Pros and Cons of Commercial Mower Fuel Choices

Running a professional landscaping business offers plenty of obstacles to overcome, from the right equipment to the right fuel. When the bottom line is at stake, every piece of information about efficiency of operation can make the difference between continued operations and an unsustainable business model. Just like with equipment, fuel choices can impact productivity, harmful emissions, and even noise pollution. At Scott’s Power Equipment, we know professional landscapers need to keep up to date on the best practices when it comes to creating better efficiency in their business operations. In that spirit, we’ve put together this short guide with some information about different types of fuel for commercial mowers. Read on for more about fuel and mowers, or head into one of our location in Missouri and Illinois. We serve Bridgeton, Arnold, and Wentzville, Missouri, as well as the entire Metro East area of Illinois.

Gasoline

The standard among commercial and personal mowers, gasoline is ever-present and easily acquired from local gas stations. Its convenient availability might be its best attribute, however. Gasoline engines are considered the low maintenance option when it comes to fuel, but this just isn’t true. The benefit here is mostly that gasoline engines are so common that most small engine repair shops only work on gasoline engines.

Gasoline-powered commercial mowers tend to have the lowest upfront cost, and because they’re so popular, there’s always some new technology that’s increasing their efficiency or reducing service intervals. If simplicity and convenience are your primary requirements for fuel, then gasoline is a great choice.

Diesel

Diesel fuel offers a few benefits for commercial mowers. Diesel engines are more efficient than their gasoline counterparts. This means your overall running cost for a mower will be lower. Service intervals are longer as well, which means less time between tuneups. This goes for engine components as well, including less oil and filter replacement, as well as a reduction in the overall wear the engine experiences. That means diesel mowers can last significantly longer than gasoline mowers.

These benefits come with a price: diesel mowers cost more! Their engines are just more expensive to make, and diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline or else more difficult to acquire without consideration. However, if you’re running a business and use your commercial mower every day, the longer life and more efficient running cost will give you a better deal in the long run.

Propane

Propane mowers become more popular as gas prices increase. Their biggest benefit is in the clean-burning fuel that has little environmental impact — a growing concern among landscapers. Propane engines don’t experience the same carbon build-up as in gasoline engines, making them last significantly longer (though not as long as a well maintained diesel engine). Many municipalities, government agencies, colleges, and homeowners associations require contractors to use propane-burning lawn mowers as part of sustainability efforts, so using a propane mower could turn out to be a competitive advantage for acquiring new clients!

Refueling propane mowers is a quick and easy process, usually as simple as disconnecting one tank and slipping another one in. That means more uptime for your mower and little worry of spillage. While propane isn’t as ubiquitous as gasoline, most gas stations have propane available, so it’s easy to stock up at the beginning or end of the day. However, this isn’t always the case, and some propane mowers only accept tanks designed specifically for the mower, making it much more difficult to keep a working supply of fuel on hand.

Each type of commercial mower fuel type has its advantages and drawbacks, but as long as you consider the needs of your operation, you’ll be able to find what’s right for you. For more fuel tips, or a look at a great stock of new and used commercial mowers, head into Scott’s Power Equipment. We have locations across Missouri and Illinois where we proudly serve Bridgeton, Arnold, and Wentzville, Missouri, as well as all of Metro East, Illinois. Stop by today and let our team of mower experts answer all your questions and help you find what you’re looking for.