(NAPSA)—What improves air quality, extends thelife of your lawnmowerandtakes just 30 minutes? It’s an annual mower tuneup. In fact, research conducted by Briggs & Stratton shows that a well-tuned mower enhances equip- 30 minutes. For the do-it-yourselfer, Briggs & Stratton offers an easy-to-use maintenance kit, com- plete with the following: e Air Filter. Changing the air filter prevents clogging. A clogged air filter reduces the air/fuel ratio, ment performance and protects the environment by reducing moweremissions up to 50 percent. To help consumers realize these benefits, Briggs & Stratton, in cooperation with the National Wildlife Federation, is launching National Mower Tune-Up Month in March. By performing a tune-up, homeowners can use energy more efficiently and cut down on emissions, according to the National Wildlife Federation. This helps stretch limited resources, reduce air pollution, slow global warming and protect wildlife habitat. Surprisingly, of 66 million mower-owning households in the United States, 40 million (approximately 60 percent) don’t perform any maintenance. Given the fact that the average person mowshis or her lawn 30 times per season, that’s an estimated 1.2 billion acts of mowing that occur without a properly tuned-up mower. Increasing the number of people who annually tune-up their mowers would be a positive step towards protecting the environment. In addition to lowering emissions, here are a few more benefits of a regular tune-up: Conserves natural resources. A tune-up reduces fuel consumption up to 30 percent by maintaining the appropriate air/fuel mixture in the engine. A spring tune-up is a quick way to reduce emissions and ensure that mowers run at maxi- mum performance throughout the season. Extends mower life and saves consumers money. Regular tune-ups keep equipment runningin tip-top shape, extending thelife of the engine and the mower. This reduces repair costs and minimizes the likelihood of prematurely replacing individual parts or the entire engine. It is also a great way for consumersto protect their warranty coverage, and ultimately their entire investment. * Restores horsepower up to 7.5 percent. A well-tuned engine runsat full strength to get the job done quickly and easily. It is ideal to perform a tune-up early in the season to makecertain mowers start easily and reliably, and to ensure maximum performance throughout the season. Mowers can be tuned up at a service dealer or at home in about resulting in higher fuel consumption. The lower air/fuel ratio also leads to excess or unburned gasoline, resulting in the release of extra hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons form ground level ozone, a major componentof smog. Oil. Changing the oil keeps the engine properly lubricated and ensures clean oil is continuously distributed to critical engine components, reducing friction. Less friction results in less wear and tear on engine components. In addition, replacing broken-down oil helps maintain properoil vis- cosity, improving the oil’s performance characteristics and extending enginelife. Spark Plug. An eroded or fouled spark plug produces an inconsistent spark. Regularly replacing the spark plug ensures a consistent spark, makes starting more reliable and improves fuel economy. Fuel Stabilizer. Fuel stabilizer improves starting by preventing stored gasoline from degrading to the point whereit is no longer combustible. For more information on National Mower Tune-Up Month, visit www.tuneupmonth.com. The site provides helpful tips on selecting the right maintenance kit, locating retailers and dealers that sell kits, and offers simple instructions for performing a tune-up.
