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• PRO

  Adam Pilgrim July 2, 2015 at 7:02pm

  Too many variables here really. Long grass takes more cutting that short grass - hence the engine runs 'on the governor' more and pushes more fuel in.

  Depends on the 'state of tune' of the engine - for example all our machines have been 'tweaked' for more power and forward speed.

  All I can say with certainty is that Honda engines use less petrol than Briggs and Stratton engines!

  Fuel use in machinery IS a relevant business cost but the van/truck will likely use more fuel getting to the job than the machinery use doing the job.
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  Paul McNulty July 2, 2015 at 7:51pm

  Very true about the Honda engines over the Briggs!

  As a one-man maintenance set-up I run Honda-engined mowers and all the Stihl stuff. I guess roughly 10 litres a week would be a guide to the fuel used over all of them. That's a busy week: lower in quieter times of course.

  That'd be about £12 per week, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if you worked twice as hard as me, or half the hours!

  For me the costs run, most expensive first:

  Vehicle purchase/depreciation

  Fuel, insurance, taxing and servicing the van

  Waste disposal

  Equipment purchase/depreciation/servicing

  Consumables: gloves, boots, wire and string, pesticides, fuel and oils for machines, spares etc.

  Accountant

  Telephone and post, and other office costs like computer, printer etc.

  Public liability

  Bank charges

  By far the largest cost is the van. I estimate well over 50% of my costs are for that over a year, but it's good value for money. Waste is high as well, but is passed on directly on larger jobs. The time factor with waste disposal is just as important as the tipping fee: I take nearly two hours to do the round trip and empty the van and trailer.
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  Andrew lloyd July 2, 2015 at 8:52pm

  Thanks for the Info guys

  so say your doing 40hrs a week that £12 = £0.30p and hour give or take.

  And thanks the  Briggs and Stratton info, was looking at those but now verde way away like oil to water!

  cheers guys
  • PRO

    Seth Burgess > Andrew lloyd July 2, 2015 at 9:31pm

    Well don't avoid them just because of bad fuel consumption. A honda or kawa engine will be a better choice but there's nothing inherently wrong with a briggs engine.
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      James Brett > Seth Burgess July 2, 2015 at 9:35pm

      I have a toro turf master with kawa engine. 3.8L tank cuts for 6-8 hours depending on conditions!!
    • PRO

      Gary RK > Seth Burgess July 2, 2015 at 10:54pm

      Not starting when hot especially slighlty older models....

      A few years ago to try and improve image/sales they looked at options. It's not often an engine maker releases an engine range named GTS, which stood for "Guaranteed To Start", which was then renamed "ReadyStart" ;)

      http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/05/mower-starting-guar...

      There is also a noticablle 'noise' difference between Jap engines & US engines
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  James Brett July 2, 2015 at 9:31pm

  I have a Briggs engine mower and I cut about 3 hours to a tank of fuel.
  
  I maybe spend £8 a week on fuel for machines give or take on average. But when we are flat out I can spend double that!
  
  By far the biggest cost for me is a £400 monthly fuel bill. Some months I can do £600 on fuel!!
  
  Waste is maybe £20 a month but the time is always a factor. Normally an hour to load/unload and tip!!
• PRO

  Russ Francis July 3, 2015 at 9:03am

  Perhaps more useful to combine fuel usage with capital cost of the equipment and it's lifespan and service costs ?  Purely fuel for kit I get through about 15 litres a month, but I do other stuff as well, hoes, forks and spades don't use any fuel !

  If you're going to macro level, my Stihl FS70 will go for about an hour on a tank (0.34L). An all day heavy strimming session will get through the fuel and batter the kit more so I'll price this in a little extra.

  Good luck with the plans, I moved from IT to this a couple of years ago.  It's a completely different way of life.  It's hard work but very satisfying.
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd July 3, 2015 at 7:43pm

  We are getting through about 40L of unleaded a week across our fleet of mowers, hand tools etc....

  I have started to do a cost analysis of battery operated tools (like Pellenc) but initial thoughts are that the unleaded will still win, both in terms of cheaper initial outlay for kit and flexibility (there are petrol stations everywhere in our part of the world).

  I would also suggest the small Honda engines are more fuel efficient than B&S engines.
• PRO

  Harry@VWGS July 3, 2015 at 9:02pm

  A B&S engine is extremely fuel efficient if you go for the newer Eco pro models and you leave it at factory setting revs, the only time fuel efficiency goes out the window is when you increase the revs of the engine, my 2014 Hayter 48 pro uses less fuel than my Honda equivalent 19" roller mower...;-)
  
  Nick I have just come back from a trip to mid Wales and must admit I have taken for granted just how many fuel stations we have within 2 miles of my door step, my folks closest fuel station now is 15 miles away...