Small Engine Storage - Wet or Dry Carb?

[Rusty Heap]

what are peoples experience, of storing lawnmowers and chainsaws and other small engine over winter, with or without gas?

My thoughts on Carbs


DRY: Pro's, no gas to varish or Ethanol to corrode carb parts CONS, dry carb means gaskets will dry out and maybe shrink or get brittle. Engine may take longer to start when fueled.


WET: Basically the opposite of DRY, engine is immediate to start, but even with STABIL in the fuel, Varnish or Ethanol water absorbtion may still occurr, but your gaskets stay wet and happy.


I found a gas station close to me that sells Ethanol free fuel. I may start using that in all engines that run infrequently.


Discuss.

Pros/Cons of dry carb storage, and fuel with/without ethanol.

I'm more intested in Carb storage than ethanol discussion.......

[Jrboulder]

I've stored stuff with gas in it before I knew any better and I've never really had any serious problems. These days I mix stabil with my gas when I fill the tank up at the gas station. No problems. In Colorado the mower doesn't do anything from November through April so that's a good six months of sitting. Same with the gas in the can. Still works just as well. I'd say stabil it and don't worry.

[Rick V]

I run mine out of gas then drop a lot of staybil in the tank then turn the engines over so the carbs fill up with it.

[944Larry]

Go to Wally World and get some Coleman fuel. Drain the tank and put some in it. Crank the engine just long enough to get it running and then shut it off. In Spring, drain the Coleman fuel out and put fresh gas in the tank. It will start on the first pull. Coleman fuel does not go bad.

[Dantilla]

All my small engines get 100LL Avgas. No alcohol, and stays stable for a long time.
Both my generator and pressure washer always start on the first pull with avgas, even after sitting for months.

[mudman]

Dry

I've cleaned eight carbs from small engines in the last 2 months, several that I had used stabil in. Anything 2 stroke (mixed) run it dry and leave it dry. Been doing that for years with chainsaws, weed whips, etc. My neighbors love having a handy guy around but I might have to start charging...

In the generator I do leave some fuel in it, enough for 5-45 min of run time. Have not had a problem with it yet but I think it's just been luck.

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

All my small engines get 100LL Avgas. No alcohol, and stays stable for a long time.
Both my generator and pressure washer always start on the first pull with avgas, even after sitting for months.

This is good but for some reason (liability I suppose) airports only want to put fuel in planes. When one of the guys are around that remember me when I flew I can get it here. But a new guy won't do it. That's why I went to the Coleman fuel.

[steve185]

Dry has NEVER let me down.

[Noah930]

Dry. I'm more afraid of varnish than I am of rubber bits drying up.

[LWJ]

Just started running dry after "The Lawnmower Debacle of 2012."

You get the picture. Ethanol is a joke.

Good luck,
Larry

[red-beard]

I have 3 small engines that need new carbs because of ethanol in the gas. I vote dry.

[Teutonics]

Dry.

My equipment that I store dry has never had an issue. Those that I have not have issues. 100% correlation in my experience.

[FLYGEEZER]

100LL Dantilla????? Do you own an FBO or what?

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by FLYGEEZER

100LL Dantilla????? Do you own an FBO or what?

No, but I do have a little airplane. Local airport has a self-serve pump.

Besides the jug for all the small engines, I used 100LL in the 911 since it had no cats and sat in the garage between Autocross days. The only times anybody approached me while gassing up the car was to take a closer look at the hot-rodded 911.

[lane912]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

No, but I do have a little airplane. Local airport has a self-serve pump.

Besides the jug for all the small engines, I used 100LL in the 911 since it had no cats and sat in the garage between Autocross days. The only times anybody approached me while gassing up the car was to take a closer look at the hot-rodded 911.

newberg air strip?

[FLYGEEZER]

Don't even use 100LL in my little airplane ( Piper Colt ) Did the STC many years ago. The little 108 HP Lycoming only required 80 octane when it was made. It don't use a lotta fuel @ 5GPH but over the years using it has saved me enough to buy a new mower many times over. Oh yea, I don't use 10% ethanol enhanced gas. Where I buy gasoline in Kentucky doesn't require it YET. When & if they do, I'll drive across the state line to Tenn. to buy gas or find another plan. Have a CAVU day & good flying!

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

All my small engines get 100LL Avgas. No alcohol, and stays stable for a long time.
Both my generator and pressure washer always start on the first pull with avgas, even after sitting for months.

Ditto!

[1990C4S]

I store my 2-stroke wet, without Stabil. I have never had a problem.

[flipper35]

Lawnmowers get put away wet with a fuel conditioner. Snow equipment gets put away dry for the summer. All of them get ethanol free gasoline.