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

[ForumJunkie]

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?

 

[MossRoad]

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?

Or, like I've done since 1985, put it in the garage, pull it out in April, check the oil, tap out the air cleaner, pull the cord slowly 4-5 times, push the primer a dozen times, pull the cord, it starts first pull and off you go. 5 months is nothing.

 

[ForumJunkie]

I Read that modern ethanol gas goes bad in a month or two.

 

[MossRoad]

I Read that modern ethanol gas goes bad in a month or two.

Nope. Been using it since the 80's. Never had a fuel problem in anything.

In all seriousness, read your owner's manual about specific machine requirements for long term storage. It cannot hurt to drain the fuel tank then start it up and let it run until it stops.

Or you can mix up some stabil in a small can of gas, then pour that into the tank and run it for a couple minutes then shut it off. But don't add stabil directly to the tank on a mower. It's too hard to guesstimate the amount VS a controlled measurement.

I've just never had the need to do it. I ran a push mower for about 29 years that I never drained or changed the spark plug. Started 1st pull every year. Finally the deck cracked, but I still have the engine.

Generator. 2nd push mower. Log splitter. Power washer. Weed eaters. Tiller. Chain saws. I never drain any of them. Some sit for a year or longer.

People will tell you E10 causes problems over and over again. If you follow your manufacturer's recommendations, it won't cause any problems.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Peter 315]

I put stabil in the gas cans when I fill them so its always in the small engine gas tanks and never had any trouble....

 

[rangerfredbob]

The octane of modern gas starts going down fairly quick, but a normal lawn mower doesn't have enough compression ratio to care... I haven't used stabil but ripping apart a carburetor here and there doesn't scare me... Stabil and a full tank of fuel wouldn't hurt, things go south when moisture builds up which is harder to happen when the tank is full, and if you can store it at least covered that helps a lot...

 

[MossRoad]

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.

 

[hube2]

What I have been doing for as long as I can remember with my gas equipment is to put Stabil in the tank, fill it, run it long enough to be sure the treated gas is in the carb, then turn it off, park it in the shed and ignore it till I need to use it again. I've never had an issue and mowers, tillers, etc generally start right up when I need them.

 

[buck12]

I store my mower in an unseated shed with no issues for years. I do run ethanol free gas in all small engines. I also never run chainsaws and string trimmers dry as others do and have not had any issues.

 

[texas42]

I put stabil in the gas cans when I fill them so its always in the small engine gas tanks and never had any trouble....

Same here. Every can of gas I get I put Stabil in it - year round.
Then just shut them off at end of season.
I also use 2 cycle oil with stabilizer and do the same with my two-strokes.

 

[mcfarmall]

i run rec gas (ethanol free) in all my outdoor power equipment and have no issues starting up in the springtime.

 

[oosik]

Since I moved out here in '82. Stabil in my gas for the riding mower - year round. I use gas with ethanol. Then do my last mow job - usually about an hour. Hook up a smart trickle charger and leave it on the battery for 24 hours. Do the trickle charger routine every two months. Store the mower in an open carport stall. The mower has always started right up in the spring. That's 38+ years of doing it this way.

 

[John Skull]

Remove gas station gas. Refill with engineered fuel such as TruFuel (Lowe's). Run 5 minutes. Next spring start 'er up on the first pull.

 

[DJ54]

I've been using the Stabil 360 for 3 years. Like others, I add it to every 5 gallon containers when I fill it year round. I get it in quarts with the measuring tube on the bottle. 1 oz. treats 5 gallons/160 gallons in all. It stabilizes, and cleans, eliminating having to add Seafoam at the same time, with regular Stabil. I use it in anything from my 50's era vintage garden tractors, to up to my 65 hp farm tractors, and everything in between, except my newer Stihl saws, which I use Marine (no ethanol) gas in.

I also use battery maintainers w/desulfater on several pieces, from my backhoe, Dodge Cummins Dually I pull the horse trailers with, to my Super C Farmall which I leave on the manure spreader most of the year, and 4-wheeler that don't get used as often. Two of those are 6V/12V so as to use on my older tractors, so they are always ready to go when needed, especially through the winter. These range from the $40 Harbor Freight model, to a couple more expensive brands. The HF one is on it's 3rd year, hooked up all the time to my Super C, so I can check it twice daily while doing chores, and still works fine.

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

Since ethanol came into use in Massachusetts, I have had problems with it in small engines. In my 4 cycle, ( lawn tractor, wood splitter, Dr brush mower, Dr power wagon, and a 36 year old Troy built rototiller)I use stabil, and premium gas at the recommendation of my mechanic.

That did not help my 2 cycle. After replacing carburetors in 3 chain saws and 2 Brush cutters, I switched to the premix available on the shelf. My mechanic recommended using that ethanol free premix when I store the machines, but , I use it exclusively. While expensive, at least I’m not replacing carburetors.

 

[big bubba]

ethanol free fuel w/stabil run all yr around, i am not a fan of running dry.
given the horror stories of ehanol fuel in small engines, don't understand why some don't get that message.

 

[oosik]

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

 

[Thomas]

I run engine dry of gas in all 2 strokes and mowers fill gas tank add stabilizer remove battery inside yet to have problem spring start up.

 

[Bocephous]

I use non-ethanol in all my small engines to include my side by side. I store my mower by filling each tank, change the oil, attach battery tender and that's it. Interesting video here on various gas treatments and ethanol. Does Fuel Stabilizer Prevent Ethanol Damage? Let's find out! - YouTube

 

[dodge man]

It only been a couple of years since I have been able to get premium ethanol free nearby. With the ethanol fuel I only had problems when the fuel was old, more than 6 months or left the fuel tank below half full.

If I am going to store something an unknown length of time, say more than a few months I run it empty or shut off the fuel and run it dry. My other stuff I almost always use stabil and just let it sit until the next time I use it.