Although corded electric and battery-powered lawn mowers are flooding the market, the gas-powered lawn mower remains the gold standard for power and performance. A gas mower cuts easily through wet grass and tough strains like St. Augustine and Bermuda. Plus, it comes with features that make mowing easier and more efficient.
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There’s a problem, though: Gas-powered lawn mowers may go off the market in the near future.
California has already announced it will ban the sale of gas-powered mowers in , and Honda, a major producer, stopped manufacturing them in October . According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mowers consume 1.2 billion gallons of fuel annually. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates every gallon burned by a gas mower adds 20 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Throw in the engine noise that disturbs neighbors and disrupts wildlife, and it’s easy to envision the extinction of the gas-powered lawn mower.
For homeowners seeking the power and performance of the best gas lawn mowers, there’s no time like the present to start shopping. Even if your municipality ultimately bans gas mowers, it will probably involve new sales only, so you should be able to keep your mower for its expected life span. Here are some things to look for as you shop.
If you have a larger-than-average lawn, consider a riding mower — a major expenditure that’s much more costly than a walk-behind mower. Among the advantages: Faster cutting, a larger fuel capacity, and the convenience of sitting while you mow.
Walk-behind mowers, however, are easier to operate and store. If your lawn is less than an acre, they’re a more economical choice.
Wash-out fittings let to attach a hose and clean the underside of the mower deck. Do this after every use and you’ll largely eliminate the grass buildup that eventually requires chipping away with a putty knife or screwdriver.
This cleanout makes the mower perform better and gives you a better-looking lawn. You can buy and install retrofit fittings yourself, but getting them pre-installed makes things that much easier.
Engine size for walk-behind mowers ranges from 125 to 190 cubic centimeters (cc). For riding mowers, it’s measured in horsepower (hp), with the typical range from 10 to 22.
A larger engine develops more torque. It usually has a large deck with a wide-cutting swath, letting you complete tough jobs faster. But larger engines also use more gas and are harder to handle.
Speaking of walk-behind mowers, you may find you have a choice between a two-stroke engine, which isn’t common anymore, and a four-stroke engine.
Two-stroke engines are lubricated by oil mixed in with the gas (you have to remember to premix it), and they’re less powerful, noisier and produce more emissions than four-stroke engines. They also use more gas. You’re better off with a four-stroke engine.
Pull cords aren’t that difficult if the lawn mower engine is in good condition and turns over immediately. But if the spark plugs are old or the carburetor needs cleaning, repeated pulling can be frustrating. Avoid an unwanted workout by purchasing a mower with an electric start feature.
Electric start does require a battery, but most recharge while the engine runs. Some manufacturers provide batteries similar to those for power tools that can be removed and charged remotely.
The operator usually supplies the force that drives a classic walk-behind gas mower. It can get tiring, especially on sloped or uneven ground. Enter the self-driving mower, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels via belts to drive it forward.
You can select front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is most popular because it keeps the mower moving forward when climbing a hill and pushing through heavy grass. If you choose a variable-speed drive, you can set it to one comfortable for you.
The blade brake clutch (BBC) is a handy feature if you frequently stop to pick up debris. When you engage it, it uncouples the blade from the motor. It avoids the need to stop and restart the engine repeatedly, which is hard on the engine and generally a hassle.
Some gas mowers spit grass clippings out from the side of the mower deck. Some come with an attachable bag that lets you collect the clippings, and some return the clippings back to the grass as mulch. Some do all three! Find out why you need a lawn mower mulcher.
If you choose a model with a bag, make sure it’s easy to remove and you can mow without it in case you’ve navigating tall, overgrown grass.
The standard wheel diameter is eight inches, but some non-propelled walk-behind mowers offer nine- to 12-inch rear wheels. These make the mower easier to push over rough terrain and up a slope. Larger wheels also keep the carriage higher off the ground and prevent scalping the grass.
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You can find a basic push mower in the $160 range, or spend $1,300 for a premium model with an extra-large deck and all the bells and whistles. Models costing between $400 and $600 likely have all the features you need for comfortable, efficient mowing.
Have you ever wondered, “Does premium gas have ethanol?” Do you think about what grade of gas is the best choice for small engines? Do you occasionally treat your car to an occasional tank of it because you think it cleans fuel injectors better and provides more power? Do you wonder if your older cars can handle new, unleaded gas?
If you’ve ever been confused by which gas to use and why, we’ve got answers for you. We consulted gasoline expert Fred Walas of Marathon Petroleum Company, and he gave us the lowdown on regular vs. premium fuels, answering all of our burning questions about gasoline. You’ll be well-equipped to choose the best gas for your vehicle after this, and you may even be able to answer your friend’s queries about gasoline! So read on and then fuel up with confidence, you’ll understand the logic behind using different types of gas.
1 / 10Premium gas does have the same amount of ethanol as other grades, but it doesn’t provide any more power or contain better additives than regular gas, and it contains . It just resists detonation (knock) better than lower-octane gas—nothing more, nothing less.
Some brands place slightly more detergent additive in their premium than in their other grades, but all grades meet the minimum required by the EPA. Bottom line? The carmaker knows best, so use the octane-rated fuel that’s called for in your owner’s manual. If your engine requires or ‘recommends’ 89- or 93-octane fuel, that’s what you should use to get peak performance and fuel efficiency. But there is an exception to the rule.
