Prevent Spills When Putting Gas In Your Lawn Mower With One Simple Trick

No matter how much you mow your lawn, it can often feel like you'll never get the knack for filling your gas tank. The nozzle is awkward to angle in, the release is hard to press down, and all too often, you end up spilling gas over the mower. The problem is so common, in fact, that the EPA estimates over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year when people refill their lawn care equipment (via the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services). If only more people knew about the one simple trick that can stop unwanted spills from ever happening again! It's really nothing special; just swap out the spout for an easier time when you need to change the gas in your lawn mower.

TikTok handyman @jmg8tor lays out a couple of alternatives to the traditional gas can nozzle, each adding some convenience to the filling process. The most basic is the standard plastic spout, like this universal set from ZORYILUO. Aside from having the anti-overflow feature, the unit is free of a safety trigger, thereby removing some of the aggravation and spill-over potential that comes with the typical gas can nozzle. 

The TikToker's top recommendation, though, is a racing fuel can, like this VP Racing model. Again, these cans lack the annoying safety trigger but have a vent at the top to regulate the gas flow. Simply release the valve, tip the can, and start pouring. The gasket on the caps reduces the chances of spills from the cap, though you have to be careful about fuel leaking from the vent.

From the first lawn mower fuel change of the season to the last, you'll make life easier by swapping the nozzle from the factory-provided safety piece. You can also pair your new nozzle with a funnel for added insurance against spillovers. Although they might force you to fill a little slower, these come in handy for catching those final drips that come out when you're removing the nozzle from the tank. Gas tank funnels also come with useful features, such as spill-preventing splash guards. Some products, like this funnel from FloTool, even have built-in floats that rise when the mower fills, ensuring you never overflow the tank.

The one frustration that funnels and these alternative nozzles don't address is leaking from the cap. In many cases when we tip our cans to gas up our lawn mowers, even if we're careful about pouring, fuel always seems to escape from the hole in the tank. If this is your most common issue, you may want to consider a pump. Attach a unit like the Deway Automatic Fuel Transfer Pump to your can. With this, you can keep the can on the ground and comfortably control the flow into the mower.

Gas spills may be only a minor headache, but with one simple tweak, you can skip the messy irritation of wasted fuel and take one more step toward an efficient lawn-mowing routine.