look before you pump
Teske 

 

When you pull up to a gasoline filling station, you may start to see some changes. The gas you put in your car may no longer be safe for small engines, UTVs and outdoor power equipment.

 

The equipment affected include: mowers, garden tractors, chain saws, boats, snow throwers, trimmers, UTVs, power washers, blowers, chippers, grinders, generators, jaws of life, concrete saws and other compact construction equipment, as well as small engine applications such as water pumps and irrigation systems, and other additional small engines.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced a national ethanol education and consumer protection campaign, called "Look Before You Pump."

The "Look Before You Pump" education campaign cautions consumers that it is harmful and illegal to use higher than 10% ethanol gas in any outdoor power equipment, such as mowers, chain saws, snow throwers, UTVs, generators and other small engine products.

The urgency of the industry’s campaign comes from research that shows high-ethanol blends of gasoline can damage or destroy small engines not designed to handle it. A recent OPEI/Harris Interactive study shows the vast majority of Americans (71%) are “not at all sure” if it is illegal or legal to put high level ethanol gas (i.e., anything higher than 10% ethanol) into engines such as those in boats, mowers, chain saws, snow mobiles, generators and other engine products.

The "Look Before You Pump" campaign will reach consumers through radio and video public service announcements, fact sheets, in-store displays, labeling and product hang-tags. A prominent, red warning hand indicating "OK" for 10% ethanol and "No" for mid-level ethanol blends (such as E15, E30, E85) is the campaign’s main graphic.

For more information, visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com and search for #LookB4UPump on Twitter and Facebook.

“Although there is continued uncertainty in the renewable fuels market, one thing for certain is that the way consumers select and use fuel will be changing in the coming years,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI.

“It is critical that we educate all users of outdoor power equipment about the dangers misfueling can cause to their equipment," adds Todd Teske, chairman, president and CEO or Briggs & Stratton. "Our No. 1 goal is to protect our customers.”

From Landscape Insider