The number one public enemy of the two-cycle engine is ethanol. So naturally, a recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve E-15 fuel, with 15% ethanol, serves as a well-justified source of concern for any golf course superintendent and their staff who frequently uses outdoor power equipment like weed whackers and leaf blowers.
While the increased use of ethanol in gasoline may be beneficial for the environment, ethanol is extremely detrimental to two-cycle engine equipment. Currently, most gasoline available at the pump is E-10, which contains 10% ethanol. According to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), more than 200 million pieces of outdoor power equipment have significant risk of operational failure or performance issues if owners fuel their equipment with E-15. So what can a grounds manager at a golf course do? First, it’s important to understand how ethanol affects engines.
Ethanol and Water: An Instant Attraction
The affects of ethanol gas begin to occur when the gas is stored in power equipment for an extended period of time. The ethanol in gasoline attracts water from the atmosphere and the two bond together. This ethanol/water mixture separates from the gasoline in a process called "phase separation." When starting a 2-cycle engine, the machine uses the ethanol/water that has separated from the gasoline and does not receive the lubrication that it needs. This can cause hard starting, erratic performance and immediate engine failure.
Ethanol is also a powerful solvent and when separation occurs, it often degrades rubber fuel lines and plastic components causing unnecessary maintenance problems, thus reducing the lifespan of equipment.
More Ethanol, More Problems
With increased ethanol levels available soon at the gas pump, likewise the risk to damage power equipment increases exponentially. In recent years, power equipment dealers have reported that ethanol is one of the top culprits for power equipment failure. Golf course managers may find themselves having to repair and replace their two-cycle engine equipment more frequently, a process that can be very expensive.
About the Author:
Mike Moorhead is President of TruSouth Oil, an innovative product development company that manufactures and packages high quality lubricants, solvents and insight driven finished goods like TRUFUEL. Founded in 2006, TruSouth recently completed construction of its state-of-the-art blending and packaging facility in Shreveport, LA. The management team at TruSouth Oil has long-standing experience in the product development, blending and packaging industry. For more information, visit TRUFUEL50.com.