Any time is the perfect time to have Gano's professional service staff service your equipment so it is ready to go when you want it to.  Give us a call at (860) 537-3431 or  us  your request to us and we will pick up and service your machine.

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Gasoline Guidelines for Outdoor Power Equipment brought to you by Stihl Not all gasoline is the same. Knowing a few facts about your fuel can keep the engines in your equipment running strong.   What you need to know about Ethanol: Much of the gasoline sold throughout the United States contains ethanol. The maximum ethanol content allowed by law for use in outdoor power equipment is limited to 10% (E10). Make sure the gasoline you purchase for your outdoor power equipment contains no more than 10% ethanol. If the filling station pump is not labeled with the ethanol content, ask the station attendant what percentage of ethanol is in the gasoline. Ethanol can dissolve varnish and gum deposits that have previously formed inside fuel storage cans or the equipment's engine. When these deposits become dislodged, they can mix with the fuel and plug small openings and filters within the fuel system. Ethanol attracts and mixes with moisture in the air, causing corrosion to metal components in the fuel system. If enough water is absorbed, the ethanol and water will settle out of the gasoline blend and settle to the bottom of the equipment's tank. The layer of gasoline left floating on top has a lower octane level than the original ethanol gasoline blend, which can result in unstable engine operation, power loss and major engine failures. Since the fuel is often drawn from the bottom of the fuel tank, the engine is drawing in a mixture of ethanol and water with no gasoline and no lubricating oil. This ethanol/water mix is thicker than gasoline and cannot easily pass through the fuel system. This can result in hard starting, unsafe high idle speeds, stalling, and can ultimately lead to engine damage or fuel system failure. Guidelines for using E10 gasoline in power equipment: If the proper precautions are taken, gasoline containing a 10% quantity of ethanol can safely be used in your products. Use a minimum of 89 octane gasoline and always use fresh fuel. Only buy enough gasoline that you can easily use up within a two-month period or use a specially formulated fuel like VP 2 and 4 cycle small engine fuel, or Stihl MotoMix® premixed fuel. Stihl MotoMix® is a high-grade, high-octane, ethanol-free premixed fuel containing Stihl HP Ultra synthetic oil. It is a pure and stable fuel mixture that can be stored for up to two years in the original container and is ideal for machines that are used infrequently. For air-cooled, two-cycle engines, use a quality mix oil that meets the engine manufacturer's recommendations. All Stihl oils are designed to readily mix with gasoline containing 10% ethanol. Properly store your equipment. If your equipment is not going to be used for a couple of months, the remaining gasoline in the machine should be drained from the tank and disposed of properly. To ensure that any remaining ethanol is removed from your equipment, it is recommended adding a small amount of Stihl MotoMix® Premixed Fuel or VP Small Engine Fuel to the tank and running the engine for a few minutes to circulate the fuel through the carburetor. Equipment should be serviced regularly by your dealer. Items such as fuel filters, fuel lines, carburetor diaphragms and spark plugs should be checked and replaced if necessary as part of a normal engine tune-up. Stihl has a brochure called gasoline guidelines, CLICK HERE to view or print it out.

Water and ethanol (bottom layer) separated from gasoline (top layer)    Corrosion from water inside carburetor.  Stihl MotoMix® premixed fuel.  VP  2 and 4 cycle small engine fuel

1. Storage fuel:  This is Gano's preferred way of proper storage.  There are several types of storage fuels on the market today (we offer Stihl Motomix, and VP Fuel).  Storage fuel is a gasoline of 92 to 95 octane with no ethanol in it.  To use this fuel, you should completely run the piece of equipment out of the regular gas that is in it.  Put in some of the storage fuel, start the machine and let run for ten minutes to make sure the storage fuel is in the carburetor.  Leave this fuel in the machine and store for the entire off season.  (Use in lawnmowers, riders, generators, string trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, snow throwers, any equipment)

2. Stabilize the fuel:  This method is what most engine manufacturers are suggesting.   Start off with a good quality gasoline.  Make sure it is 89 octane or better.  Mix the proper ratio of fuel stabilizer (such as Ethanol Shield or Startron) to the gas and pour into the tank.  Run the machine for at least ten minutes to make sure the stabilizer gets into the carburetor.  When using a fuel stabilizer make sure it is for ethanol based fuels, old school stabilizers are not for ethanol fuels, and won't do any good.  Doing nothing and leaving untreated gas in an engine is a guarantee have problems later on.

3. Drain the system:  This method is good if the equipment is going to be stored in a regulated environment, such as a heated or attached garage.  The idea here is to get all of the fuel and fuel vapors out of the machine so there are no remnants to turn stale and varnish the inside of the carburetor.  This does, however, create the possibility of other problems.  The fuel system is now exposed to the atmosphere of the storage facility.  If  it becomes humid or a place of rapid and frequent temperature changes, water vapors can get inside the fuel system and cause more problems.  A metal tank might start to rust which will get into the fuel and carburetor, causing the motor not to run.  Water vapor might get into the carburetor and cause the internal parts to seize.  Severe dryness might cause the rubber seals and diaphragms to crack and rot.  In a heated garage, this method should work fine.  The best way to make sure all of the gas gets out of the system is to empty the fuel tank by draining or running dry.  Once there is no gas in the tank, turn the choke on and try to start the machine.  It might pop over but won’t stay running.  Do this until there are no more signs of starting.  Many carburetor's have drain screws on the bottom, also make sure to drain any remaining fuel to be sure no fuel is being left behind. This way, you can be sure there is no gas left in the carb.

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Productivity Chart
Ever try to figure out how many acres you can mow a day?

Riding mowers based on 6mph average cutting speed.
Walk-Behinds based on 4mph average cutting speed.

The dictionary defines "productivity" as " producing abundantly " and " yielding favorable or useful results ". We see it like you do; it's all about doing more in less time. In short, increasing your bottom line and strengthening your business. We build productivity 
into every mower that leaves our factory. For example: the Velocity Plus cutter deck that allows you to mow taller grass faster, 
with a beautiful finished cut. The special baffling, airflow and ultra-high blade tip speeds get the grass cut and discharged out of the deck in a big hurry. Engines with high horsepower and torque ratings keep everything up to speed, even in heavy conditions. High output hydraulic systems enable our mowers to cover a lot of ground quickly, getting the job done faster. Comfort items such as high back adjustable seats, large foot plates, steering control dampers, and EZ-Grip hand controls keep fatigue to a minimum, ensuring that the operator is able to perform safely and at their best, all day long.  Let's not forget about reliability and dependability. These are two very important elements in the productivity formula. If your mower goes down, your productivity goes down! Using 
anything other than the best quality parts and manufacturing procedures can increase the likelihood of downtime. That's why 
we use nothing but the best when creating a Scag mower. Anything less would be unproductive.