What's the best way to store gas powered equipment?

[Big P]

For stuff like weed wackers and leaf blowers, is it better to run them out of gas or keep them filled with stabilized fuel for over the winter?

 

[Bertram65]

I have always heard full, but I have left equipment like weed wackers, empty or near empty and never had a problem even after a couple years. I rarely use any stabilizer either, I think a lot of the hype about stabilizer is generated by the companies that sell it. The only time I would use it is in a piece of equipment that can hold several hundred gallons.

 

[curatchko]

You should run the carburetor dry. If the fuel goes stale over the winter it can clog up ports, and mess up seals.

 

[WDimig]

proper storage

well since i work at a mower repair shop, let me say that 70% of the equipment that comes in for repair is due to leaving fuel in the equipment. like others have said, drain the fuel out of the tank, and then run the equipment dry. but lets take it a step further. buy a quality gas stabilizer,mix that with you can of gas according to instructions, (do not mix in equipment gas tank!) drain any gas without stabilzer out of equipment, then add small amount of new gas with stabilzer, and run dry. ive had great succes with fuel stabilizers. briggs & stratton makes a fuel stablizer that lasts for up to 24 months. even though you have essentially got all of the fuel out by running the equipment "dry", theres always a small amount left, and even that small amount can gum up the main jets in the carb. by adding the fuel stabilzer, its extra insurance that you wont have any other problems come next time you need to use your equipment.



wes

 

[justinp20012500]

well since i work at a mower repair shop, let me say that 70% of the equipment that comes in for repair is due to leaving fuel in the equipment. like others have said, drain the fuel out of the tank, and then run the equipment dry. but lets take it a step further. buy a quality gas stabilizer,mix that with you can of gas according to instructions, (do not mix in equipment gas tank!) drain any gas without stabilzer out of equipment, then add small amount of new gas with stabilzer, and run dry. ive had great succes with fuel stabilizers. briggs & stratton makes a fuel stablizer that lasts for up to 24 months. even though you have essentially got all of the fuel out by running the equipment "dry", theres always a small amount left, and even that small amount can gum up the main jets in the carb. by adding the fuel stabilzer, its extra insurance that you wont have any other problems come next time you need to use your equipment.

wes

All that sounds pretty good, but what about fogging the motor when it is running the carb dry???

 

[WDimig]

that doesent need to be done as far as im concerned. if you plan on keeping the equipment outside in moisture, uncovered, then maybe that would be required, but ive never done it to my equipment.