Fall is a busy time of year for power equipment. Mowers, weed trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and other small-engine machinery are in heavy service, sometimes right up until the first snowflakes fly. But when the grass stops growing and every last leaf has fallen, yard equipment needs to be made ready for winter storage — a period of unuse that lasts months.
TIPS FOR PREVENTING PROBLEMS
It’s easy to stow away yard equipment and forget about it until spring, but that’s a big mistake if you want to avoid the frustration of hard starting or poor running engines later. Taking a little time now to properly prepare your power equipment for storage will ensure it operates as it should when you need it again, saving you time and money next year.
HOW TO TREAT FUEL
Treating stored fuel helps it resist evaporation, preserve ignition vapors and prevent the buildup of harmful deposits. To stabilize fuel in your power equipment, add 1 ounce of Sea Foam Motor Treatment per gallon of fuel. Then run the engine for a few minutes, so the treated fuel can work its way through the fuel system.