Let’s not bury the lead here; it is possible to use too much fuel stabilizer. But when that happens, it’s somewhat similar to when a human takes too much of a vitamin. It will pass back out of the mower, and the most dramatic thing that’s going to happen is you end up wasting the fuel stabilizer. It won’t ruin your rig and won’t be detrimental to your lawn.
Of course, not being a cardinal sin of lawn care doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take care to use the proper amount of fuel stabilizer when you tend to your mower. Using the correct amount can drastically extend the storage life of most fuels, and more does not mean better.
Any fuel has a long shelf life, but once it’s been opened, the chemicals that comprise it will begin to break down and go bad. A fuel stabilizer can lengthen the amount of time before this happens and make it so that you can keep your supply on the shelf longer if you need to do so. Given we live in times where the price of fuel is notoriously high, it’s generally a good idea not to waste it if you can avoid doing so.
If you don’t use a fuel stabilizer, it is possible for the chemical reactions that are breaking down your fuel to cause it to clump up. These clumps actually can cause damage to your mower as they are known to get caught in the pipes and cause a build-up.
Fuel stabilizer not only slows the speed at which these chemical reactions happen but also drastically reduces the odds of a clump getting caught in the tubing of your mower.
What Can Happen if You Use Too Much?
Most of the time, it will just be once, and you will just have ended up wasting fuel stabilizer. However, if you make a habit of using too much fuel stabilizer you are running the risk of corrosion of the carburetor.
That said, this is in very extreme cases. What you’re more likely to get is carburetor blockage. It’s best to avoid this problem by not using too much fuel stabilizer. Read the instructions and find out how much is appropriate for the amount and type of fuel you use in your mower and go with that.
If you’ve already used too much, that’s okay, don’t panic! The big problems only happen when it’s been a prolonged problem, so it’s probably not too late for you to change it.
Final Thoughts
While it is possible to use too much fuel stabilizer, it isn’t likely to be a dramatic problem unless this is something you’ve made a habit of over the long term. Even if you have, and you’re dealing with the worst-case scenario, it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. As far as mistakes go, this one isn’t a cardinal sin of lawn care, and you should be back on track in no time. You may also be interested in finding out how much gas a push mower holds.