If you have an older car that’s designed for 87-octane gas and it knocks when you punch the pedal, try filling it with 89-octane fuel to see if the knock goes away. If so, keep using 89-octane to regain some power and save your engine.
2 / 10If you store gas for your small engines in a tightly sealed container (allow some room for expansion at the top of the can), it’ll last for a season. However, if your gas container doesn’t seal tightly or you leave the spout off, airborne moisture and condensation can cause ethanol separation, oxidation and gum formation. Ethanol corrodes the carburetor and damages fuel line components, and gum, well, just gums up the works.
Adding fuel stabilizer to fresh gas reduces the risk of separation, oxidation and gum formation, but it can’t compensate for sloppy handling. Investing in a better-sealing gas container costs a lot less than a carburetor rebuild.
3 / 10No ‘magic’ or ‘revolutionary’ additives will increase your fuel efficiency. However, some owners like to add fuel-system cleaning additives periodically. Many companies make the type you add to your tank. The most effective ones have polyisobutylamine (PIBA) and polyetheramine (PEA), so look for one of those ingredients on the label. Follow the product’s directions for treat rates. Avoid all other gas additives!
4 / 10Twenty years ago, there was a difference between gas from the major brands and ‘cheap’ gas from no-name stations. Today, the biggest difference between gasoline brands is the type of fuel-system cleaning additives used. However, the EPA mandates a minimum level of fuel-system cleaning additives, and all gasoline sold in the United States must meet those levels. There are other, minor, differences. Gasoline is a blend of more than 150 components, and every brand uses its own formula. So you may find that one brand performs better than a different brand in your car or provides a slight mileage advantage. However, that same brand and grade may not perform as well in a different engine. So it’s impossible to make broad claims that one particular brand is best for all vehicles.
5 / 10You can add up to 1 gallon of old gas to your vehicle’s tank, but it should be nearly full of fuel to dilute the old gas. However, you should take old premixed (oil and gas) fuel for two-cycle engines to a nearby hazardous waste recycling center. Don’t add it to your car or truck.
6 / 10Most gasoline- premium gas and other grades alike- does have ethanol because refiners add it to increase the fuel’s oxygen content and to comply with federal law. As a side benefit, ethanol is one of a few gasoline components with a high octane rating. Nonoxygenated gas doesn’t contain ethanol, so it eliminates corrosion problems when left in the fuel system for long periods. That makes it a great choice for engines that are stored in the off-season. Plus, it’s the fuel to use if you own an older boat that wasn’t designed for ethanol fuels.
But non-oxygenated gas isn’t entirely trouble-free. It still oxidizes and forms gum over time, so you should observe the same fuel storage precautions and treat it with fuel stabilizer when you buy it. To find a station that sells ‘nonoxy’ gas, go to pure-gas.org.
7 / 10Gasoline burns only when it’s a vapor. Unfortunately, carburetors and fuel injectors don’t vaporize gas; they just atomize it (make liquid droplets). Atomized gas converts to vapor easily in summer heat but needs help when it’s cold. So, refiners change to a winter blend with more butane and other lighter hydrocarbons when cold weather arrives. When summer comes, they cut back on those components and return to normal summer blends. This is another reason to use gas for only one season—you’ll always have the proper formulation for the weather.
8 / 10A flex-fuel vehicle can run on both regular E-10 (10 percent ethanol) and E-85 (85 percent ethanol) gasoline. E-85, or more correctly, flex fuel, can have a wide range of ethanol content—anywhere from 51 to 85 percent, depending on the season and the relative price of the ethanol and hydrocarbon.
However, because a gallon of ‘typical’ E-85 provides 27 percent less energy than a gallon of E-10 gasoline, you’ll get approximately 27 percent fewer miles per gallon. When E-10 gas prices are high, E-85 may provide some cost advantages. However, since market prices for ethanol vary quite a bit, you’ll have to factor in the reduced mpg to decide whether E-85 is the best choice for your flex-fuel vehicle. Your wallet may be able to tell the difference with the fuel choice, but your car won’t care.
9 / 10Some people fill their small engines with premium gas based on the mistaken notion that all premium gas is ethanol free or that it’ll help the engine run better. In fact, 95 percent of all gas sold in the United States (regular, mid-grade and premium) contains ethanol.
Since most small engines don’t have engine management computers to compensate for different fuels, you should always use the fuel recommended by the engine manufacturer. Believe it or not, small engines generally start and run best with regular fuel.
10 / 10Tetraethyl lead did double duty by increasing octane and reducing valve seat wear on older vehicles (mostly pre-). Later-model vehicles usually have much harder valve seats, so unleaded gas isn’t a problem.
However, if you own an older vehicle, you have three options: Buy a bottle of lead substitute at any auto parts store and add it to each tank (adds about 3? per gallon), have the cylinder heads rebuilt with harder valve seats, or just fill with unleaded gas and rebuild the cylinder heads when they fail.
Fred Walas is a gasoline expert with Marathon Petroleum Company, the fourth-largest refining company in the United States.
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