38 March 2015 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com
Fueling Your Fleet
Ethanol Education
Today, higher-ethanol-blended fuels are be-
coming more readily available in the market-
place. This fuels paradigm shift can be con-
fusing to consumers. With the introduction
of ethanol blends greater than 10 percent,
such as E15, E30 and E85, consumers may
inadvertently misfuel their outdoor power
equipment, utility vehicles (UTV) and ma-
rine equipment.
Consumers may not realize that the fuel
they put in their cars, especially those de-
signed for higher ethanol blends, may not
be safe for their outdoor power equipment,
small engines and boats.
Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of Ameri-
cans say they assume that any gas sold at the
gas station is safe for all of their cars, as well
as boats, mowers, chain saws, snowmobiles,
generators and other small-engine products,
according to a survey by Harris Interactive
with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
(OPEI) in 2013.
The "Look Before You Pump" campaign
was created by OPEI, an international trade as-
sociation representing 100 small-engine, UTV
and outdoor power equipment manufacturers
and suppliers, to educate the public.
Known by its emblematic prominent,
red warning hand symbol indicating "OK"
for 10-percent ethanol and "No" for mid-
level ethanol blends (such as E15, E30, E85),
the "Look Before You Pump" campaign is
spreading nationwide as ethanol-blended
fuels containing more than 10-percent etha-
nol are made available in the marketplace
for "flex-fuel" automobiles.
And others are supporting the campaign.
The National Marine Manufacturers Associa-
tion (NMMA) recently signed an agreement
with OPEI to distribute "Look Before You
Pump" information to boat owners and the
audiences it serves.
"We want to ensure that our manufactur-
ers have the tools to inform their customers
"Look Before You Pump" campaign seeks to inform
public about properly fueling equipment
■ by Kris Kiser
All
photos
provided
by
the
outdoor
power
equipment
institute.
