Fuel Safety
•
Fuel is extremely flammable and highly explosive.
A fire or explosion from fuel can burn you and
others and can damage property.
– To prevent a static charge from igniting the fuel,
place the container and/or machine directly on
the ground before filling, not in a vehicle or on
an object.
– Fill the fuel tank outdoors on level ground, in
an open area, and when the engine is cold.
Wipe up any fuel that spills.
– Do not handle fuel when smoking or around an
open flame or sparks.
– Do not remove the fuel cap or add fuel to the
tank while the engine is running or hot.
– If you spill fuel, do not attempt to start the
engine. Avoid creating a source of ignition until
the fuel vapors have dissipated.
– Store fuel in an approved container and keep
it out of the reach of children.
•
Fuel is harmful or fatal if swallowed. Long-term
exposure to vapors can cause serious injury and
illness.
– Avoid prolonged breathing of vapors.
– Keep your hands and face away from the
nozzle and the fuel-tank opening.
– Keep fuel away from your eyes and skin.
•
Do not store the machine or fuel container where
there is an open flame, spark, or pilot light, such
as on a water heater or on other appliances.
•
Do not fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck
or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on the ground and away from your
vehicle before filling.
•
Remove the equipment from the truck or trailer
and refuel it while it is on the ground. If this is not
possible, then refuel from a portable container
rather than from a fuel-dispenser nozzle.
•
Do not operate the machine without the entire
exhaust system in place and in proper working
condition.
•
Keep the fuel-dispenser nozzle in contact with
the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a
nozzle lock-open device.
•
If you spill fuel on your clothing, change your
clothing immediately.
•
Do not overfill the fuel tank. Replace the fuel cap
and tighten it securely.
•
Clean grass and debris from the cutting unit,
muffler, drives, grass catcher, and engine
compartment to help prevent fires. Clean up oil or
fuel spills.
Adding Fuel
Recommended Fuel
Type
Minimum octane rating
Ethanol
Methanol
MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl
ether)
Oil
Use only clean, fresh (no more than 30 days old), fuel
from a reputable source.
Using Stabilizer/Conditioner
Use fuel stabilizer/conditioner in the machine to keep
the fuel fresh longer when used as directed by the
fuel-stabilizer manufacturer.
Important:
Do not use fuel additives containing
methanol or ethanol.
Add the amount of fuel stabilizer/conditioner to fresh
fuel as directed by the fuel-stabilizer manufacturer.
Filling the Fuel Tank
1.
Park the machine on a level surface.
2.
Move the motion-control levers outward to the
P
position.
ARK
3.
Shut off the engine and remove the key.
4.
Clean around the fuel-tank cap.
5.
Fill the fuel tank to the bottom of the filler neck
(Figure
8).
Note:
Do not fill the fuel tank completely full.
The empty space in the tank allows the fuel to
expand.
12
Unleaded gasoline
87 (US) or 91 (research
octane; outside the US)
No more than 10% by volume
None
Less than 15% by volume
Do not add to the fuel