times during the year. You probably know that, or have at least heard it mentioned.
It all comes down to the RVP, or the Reid Vapor Pressure. The summer blend has a different blend than the winter blend and is determined by the different ingredients that go into the fuel. Summer blend fuels are mixed to have a lower RVP so it burns cleaner and has a little bit of extra power. That is why your gas mileage is a little bit better during the summer months in your vehicle. During the winter the RVP is raised so that the gas does not freeze during the cold months.
Use The Appropriate Gas For Your Season
There is a reason that gas blends are changed during the year and it is not just so that oil companies can charge you more for their product. When it comes to your vehicle you will probably burn through any winter blend gas quickly during the warmer months and vice versa during the colder months so it’s not really a problem. That might not be as true for the gas that you store for your lawnmower or small engines. Summer blend gas is typically available in May or June and winter blend fuels switch back in September. What is in your jerrycan?
It may take an entire summer to run through a can of gas, it may take longer. If this is you, when the switchover occurs with the blends of gas, you may just want to empty what is left into your vehicle (if it is regular gas) and have your cans refilled. Your snow blower will run best during the cold winter months with winter-blend gas and your lawn mower will run best on a hot July day with summer-blend gas and just by doing this you can go a long way towards keeping your equipment in good running order.
What Can Happen?
With your lawn mower on a hot July day summer-blend gas can help to prevent issues in your engine that are caused by excessive heat. You will get more out of your gas as well as more energy is added to the blend but when it gets cold if this fuel is in your tank you will have a harder time starting your equipment which could lead to engine damage. When it comes to the summer time, the winter blend of gas is not as good for the environment as it burns dirtier which can lead to other engine issues but winter-blend gas is also crafted to better withstand extreme cold temperatures. York County may not be Alaska but it gets cold here in the winter.
The last thing that you want to have happen when there is a foot of snow on the ground is for your snow blower not to start. At the same time you want your lawn mower to run smoothly when you get out to cut the grass.
While your equipment will not break down as spring transitions into summer or fall transitions into winter this is something to keep in mind. The fuel that you put into your equipment matters. Make sure that you use the right fuel for the right season. If your equipment is not running correctly this is one of the first things to consider and it is one of the first things that we at Bill’s Outdoor Power Equipment will recommend when you bring any piece of equipment in for service.