Stabilizing your lawn mower, edger or other summer-utilized small engine's prior to winter is an important step in ensuring your equipment will start-up trouble free next season. It is only one way to prepare your equipment for next year, short of siphoning fuel or running the equipment until the fuel tank is empty (think about the carbon emissions!).
Sta-Bil Fuel stabilizer is my first choice for winterizing my equipment but you can find other brands at your local auto parts supplier.
A non-comprehensive guide....
1st - Hose off your equipment to free it of dirt and debris. This is best done with the engine running. *Follow all safety precautions and read your manual for any equipment-specific instructions.
2nd - Avoid spraying your air filter/carb area and electronics in the process. Let dry in the sun with engine off.
3rd - Pour your choice fuel stabilizer directly into the gas tank. Top off the tank with the appropriate grade fuel and run engine for 5 - 10 minutes. You want the stabilizer to enter the carburetor and coat the rubber gaskets to ensure trouble-free starting when the months turn warm again.
4th - Oil any springs or movement points on your equipment, ensuring you wipe off excess oil.
I offer a $75 tune-up special (for most residential equipment) that includes degreasing/cleaning, air filter, spark-plug, & an oil change which should be done each season but you can typically stretch this out (possible against manuf. recommendation) to every 3 years with proper maintenance.
Winter is coming, and that means many small engine repair places will be booked full with service calls the first sign of snow. Hopefully you followed all manufacturer suggested storage procedures last year and you can simply start your equipment without a problem. It's never too early to start your snowblower to be sure you can get your equipment serviced before you're left in a snowbank.
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