Scotts S2546 Using Clean Fuels, Octane Rating, Fuel Blends, Oxygenated or Reformulated Fuels

SERVICE MISCELLANEOUS

Using Clean Fuels

Dirt in the fuel system is a major cause of performance problems. Be sure to clean any grass or trash from the top of the tank before removing lid. Use of a PLASTIC funnel with a plastic mesh strainer when filling the tank will prevent most foreign material from entering the tank.

Octane Rating

Regular grade 87 octane unleaded fuel is recommended for use in your tractor. Higher octane fuels will seldom make your tractor perform better. If your tractor develops a starting or performance problem immediately after use of new fuel, change supplier or fuel brand. If the problem still exists after switching fuel, see your John Deere dealer for service.

Fuel Blends

Fuels are blended to give peak performance during cold weather and warm weather. For cold weather, gasoline is specially blended to provide better starting capabilities. However, avoid prolonged storage of cold-weather blended fuel because it will evaporate more quickly. You may experience longer cranking times in cold weather with “old” fuel. Buy smaller amounts of cold-weather blended fuel in winter.

Fuels used during the summer are not required to provide improved starting properties so they are blended differently. As a result, you may experience hard starting or other performance problems during cold weather if you use fuel remaining from summer uses.

Oxygenated or Reformulated Fuels

Many areas are now required to add “oxygenates” (either alcohol or ether) which blend oxygen into the fuel to help reduce exhaust emissions. If you use oxygenated fuel be sure it is unleaded and meets the minimum octane rating requirement. DO NOT use fuel that contains methanol to avoid producing excess emissions.

Although fuels blended with alcohol or ether allow your engine to run cleaner, they may contribute to fuel system damage and performance problems by causing gum and

varnish deposits, especially if fuel is stored for several weeks or more.

Using clean, fresh fuel will help to prevent damage to the fuel system and will help maintain peak engine performance. If engine performance problems occur, use fuel from another supplier before suspecting machine problems. Suppliers blend fuels differently and changing suppliers will generally solve any performance problems.

Using Fresh Fuel and Stabilizers

The best thing you can do to ensure peak performance of your engine is to use “fresh” fuel. Your tractor’s engine will perform well with most good-quality fresh fuels regardless of additives. Any fuel will begin to deteriorate and evaporate over time and begin to form gum and varnish deposits in the fuel system. Help to avoid this by buying only enough fuel to last approximately 30 days or add fuel stabilizer immediately.

Adding a fuel stabilizer to the fuel system is recommended any time the tractor will not be operated for more than 60 days. Varnish deposits may build up in the carburetor in as little as a few weeks by using stale, oxygenated fuel.

No stabilizer will work with “stale” fuel, any fuel that is more than 30 days old. (See Preparing Your Engine For Storage in this section for information on adding stabilizer to the fuel.)

Filling Fuel Tank

IMPORTANT: Avoid machine damage. Dirt and water in fuel are major causes of engine performance problems. Prevent dirt and debris from entering the fuel tank when filling.

Fill the tank at the end of each day’s operation to help keep condensation out of the fuel tank.

Fuel tank capacity: 4.7 L (1.25 gal).

1.STOP engine. If engine is hot let it cool several minutes before you add fuel.

2.Lift hood.

3.Remove grass clippings and other trash from tank area.

Service Miscellaneous - Page 41