If your lawn mower is sputtering as if your engine is running out of gas even though there is plenty of gas in the fuel tank, then the issue could be as simple as a clogged fuel line. The fuel lines transport gasoline from the fuel tank through the fuel system and into the carburetor. It doesn’t take much to block a fuel line and prevent this process from happening. So if you’re having difficulty with fuel delivery to your lawn mowers engine, then cleaning your fuel line might be the solution you need.
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How to Clean a Clogged Lawn Mower Fuel Line
To clean the fuel line on your lawn mower, you first need to remove the gas from the fuel tank and then remove the fuel lines. Now, you can clear any blockage in the fuel line and reinstall the fuel line onto your lawn mower. The cleaned fuel line should now easily transport fuel into your mower’s engine.
Symptoms of a Clogged Fuel Line
The first thing you will notice if you have a clogged fuel line on your lawn mower is that the engine will struggle. Here are four common symptoms you might encounter if you have a clogged fuel line on your lawn mower:
- Problem starting your lawn mower’s engine
- Lawnmower Starts then Dies
- Unable to increase engine RMPs
- The engine sputters during operation
- Your lawn mower engine will stall
Do Fuel Lines Need to be Cleaned?
Cleaning the fuel line does not need to be part of your mower’s routine maintenance. If your lawn mower receives good, clean fuel and no debris gets into your fuel tank, then there should be no need to clean your fuel lines. Fuel lines only usually need to be cleaned when debris, such as grass clippings, works its way into the fuel tank and the fuel lines. Nine times out of ten, the clog is caused by debris getting into the tank and blocking the fuel line. However, if you leave unprotected fuel in your lawn mower for more than 30 days, then a fuel gum can form, potentially restricting fuel flow through the lines. If you’re worried about bad gas in your engine, check out my article on how to test for bad gasoline.
How Do I Know if My Fuel Line is Clogged? (6 Steps)
If you suspect your fuel line is clogged, you’ll need to do a visual inspection. My preferred method is to remove the line completely and check for blockages visually.
Here are the 6 steps to inspect a fuel line for blockages:
- Turn off the fuel cut-off valve on the bottom of your lawn mower’s fuel tank. If you do not have a fuel cut-off valve, you will need to remove the fuel from the tank first.
- Using a pair of pliers, compress the spring clips located at each end of the fuel line and move the spring clip 1-2 inches down the pipe.
- Twist and pull the fuel line off of the fuel tank.
- Twist and pull the other end of the fuel line to remove it from your lawn mower.
- With the fuel line removed from the lawn mower, hold the pipe straight and up to the light. If the fuel line is clear, you should be able to see straight through. If there is only partial or no light, the fuel line is clogged.
- Repeat the process for all the fuel lines on your lawn mower.
How to Clean a Clogged Fuel Line (The Method I Use)
To clean the blockage out of your clogged fuel line, you either need to blow or push the blockage clear. One of the easiest methods is to use a thin straw cleaner that is small enough to fit inside the fuel line. Then, simply insert the straw clearer into the fuel line and push the blockage free. Once you remove the blockage, you can use the straw cleaner to clean out any small particles that could work their way to the carburetor.
Alternatively, you can use an air compressor with an air gun attachment to blow the blockage free. While this method works to clear the blockage, it won’t clean the inside of the fuel line. But it will blast out any small particles. In an ideal world, you would use both methods.
Once you have cleaned the blockage, you can reinstall the fuel line back onto your lawn mower, reposition the spring clips, refill the fuel tank, or open the fuel cut-off valve.
What You’ll Need to Inspect & Clean a Clogged Fuel Line
Before You Install the Fuel Line (An Extra Step)
Before reinstalling the fuel line, you will want to inspect for cracks or splits. Fuel lines tend to break down over time and become brittle, resulting in small cracks that eventually turn into a split fuel line.
So, if you notice anything unusual, I suggest you replace the fuel lines on your lawn mower and avoid any unwanted fuel leaks. Here’s my guide on how to replace a lawn mower fuel line.
