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

[Avenger]

Wow.... according to this forum, I am all sorts of wrong!

I simply go to the gas station, fill my cans with unleaded regular with ethanol, dont use Stabil, and simply park my mower for the winter. Nothing more.

I even store, "long term" (no more than a year, see my previous post), ethanol untreated gas. Been doing this for years, with no ill effect. I think there is more hype than science with this. But that seems to be a fact in our society now more than ever these days. :confused2:

 

[shooterdon]

My buddy does nothing. He has no problems.

I use Stabil or Seafoam. I have no problems.

One stuff with a fuel shut off, I run dry. I have no problems.

I think my buddy is the smart one...LOL

 

[Bearsixty7]

Wow.... according to this forum, I am all sorts of wrong!

I simply go to the gas station, fill my cans with unleaded regular with ethanol, dont use Stabil, and simply park my mower for the winter. Nothing more.

I even store, "long term" (no more than a year, see my previous post), ethanol untreated gas. Been doing this for years, with no ill effect. I think there is more hype than science with this. But that seems to be a fact in our society now more than ever these days. :confused2:

Good, reputable fuel treatments like Amsoil, Stabil, etc, are a lot like insurance. You may never need it, but when you find out you do, you're sure glad you had it.

I've read enough articles that say running systems dry is worse than doing nothing, gaskets, seals and even fuel lines can dry out and deteriorate in a short amount of time and then they leak or plug passages. Plus in 2 stokes now there is no lube at all until the fuel/oil mixture starts flowing.

 

[gstrom99]

Mice seem to be my biggest issue. Bad gas is a pretty easy fix. Mouse nests inside the air box and blower box, and them chewing EVERY frigging wire and/or hose, has been a real problem.

 

[hube2]

Wow.... according to this forum, I am all sorts of wrong!

I simply go to the gas station, fill my cans with unleaded regular with ethanol, dont use Stabil, and simply park my mower for the winter. Nothing more.

I even store, "long term" (no more than a year, see my previous post), ethanol untreated gas. Been doing this for years, with no ill effect. I think there is more hype than science with this. But that seems to be a fact in our society now more than ever these days. :confused2:

I use Stabil in gas now because of a bad experience. Had a tiller that needed a carb rebuilt due to water and gunk.

Good, reputable fuel treatments like Amsoil, Stabil, etc, are a lot like insurance. You may never need it, but when you find out you do, you're sure glad you had it.

I've read enough articles that say running systems dry is worse than doing nothing, gaskets, seals and even fuel lines can dry out and deteriorate in a short amount of time and then they leak or plug passages. Plus in 2 stokes now there is no lube at all until the fuel/oil mixture starts flowing.

Exactly, not always needed but it's a little insurance just in case. Definitely costs less than equipment failure.

And I agree with not emptying it out because I used to do this as well until the guy that fixed my tiller told me I should stop doing it. I used to need to replace cracked/dried out lines and o-rings. Have not done this in years since I started leaving the gas in them.

 

[Cougsfan]

The surest way to do it is to sell all of your equipment each fall and buy new stuff each spring.

 

[sld]

Another fan of Stabil in every can I fill for outdoor equipment. They only sit for about 4 months over the winter so no big deal. Could probably do without but got hooked on it when I fill my boat every time and now use it on everything. Pretty cheap insurance.

 

[dodge man]

Two cases where I had problems. A pressure washer, maybe a 1/4 tank of fuel, sat an unknown amount of time but probably 6 to 12 months. The gas went bad, probably ethanol gas. Had to take carb apart and clean it.

A cheap push mower. Sat for probably 12 months, I filled with a gas can that had been sitting the same amount of time. The mower ran but actually pre ignition knock. I ran it about 20 minutes and got fresh fuel. Didn’t drain it or anything and it runs fine now.

In both cases the gas smelled bad. If you have ever smelled it you know it.

 

[MossRoad]

Went out to my log splitter today, dragged it up to the house, aired up the tires, checked the oil, turned on the fuel, the choke, the throttle and the kill switch. Pulled the cord and it started first pull.

The last time I recall running it was 96 degree day in summer of 2019. It had half a tank of E10 87 octane. No fuel treatment.

It's a 212cc $99 Predator engine from 2017 or 18 as I recall.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Your tongue to left leg angle when you last touched it were aligned perfectly!

I think most people stress about it too much, I leave things where they are when I'm done, if they don't work when I get back to them I fix what's wrong... every preventable snake oil is just a gamble, some just have better odds...