When winter comes to an end, there are many things that you have to do in order to be ready for spring. Things like spring cleaning, prepping your lawn mower, and snow blower storage. Please note that simply pouring fuel stabilizer into your machine is not always enough to insure proper storage and isn’t a guarantee that your snow blower will start next winter. Continue reading to learn how to properly prep and store your machine, and the benefits of doing so.
Fuel stabilizers are great for proper snow blower storage but they do have their draw backs. We want to emphasize, just because you add a stabilizer to your fuel does not guarantee that it will keep the gas fresh for the entire off season. In fact, a large percentage of customers that come into our stores frustrated with their snow blowers have bad fuel in their tanks, and most claim they have used a product like Sta-bil or another glycol based stabilizer.
Because the glycol separates itself from the fuel, it doesn’t offer the greatest protection for your fuel. It’s usually an easy fix – all we have to usually do is flush the fuel system and change the spark plug and they’ll start up without any problems. When choosing a stabilizer try to look for something that is petroleum based so it can mix with the fuel.
When it comes to proper snow blower storage, we are frequently asked whether it’s better to store snow blowers with fuel in them or to store them dry. We always suggest running the machine dry; this avoids problems related to the expiration of your fuel such as varnish build-up in the carburetor, deterioration of you seals and fuel lines, and drawing moisture into the fuel system of your machine.
The best way to drain your snow blower is to either run it until it runs out of fuel or tip it over and pour it into a proper container so you can take it to a recycling center where the fuel can be disposed of properly. After your snow blower has been drained or tipped over, start your machine again. It will only run for a few seconds but this will clean fuel out of the carburetor bowl.
Proper snow blower storage can make a huge difference in the way your machine starts and runs over its lifetime. If you drain the fuel and you don’t put too much faith in an additive that claims to keep your fuel fresh, your chances of having a machine that doesn’t give you a headache every time you go to use it is reduced. So being stuck in the snow next season by taking time at the end of this season to make sure that your snow blower is properly prepped for storage.
You May Also Enjoy These Articles:
Fuel Stabilizers: Sta-bil or Sea Foam
How to Store Small Engine Equipment
6 Snow Blower Maintenance Tips
How to Replace the Auger Belt on a Snow Blower
Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
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Thanks for the tips on snowblower storage. I always was up in the air on the subject of draining or not draining the gas. I usually just shut off the gas and run the carb dry but I will also try and get the gas out of the tank. The way the filler neck is shaped makes it pretty tough to get all the gas out though. I will stabil the gas before trying to get it out, that way what little is left in the tank has stabil in it. (I use Star Tron not Stabil)
Thanks again
I agree that draining the fuel and running til dry is the way to go. Adding stabilizer is a plus to protect the system before running it dry. I’ve done this with two cycle engines that were stored for years and always started with ease and ran fine. Also , snowblowers usually set idle for much longer periods than lawnmowers and are exposed to summers heat and sun which adds to deterioration of the fuel. Good advice!
Invest in a small siphon pump to drain the tank right back into your fuel container so you can use it for other equipment. Just use caution if it is a fuel oil mix. It has to match the engine that you put it in. See my other post!
My storage procedure: Run the machine to warm it up. Close the fuel valve, pull the fuel line at the valve on the carb side, plug in a piece of hose on the valve and drain the tank into a fuel jug. Reconnect the fuel line and run the engine until it stalls. Then I remove the plug and shoot a few cc’s of clean oil into the cylinder and slowly rotate the engine with the pull start. Install a new plug , change the oil, clean, and lube the machine before storage.
Got 17 years with out ever touching the carb before I traded in the old machine using this procedure.