OT--Storing Snowblower for the Summer

[JerseyHarold]

I used my snowblower one time a few weeks ago and now I want to put it back into storage. There is some gas (not very much) left in the tank.

Should I pour a little Sta-Bil into the tank and run till dry, or just run it out of gas without adding stabilizer?

If I put it away as-is I think I'm asking for trouble.

[greg g]

I would drain the tank as best as possible, then run it dry. Pull the plug squirt in a bit of light oil, replace the plug, and put it away. If you want to you can cover the engine with a plastic bag, maybe put some decon mousepruff under the bag if it stored in a detached shed. If you want ( wouldn't bother ofter one use) but you could drain and refill the oil after it is warmed up from the run dry.

[pflaming]

Our combines (harvesters) would sit for 11 months in Western Nebrasks. Dad used to put em to rest by pouring light oil in the carb until it died. Always started right up the next July. I left my snowblower in NE when I moved west! Now I fight POLLEN!!! Should have stayed with the snow.

[T120]

I believe fogging oil has been mentioned in the past for use with engines not

in use for a length of time.It's commonly used in marine applications

[daddyo23]

Mine isn't put away yet. We're getting 4-6 inches tonight:mad: . Did take the car out today, though. I usually put some sta-bil in, let it run awhile and forget it. Went out last fall and added a little fresh fuel, pumped it a couple of times and it fired right off. Hopefully you won't need it anymore.

[Norm's Coupe]

Not time to put the blower away here yet either. We're supposed to get about 3 to 5 inches tonight or tomorrow. If that's all we get though, I probably won't bother cleaning it up. Supposed to be in the mid to high 40's the rest of the week, so it'll melt. But........ when I do stop using it, I just park mine and throw a tarp over it to keep the dust off it. Don't put anything in the gas that's in the tank. Just turn off the fuel line petcock and leave it that way until next winter. Then I just start it up with whatever gas that's in it in mid to late October to test it. Never failed to start right up yet. Do the same thing with the lawn mower in the fall, except I don't bother to cover it.

[RobertKB]

Stabil works for me. Put it in the lawnmower each fall and it starts right away in the spring. I don't drain any gas or run it out of gas before storage. Stabil is supposed to take care of any problems. Do the same with the old '78 GMC motorhome I have as well. Always starts as soon as it draws gas up to the carb.

[Captain Neon]

I just add a little Sta-Bil to the gasolene jug year-round and never need worry if I have Sta-Bil in the fall, but that was last year when I lived in the Dust Bowl and didn't mow as much. I've been using Sta-Bil for years since fighting with a fouled carb without it. A one quart jug of Sta-Bil is cheap insurance in the fall for more trouble-free start-ups in the spring. All of my toys get a dose of Sta-Bil and fuel line antifreeze before their winter naps.