Homeowners who have lawnmowers often run into problems because of poor maintenance, especially with leaving their gas for a long time over winter.
Some often ask if you can you leave gas in a lawn mower over winter. In this article, we will help you understand what happens when you do this.
Gas that has been stored in the tank and left for a very long time can get spoiled and unusable.
A solution on how you can properly store your gas for an extended period would be by keeping it in an airtight container.
Can I store my lawn mower outside in the winter?
Yes. However, you have to remove the batter and store it in a cool, dry place. Ensure that you put the battery away from the furnace, water heater, or gas cans.
Is it safe to store lawn mower in garage?
If you a garage, you can store your lawn mower, but it comes with a price. You have to store it where you would not accidentally tipped over it. Also, pinholes in its fuel tank can cause unhealthy fumes when filled with air. In worse case, a small break in the fuel line can leak combustible liquid.
Can you keep a lawn mower inside?
If you have enough space inside, you can keep it away from kids and pets. Also, drain the fuel and remove the battery if you would leave it for long.
What should I put in my lawnmower for winter?
Many people add preserver or fuel stabilizer and leave the mower dry. Meanwhile some people recommend keeping a full take of treated fuel
Can you leave gas in a lawn mower over winter?
The lifespan of gas is about six months. Hence, it must be used within this time and can be used after the winter season.
The combustibility of gas diminished over time. This in turn, means that the volatile components will evaporate and the temperature at which has ignited will also increase. As a result, the engine will over-strain and eventually misfire.
However, by using airtight containers to store the gas, the amount of evaporation will be reduced and your gas can be preserved for about six months before it can no longer be used.
Since the gas tanks in lawn mowers are not airtight, it is expected that the gas will suffer degradation as a result of the evaporation of volatile compounds.
Is it bad to leave gas in a lawnmower over winter?
The gasoline in your lawnmower can remain in the gas tank for as long as one month. If this period is extended, the gas will become bad because of the evaporation of the volatile compounds contained in the fuel.
This is not recommended as it will pose a lot of problems. Hence, leaving your lawn mower in the winter with a full gas tank outside is not advised.
In order to produce a power output, the different chemicals in fuel are designed in such a way they can ignite very easily in the chamber of the engine.
However, these chemicals are volatile and in lower temperatures, they can evaporate.
The process of evaporation can last for about a month if it is not in an airtight tank. If the fuel is used after that period, it may cause the engine to misfire and during operation, there will not be inefficient combustion.
Can I use gas that’s been sitting all winter?
- During winter, it is highly recommended to move your lawn mower indoors. After draining the gas left in the fuel tank, replace the oil with a new one.
- Move your lawn mower to indoor storage such as the storage room or the garage. Thanks to the temperature and humidity in these indoor storage facilities, the effects of evaporation and corrosion in the fuel will be reduced.
- Remove all the gasoline from the fuel tank to ensure that the degraded gas does not enter the engine chamber. This will prevent rusted bits of metal and gunk which may affect the performance of the engine.
- After draining the old engine oil in the lawnmower, replace it with a fresher one. This is important to lubricate the parts of the engine and also remove debris and gun in the chamber of the engine.
All these procedures should be done before starting the engine to prevent harmful products and chemicals from getting into the engine chamber. This may lead to serious problems in the sensitive internal mechanisms.
How do you start a lawn mower that has been sitting out all winter?
- First, siphon any old gasoline in the fuel tank as well as the engine oil and replace with new and fresh gasoline and oil
- Ensure that the spark plugs are tightly connected. You can replace it if it is old
- Utilize the choke while starting the engine.
- Check the carburetor for any flooding while starting the engine.
Two major components that can get affected by the reduction in temperature during the winter include:
- Gas
- Engine oil
Once affected, these components can cause internal damage to different parts of your lawn mower like the carburettor so they must be replaced before attempting to start the lawn mower.
This will guarantee optimum performance and smooth functioning of the lawn mower.
As a result of exposure to high winds during the winter, spark plugs can come loose. Once this occurs, your engine is bound to misfire. Hence, ensure that you check the wire connection and make sure that the spark plug is connected tightly.
Another thing to consider is if your spark plug is fouled. This means that the tip of the spark plug is blocked with gunk and dirt and this will prevent the spark plug from ignition the fuel mix in the engine. To solve this problem, clean the spark plug thoroughly then connect it back tightly.
Internal heat may also affect your engine and make it difficult to start. By engaging the choke, you can increase the heat in the chamber and this will allow the engine to be self sufficient.
One way to know if your carburetor is being flooded with a lot of gas is when you smell burning gas right after starting the engine.
Once this is noticed, you must stop the engine immediately and allow the excess gas to drain out for about 5-10 minutes.
Can I mix old gas with new gas?
The answer to this question is simply yes. By mixing old gas with new gas, the quality of the fuel in the tank will be improved. Although the new mixture will be less combustible than fresh gas, it will still be able to ignite much better than the old gas in the tank.
In this manner, you can use the old gas for your lawnmower effectively without wasting it.
It is also advised that you do not mix one litre of gasoline with 200ml of new and fresh gasoline. Ensure that the new gasoline has more concentration than the old one.
Should I drain gas from lawn mower for winter?
As long as the old gas is not contaminated, it can be mixed with new gas and used in your lawnmower. However, if the gas is contaminated, simply remove it from the tank and transfer it to a container.
The disposal must be done in a government-approved waste disposal facility or certified landfill that can handle this hazardous waste.
This is because gasoline is a very hazardous material that can explode if ignited in any area.
This chemical cannot be disposed like the normal waste, thus, it must be transferred into a certified container for gas disposal.
How long can I leave gas in my lawn mower?
Without ethanol and fuel stabilizers combined in the fuel, a gas that has stayed for a year will no longer be usable.
It is most likely that the gas has undergone degradation and will cause damage and serious problems to your engine if used in the lawn mower.
Should I store my lawn mower with gas?
When you store your mower with a full tank of fuel, the fuel prevents moisture from condensing in the tank.
As a result, it forms rust that could break away and clog the carburetor.