[Shop-talk] Winterizing (summerizing?) an engine?

[old dirtbeard]

Yes, I second Paul's idea regarding the fuel shut-off valve as it prevents
fuel from draining into and evaporating out of the carburetor float bowl,
totally gumming it up over several months.

Additionally, I would suggest filling the tank full of gasoline (to prevent
condensation) and adding Stabil to it. If you do not want to use Stabil, I
would siphon out all of the gasoline instead, though I have had very good
experience using Stabli, but I also am in a low humidity climate (Los
Angeles).

best,

doug

On Tue, Apr 13, 2021 at 11:16 AM Paul Parkanzky <parkanzky at gmail.com> wrote:

> Install a fuel shutoff. I have one on my big Ariens snowblower, my
> generator, my nicer push mower, etc. When you're done using it and you're
> not 99% certain you'll be starting it again within a few weeks then instead
> of doing whatever you normally do to turn it off just shut the fuel valve
> off and let it die.
>
> I've been doing this for years and the stuff I do this on just seems to
> work season after season no matter how long it sits.
>
> -Paul
>
> On Tue, Apr 13, 2021 at 2:07 PM Scott Hall <scott.hall.personal at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Guys,
>>
>> I have a snowblower. It might not get used at all in a winter, it might
>> get used ten times. And I have a long driveway, so I don't want to sell it.
>>
>> I would like to winterize it such that next October if I want to fire it
>> up I don't have to do what I did this February and disassemble it in the
>> cold to get it to run.
>>
>> It doesn't have a battery, so this is a gas/carb. issue only.
>>
>> Is it best to drain most of the gas and let it run until it dies from
>> starvation? Would that leave residue on the jets that might varnish? I'm
>> hesitant to use Sta-bil--I had a bad experience with that once. Drain the
>> gas, take it apart and spray everything with carb cleaner or the like?
>>
>> This is the first engine I have that might sit for two years straight
>> then need to get fired up as quickly as possible, so I'd like to do this
>> right.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
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