How to Winterize Small Engines (Avoid Spring Starting Problems!), by PNW Small Engine and Lawn on YouTube. 17 min.
- Video length
- 17 min
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Check the manual to see whether each tool is a 2-stroke (mixed gas and oil) or 4-stroke (straight gas) engine. The two need different storage handling.
Pick one fuel method: run the carburetor dry, drain all fuel out, or keep the tank full of fresh treated fuel. Stick to the same method every year.
Start the engine and let it run a few minutes so it is warm. Then close the fuel valve and let it run until it stalls, which empties the carburetor bowl.
If you drain instead, siphon the tank into an approved container and loosen the bolt on the bottom of the carburetor bowl to empty the last of the fuel.
Drain the tank on 2-stroke tools and run the carburetor dry. Mixed fuel separates and goes stale, so do not leave it sitting in the tank.
Change the oil on 4-stroke engines while the engine is still warm, then refill to the level on the dipstick. Old oil left in the sump turns acidic.
Remove the spark plug, pour about a teaspoon of engine oil into the cylinder, pull the starter rope slowly two or three times, then refit the plug.
Clean the air filter, brush grass and dirt off the cooling fins, and scrape the underside of the mower deck. Sharpen or replace dull blades now.
Store each tool upright and level in a dry shed or garage, with the tank either empty or completely full, and a cloth or cover over the engine.
In spring, fill with fresh fuel, check the oil, fit a new spark plug if the old one looks fouled, then start as normal.
Tips and common mistakes
Ethanol blended fuel left in a carburetor for months is the number one cause of spring no-starts, so drain or run it dry.
Fuel stabilizer only works on fresh fuel, so treat a new can rather than an old one.
Keep fuel in an approved container away from pilot lights and never store it inside the house.
Leftover mixed 2-stroke fuel goes to a household hazardous waste site, not down a drain.
Questions
Can I just leave the fuel in and start it in spring?
Sometimes, but stale ethanol fuel gums up the small jets in the carburetor and the engine may not start at all. Draining or running it dry is the safer bet.
How often should I start the equipment during winter?
Running it for ten minutes once a month keeps seals lubed and the battery charged on electric start models. If you drained the fuel, skip this and leave it alone.
Do I need to winterize a 2-stroke chainsaw the same way?
Mostly yes, but drain the mixed fuel completely because it separates over time. Fogging the cylinder with a little oil matters even more on 2-stroke engines.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
