Regular Or Premium Gas for Lawn Mower | Which is Better?
Premium gas has a higher octane rating, indicating less “filler” in the gas, making it considerably purer. Lawn mowers can usually run on lower-grade fuel; thus, premium gasoline isn’t always required. Furthermore, higher-grade gasoline has fewer additives, resulting in less build-up in your lawn mower’s engines.
Like any other item, your lawn mower may be valuable to your toolkit. In addition to cleaning and undercarriage maintenance, your lawn mower may require frequent oil changes and gas refills. All of this, on the other hand, is rather ordinary.
Is my lawn mower compatible with Premium gas? It’s a good question to consider. There are opposing viewpoints on the premium gas utility in mowers on both sides of the aisle. We will look at the difference between regular or premium gas for lawn mower in this post.
Regular Or Premium Gas for Lawn Mower?
Many lawn mower manufacturers recommend using regular gas with an octane rating of 87 or higher. Premium gas has a higher octane rating, but premium gas is not necessary for a lawn mower engine, it can result in unnecessary expenses. Using a regular gas with the suitable octane rating is sufficient and recommended for longetivity and optimal performance of the lawn mower engine.
What Kind of Gas Does a Lawn Mower take?
Most four-stroke engines require new unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. You can use gas with ethanol, but more than 10% ethanol is generally not recommended. Two-stroke lawn mowers use the same gas but with the addition of high-quality two-stroke engine oil.
The ratio varies by brand, but in Briggs & Stratton, two-stroke lawnmowers, for example, are 50 parts gasoline and 1 part oil. Another important thing to remember is that if you plan to store your lawn mower gas for longer than 30 days it can damage your mower then you have to drain the gas from a lawn mower, instead add a fuel stabilizer to a full gas tank. A fuel stabilizer will prevent the lawn mower gas from breaking down and damaging the lawn mower’s engine and carburetor.
Difference between Regular and Premium Gas in a Lawn Mower
The primary difference between regular and premium gas is that normal gas is less expensive and has a lower octane rating. Regular gasoline has an octane rating of 87 in most states, whereas premium gasoline has a rating of 90 to 95. The following table shows the main difference between Regular gas and Premium Gas.
Regular Gas | Premium Gas |
Regular gas is less expensive than premium gas, but it takes fewer refills. | Premium gasoline is more expensive than regular gasoline and requires more frequent refueling. |
Regular gas is efficient and suitable for most midsize cars, but newer vehicles often require high octane fuel for their engines. | It is much more efficient than conventional gas. Increased burning value and durability. |
Range from 85 to 87 | Range from 90 to 95 |
Sedans and midsize cars | Luxury and premium vehicles |
Fewer detergent molecules. | There are many detergent molecules for good cleaning of engine walls. |
Regular or Premium Gas for Lawn Mower which is better?
To get the best performance out of your lawn mower engine, you must use fresh, clean fuel that contains a gas stabilizer. Remember that most fuels made from ethanol will degrade over time and can cause a lawnmower engine to start and operate poorly. So which gas is best for lawn mowers, regular or premium?
Regular unleaded gas with a minimum octane rating of 87 and less than 10% ethanol is used in lawn mowers with both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Lawn mowers with 4 stroke engines used sae30 and 10w30 gas and it is recommended by manufacturers too. It’s also possible to utilize premium gas with a higher octane rating, such as 91 or 93.
Regular or premium gas coupled with appropriate two-cycle engine oil can be used in two-cycle mowers. Ethanol concentration is also important. Ethanol can absorb moisture, which can cause problems with your carburetor then you have to locate the carburetor of a mower and fix it.
Your fuel mixture is recommended to contain no more than 10% ethanol. Otherwise, you may have problems while trying to start your lawnmower. In general, ethanol can be dangerous but is not a concern if you use the fuel frequently and do not use it for a long time. I like this non-ethanol fuel for four-stroke engines. It is pre-mixed and can be used in outdoor electrical equipment.
Recommendations for Lawn Mower Gas

While there are many different types of gasoline for lawn mowers and other small engines used for yard maintenance, you should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the best results. But that’s not enough; when choosing the correct sort of gasoline for your lawnmower, there are a few additional things to consider.
Here are some key suggestions and things to think about.
1. Avoid mixing gas with engine oil
Combine gasoline and oil only if the manufacturer recommends it. Also, don’t try to convert 4-stroke tiny engines to run on alternate fuels because this can harm your lawn mower’s fuel combustion system. Manufacturers do not cover such damage as part of their warranties. Check the label or the manufacturer’s manual to see if it has a 2-cycle or 4-cycle gasoline engine to be sure about the type of fuel your lawn mower uses.
2. Use of Additives to Decrease Fuel Degradation
Since the gasoline at the pump contains ethanol, you want to prevent it from breaking down over time and damaging your lawn mower’s engine components. Use an official fuel additive recommended by your lawn mower manufacturer to prevent moisture corrosion in ethanol-blended fuel.
3. Adjusting to High Altitude
A minimum of 85 octane gas is recommended for emissions compliance at high elevations above 5,000 feet. If you live in a high-altitude location or place, you may need to alter your lawnmower’s engine for high altitude to keep it working at its optimum on the recommended gas. If you don’t make this change, your lawn mower’s performance, emissions, and fuel consumption may suffer. If you live in a colder region, you should think about using saved gasoline throughout that season to keep your engine running smoothly.
4. Use 10% Ethanol & 87 Octane Rating Gas
A minimum of 87-octane gasoline with up to 10% ethanol is required for lawn mowers. As these fuels deteriorate fast, make sure the gas is fresh and clean. Using leftover gasoline from the previous season before winter may not be a wise decision. Be aware that gas stations offer gasoline with 15% to even 85% ethanol. These are not permitted in lawn mowers, edgers, weed eaters, or other small engines. Always double-check before pumping.
Type of gas to avoid for your lawnmower
While standard gasoline is available at your local gas station for use in your gas push lawn mower, only fuel with no more than 10% ethanol is suggested. Most gas stations sell gasoline containing up to 85% ethanol, which is bad for small engines like gas lawn mowers and lawn edgers.
Ethanol % in Gas | Recommended |
E -10% gas | Yes |
E – 15% gas | No |
E – 35% gas | No |
E – 85% gas | No |
Conclusion
When choosing which gasoline to use in your lawnmower, you have a few alternatives. Whatever option you select, the gas should be fresh and clean. You should add a stabilizer to protect the gasoline from deteriorating, which can cause problems starting the mower and poor performance.
The core message is that there is no profit if the octane is greater than what the engine requires. Regular gasoline will be enough for your mower. It will not run any better on premium fuel, so don’t spend your money. In general, I’d suggest using the lowest octane fuel available.