ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Equipment Engine & Training Council has joined forces with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in the “Look Before You Pump” campaign, an ethanol education and consumer protection program. The campaign reminds consumers to always use fuels containing no greater than 10 percent ethanol (E10) when powering their outdoor power equipment or other non-road product, such as boats, snowmobiles and motorcycles, not designed for higher ethanol fuel blends.
The EETC is a nonprofit association addressing the shortage of qualified technicians in the outdoor power equipment industry. Under the partnership with OPEI, EETC will distribute “Look Before You Pump” messaging and materials to its membership and other stakeholders.
Created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, “Look Before You Pump” is most known by its emblematic prominent, red warning hand symbol indicating “OK” for 10 percent ethanol and “No” for mid-level ethanol blends (such as E15, E30, E85). The campaign was launched in October 2013, in response to higher ethanol blended fuels being made available in the marketplace for “flex-fuel” automobiles, and to warn consumers not to inadvertently mis-fuel their small engine products not designed to handle these higher ethanol fuel blends.
Last year, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association also joined forces with OPEI in spreading the campaign messaging. In addition, major retail outlets including Lowe’s, Walmart and True Value, as well as independent dealers, began using the “Look Before You Pump” message in their stores and in customer circulars and catalogs.
OPEI, EETC, ISMA and NMMA urge consumers to read equipment operating manuals before fueling engines to ensure they use the right gasoline. For more information, visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com and search for #LookB4UPump on Twitter and Facebook.
