Winter Mower Storage. Drain the gas? Stabil? Start it once a month?

[MossRoad]

Just so you are all clear on this.... if your engine calls for 87 octane and you're running higher octane fuel, your engine is probably running hotter and creating less power VS the 87 octane.

Octane vs. Horsepower - Separating fact from myth in the debate over which fuel makes more power - NASA Speed News Magazine

 

[ForumJunkie]

Just don't cover it with plastic or anything waterproof. That tends to bring up condensation underneath the cover, and promotes moisture, rust, corrosion, etc... I keep most of my stuff in a shed with doors that close. It's drafty, but the rain and sun are kept off. The only thing that sits outside is the log splitter and that I keep a wooden big-wheel lawn cart tipped over on the engine and hydraulics to keep the rain and snow off.

Great tip. I learned that last year
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-winter-storage-old-barn-tarp.html?highlight=

 

[Industrial Toys]

I keep a lot of indoor stuff covered with old bed sheets. Looks like heck, and there is a fire risk I guess, but it works at keeping that horrible shop dust off stuff.

 

[Tractorable]

I use that engineered TruFuel in all my small 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines. In the fall I close the fuel petcock and run them dry.

I’ve had problems with the small EPA regulated 2 stroke weed eaters.

I don’t have problems with my lawn mowers, chainsaws, motorcycles, or tractors.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I only use ethanol free gas in my gasoline powered equipment. We are fortunate here to be able to get it most everywhere in standard octane rating. You do have to pay more for it, but it's worth it to me. End of each season, I run each piece of equipment until it sucks the tank dry, and sucks the carb dry. Then I put them away. Never had an issue this way. I stopped using ethanol laced fuel many years ago, after my expert small engine mechanic (had been doing it 30+ years at the time) told me to stop. Said that stuff was **** on small engine fuel systems, but it kept him and his family fed. Showed me some of the fuel systems he'd had apart, and the mess left behind.

Most of the time, at start of new season, my equipment starts on the first pull if it's got a priming bulb. On my riding mower, I only have to crank it over until the fuel pump fills the fuel bowl on the carb, and then it takes off running. My little cheap walk behind mower has no priming bulb, so I have to pull on that one until it "primes", but then it runs fine.

Works for me, so I keep doing it.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Just so you are all clear on this.... if your engine calls for 87 octane and you're running higher octane fuel, your engine is probably running hotter and creating less power VS the 87 octane.

Octane vs. Horsepower - Separating fact from myth in the debate over which fuel makes more power - NASA Speed News Magazine

Pretty sure you would have to be running 110 octane race gas (or so) to see any kind of change, especially with a 6:1 flat head lawnmower engine, if it's flammable it'll probably run... (gasoline wise, don't dig too deep into that statement). Plus you'll see more of a power change if the engine was designed for high octane running on lower octane than the other way around by a LARGE margin.

Pretty much to sum it up, either extreme works, either keep the fuel tank full or run it completely dry... The running dry can hurt you on 2 stroke stuff, fuel pump and regulator diaphragms in the carburetors have a way of drying up either way depending on their mood...

 

[Bearsixty7]

What's the best way to store from Dec to April, 5 months?
Drain the gas, run it dry so carb doesn't gum?
Or fill the tank, add Stabil, and start it once a month?

Best bet is fresh fuel in your fuel can/jug, Add Stabil, mix thoroughly, pour into fuel tank, run engine for 3-5 minutes to get through system, spray fogging oil into intake until it stops running. Ready until spring now.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I've often wondered. Are there different formulations for ethanol gas - by region. Why are some having so much trouble - others having very little.

Yes! Exactly why. Brands can vary a lot as well.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'm pretty sure it also has to do with the angle of the operators left leg compared to the angle of their tongue as they put it away for the winter... I've heard all sorts of theories over the years and honestly the safest I can think of is what you said, fresh fuel with stabil ran long enough to get into the carburetor fully and left with a full tank. If you want to get crazy with fogging spray it won't hurt (other than might foul a plug, but that's minor). The gamble is how little effort you can get away with , sometimes shortcuts work, sometimes they don't...

 

[hslogger]

With five saws, a blowpack, two trimmers, I fire em all up now and then. Happiness is a warm saw. I use non enthanol gas and proper mix.
With the generator and mowers, I fire em up now and then and keep them happy with Stabil mixed in the tanks. All these devices sit in a partially open shed. Western Oregon doesn't normally have big snows and long term freezes. You people in other coldass places, well by golly more power to ya. Might have to keep a campfire going to start stuff.