Storing petrol lawnmower over winter - drain petrol?

[g3org3y]

As above. I don't envisage any further grass cutting activity until the spring.

I've read conflicting reports - what do you guys reckon, to drain or not to drain?

I think there are additives that can be added to the petrol for winter storage. Seems an easier solution.

TIA

[steveo3002]

never drain ours and it starts fine next year

[K50 DEL]

Same here... never drained my mower in 8 years of owning it, always starts just fine the next spring.

[Convert]

Had the current mower 17 years, stored in a shed outside in winter, never drained the fuel, always started OK for the next season.

Other than the one time when the tank to carb pipe perished and it drained itself.

[anonymous-user]

As above be for me too. Leave it alone OP

[C0ffin D0dger]

I used to put some additive they sold in the DIY sheds into the fuel that was supposed to stop it gumming up but stopped using it several years ago. Still starts no problem come the springtime. Should probably change the oil on it one day!

[beko1987]

I've never drained mine, although the last time I used it I put just enough of a slosh in for the final cut, and it stuttered to a halt just as I finished, so technically drained. I then tipped the half a can of petrol into SWMBO's car so that didn't sit out all winter, will get some fresh next year

[TooMany2cvs]

steveo3002 said:

never drain ours and it starts fine next year

Another vote here. The mower doesn't get drained, the strimmer doesn't get drained, the hedge trimmer doesn't get drained, the chainsaw doesn't get drained, the cars in the garage don't get drained...

The only problem I've had is that Stihl seem to use stty material for the fuel pump diaphragms in their strimmers - they were an annual change until I just got bored and put a tenner-off-ebay carb on instead.

[Sammo123]

My mower lives under an old BBQ tarp all year and doesn't get drained at any point. In the last 5 years it has stated within 3 pulls every time.

[g3org3y]

Thanks chaps.

Found some of this in the shed. Chucked 10ml in the tank for good measure.

Spent the rest of the time raking leaves. Hopefully that's all of them done now.

[Lanby]

You know you're supposed to run it through the system, not just pour it in the tank?

[g3org3y]

Lanby said:

You know you're supposed to run it through the system, not just pour it in the tank?

Instructions suggest running mower for 5 mins " to ensure the full fuel system contains the treated fuel."

That's what I did.

[mikeiow]

I've generally left whatever is in it, but petrol does go off, so adding a bit of fresh next season I suspects helps.....although so does a small squirk into the cylinder, I find!
Although I think I may have trouble next spring....did a 'final cut' a couple of weeks back....towards the end it suddenly ran really smoothly, then as I was walking it back to the shed (still running), two black clouds of smoke puffed out & it died.....
Hints & tips to a fairly clueless gardner welcomed....I suspect SomethingBad(tm) happened.....

[jeff m2]

mikeiow said:

I've generally left whatever is in it, but petrol does go off, so adding a bit of fresh next season I suspects helps.....although so does a small squirk into the cylinder, I find!
Although I think I may have trouble next spring....did a 'final cut' a couple of weeks back....towards the end it suddenly ran really smoothly, then as I was walking it back to the shed (still running), two black clouds of smoke puffed out & it died.....
Hints & tips to a fairly clueless gardner welcomed....I suspect SomethingBad(tm) happened.....

Probably just a broken crank

Sounds like it just ran out of fuel, not a problem.

Generally petrol has a useful life of three Months before it starts to go gooey.
Fuel stabiliser is pretty cheap, I add it to the can which I think will be my last purchase. Stabiliser works best when added to new fuel.
For anyone that stores Summer cars over winter it is almost essential.
Same for Snowblowers...one year old stuff really doesn't work well.
And no stabiliser in a house generator would be quite silly.

[Denis O]

Mower engines are the most abused engines in the world.

Never drain petrol.

Never change oil.

Never clean air filter.

Absolutely no preventative maintenance whatsoever and they go on and on ad infinitum.

Best engines in the world. None of this namby pamby JLR V8 crap. How long would 1 of those last with the abuse a mower engine gets.

If Carling made mower engines they'd be called Briggs & Stratton.

[Speed 3]

I don’t generally, just make sure I’ve not filled it so I can top up fresh in spring.

TBH I actually enjoy tinkering with the B&S, it’s the closest I get to home mechanics with the complexity/reliability of the modern car. This year it started hunting badly then stalling. A good few YT videos led me to the conclusion it was a fuel problem. Some suggested cleaning the carb and new gaskets but in the end I got a whole new one with consumables for £25, absolute bargain. Trickiest thing was establishing the correct part number for my engine serial. It took a bit of fiddling with the governor springs to get it stable but it started first time. Also did an oil change whilst I was in the mood.

Simple pleasures

[dickymint]

Never bother to empty the mower but I always empty my two stroke stuff.

[Elderly]

Denis O said:

If Carling made mower engines they'd be called Briggs & Stratton.

/\ This.

I bought my first garden tractor in 1989.
I had it serviced after years' one and two to keep to the terms of the warranty,
but have done nothing to it since except sharpen the blades and change the odd belt.

[mikeiow]

jeff m2 said:

Probably just a broken crank

Sounds like it just ran out of fuel, not a problem.

Generally petrol has a useful life of three Months before it starts to go gooey.
Fuel stabiliser is pretty cheap, I add it to the can which I think will be my last purchase. Stabiliser works best when added to new fuel.
For anyone that stores Summer cars over winter it is almost essential.
Same for Snowblowers...one year old stuff really doesn't work well.
And no stabiliser in a house generator would be quite silly.

Ah, I did check to see if the fuel had run out: nope, still 1/3rd of a tank
I will drain & change the oil when the weather picks up....clean the filter & plug.....beyond that, it's probably that broken crank!!!

[jeff m2]

mikeiow said:

jeff m2 said:

Probably just a broken crank

Sounds like it just ran out of fuel, not a problem.

Generally petrol has a useful life of three Months before it starts to go gooey.
Fuel stabiliser is pretty cheap, I add it to the can which I think will be my last purchase. Stabiliser works best when added to new fuel.
For anyone that stores Summer cars over winter it is almost essential.
Same for Snowblowers...one year old stuff really doesn't work well.
And no stabiliser in a house generator would be quite silly.

Ah, I did check to see if the fuel had run out: nope, still 1/3rd of a tank
I will drain & change the oil when the weather picks up....clean the filter & plug.....beyond that, it's probably that broken crank!!!

A guess: It could be a valve sticking
Ignition with the exhaust valve still open would give that symptom. Nothing to worry about, just check oil is not low..
Probably a one off.