Question? Winterizing Small Engines

Spring Creek

With such a wide experience base to draw from on GunBroker, I thought where else to get an answer.
Winter is right around the corner and it's time to put away the summer type tools for the year.
Question is: how best to winterize small engines?
I get a different response when I ask the dealers where I get the machines.
Types include: Stihl (chainsaw and string trimmers), Honda (mowers and generators), Briggs and Stratton (mowers) and Tecumseh (mowers and tiller).
I have used both methods: #1. running engine till gas tank is empty and #2.treating gasoline with Sta-Bil gas additive and then running 5 minutes to circulate treated fuel through system.
Which is best????????

Knifecollector

I always make sure no gas is present in the tank and carb when winterizing. I would also recommend to remove the spark plug and add a spoon full of motor oil, turn the engine a couple times and replace spark plug.This keeps the piston rings from sticking and keeps the cylinder walls good and clean. Then you should be in good shape.

Nighthawk

I dont trust the fuel additive,so I drain all the fuel out of our lawn tractor and the push mower.


Best!!!

Rugster


Toujours Pret

redcedars

I have had good luck with Sta-Bil; haven't used other similar products. I completely fill the tank with stabilized gas after runing the engine long enough to make sure it has stabilized fuel throughout the system (to prevent condensation in the tank, and thereby contaminated fuel and rust). I also pull the spark plug, give her a squirt of motor oil, and turn the engine over, slowly and WITH THE PLUG OUT! Slowly to keep from spraying out oil, and with the plug out to prevent hydraulic lock of the cylinder. I only use a squirt of oil; if I used more, I would probably take care that I didn't have any significant oil in the cylinder before I tried starting it again.

I also do an end of season oil change on the four-strokes.

The theory is that gaskets, seals etc. in the fuel system last longer if they are not permitted to dry out completely, and even if you run the engine dry, there are nooks and crannies in the fuel system where fuel remains to dry out and leave deposits.

I know folks who use both methods successfully. Shoot, I know a lot of folks who don"t do anything, and most of their mowers start up too! (Although they often don't start so easily.)

I also stabilize remaining lawn mower gas and have used it without problem next spring.

redcedars

alledan

Keeping a little stabilized gas in the tank will prevent the diaphragm in the carburetor from drying out and cracking. It also cuts down on the harmful deposits [mostly gum] from building up on the inside of the fuel system.

Fogging the cylinder with oil is recommended but not too much or next season you could end up with a fouled plug or a good case of flooding.
If it's a mower have that blade replaced or sharpened for next year. and check that spark plug!

I have little experience with a chainsaw and really can't tell you what to do with them.

Generally most good manufacturers will have a downloadable maintenace/parts manual online that you could use for these questions.

PATIENCE IS : THE ABILITY TO IDLE YOUR MOTOR WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE STRIPPING YOUR GEARS..

fergusonmorse392

STA-BIL!! USED FOR YEARS, MOST ITEMS START ON THE FRIST TRY..

offeror

I never had much problem and never did anything special. In fact, I had a snow blade for my lawn tractor so I used it year round. Other devices which didn't see winter use were kept in the (unheated) garage so they did not suffer the full effects of the heavy weather, but with a bit of priming in the spring my leaf blower, etc., started right up. It is possible that as items get older the value of winterizing would have become more apparent to me, but I didn't have any trouble. Dad on the other hand seemed to have constant problems with his little snow blower wearing out, and I know roto tillers are notorious for being finicky too.

- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

n/a

No gas.. remove spark plug.. add a bit of oil, turn it over a couple of times, replace plug.. works great for canadian winters.. never had a problem with my lawn mower.. as for the powers saw.. they were used all year round... I did the same for the snowblower in the summer.. never had a prob with it..


Lil' Stinker's Opinion