Mowing Throttle speed while mowing?

[Frank03]

I know they say to mow with the throttle wide open but with the price of fuel could you run maybe --say 3/4 throttle and still be able to keep the engine cool while saving a little on fuel? I mow a steady one hour on fairly level (some grade) lawn.

Thanks

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> I know they say to mow with the throttle wide open but with the price of fuel could you run maybe --say 3/4 throttle and still be able to keep the engine cool while saving a little on fuel? </font>

How good do you want your lawn to look? Cutting back on the throttle will slower the blade speed, which will lower the quality of your cut.

Exactly how much fuel do you think you would save a year? I can't imagine it would be that much.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

In addition to what Gatorboy said, consider the potential to damage your engine. If you run at lower than recommended speeds you also will run a serious risk of bogging down the engine. And bogging down the engine will cause more damage to an engine than most anything else I can think of. Last time I checked, the price of dropping a new engine in a lawn tractor was far more expensive that the cost of running the engine at optimum speed with premium grade fuel.

 

[MBDiagMan]

If you lower the throttle setting, you will also lower the ground speed, thus taking LONGER to complete the job. Thus it might even take MORE fuel to get the job done.

Even if there were a savings, say 25%(which is probably impossible) it would only save you about twenty five cents per mowing.

The best way to economize is to see that everything is properly lubricated, blades are sharp and "let her rip." The nice by product of this approach is that your lawn will look better and your machine will last longer.

Good luck,
Doc