I have heard that when I store my small gasoline tractor, lawn mower, snow blower, I should turn the engine over by hand until I feel the compression stroke. Why would this matter? Also, is it better to leave the gasoline in the tank, treated with fuel stabilizer or should I drain the tank?
Yes, if it’s possible on your engine, turn the engine over by hand until you feel the compression stroke. This closes the valves and prevents moisture from getting into the engine.
On the gasoline issue, there are 2 schools of thought here. One is to drain all the gas leaving the fuel system dry for the winter. The problem with this is that water can collect in the system because of condensation. The water will cause as much or more damage then the gas will. But leaving the fuel system full will cause just as much trouble due to stale gas and the solids that collect at the point of evaporation. The latest thinking for storage is to fill the tank with gas that has been treated with stabilizer. The stabilizer keeps the gas fresh and helps prevent the build up of deposits. The full tank keeps the condensation from happening. Note that after you fill the tank with stabilized fuel you must run the engine so that the fuel enters the carburetor, an almost forgotten step!
Yes, if it’s possible on your engine, turn the engine over by hand until you feel the compression stroke. This closes the valves and prevents moisture from getting into the engine.
On the gasoline issue, there are 2 schools of thought here. One is to drain all the gas leaving the fuel system dry for the winter. The problem with this is that water can collect in the system because of condensation. The water will cause as much or more damage then the gas will. But leaving the fuel system full will cause just as much trouble due to stale gas and the solids that collect at the point of evaporation. The latest thinking for storage is to fill the tank with gas that has been treated with stabilizer. The stabilizer keeps the gas fresh and helps prevent the build up of deposits. The full tank keeps the condensation from happening. Note that after you fill the tank with stabilized fuel you must run the engine so that the fuel enters the carburetor, an almost forgotten step!
