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How to store a lawn mower for winter

Deal with the fuel first: either drain the tank and run the engine until it stops, or fill with fresh fuel plus stabilizer and run it a few minutes so treated fuel reaches the carburetor. Then clean grass off the deck, change the oil if it is due, sharpen the blade, and store it somewhere dry.

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How to store a lawn mower for winter

Checklist

  • Check the owner's manual for its storage stepsBefore you start
  • Drain fuel and run dry, OR add stabilizer to fresh fuel and run 5 minutesAfter the last mow
  • Disconnect the spark plug wire before working under the deckBefore cleaning
  • Scrape clippings off the deck; treat bare metal so it doesn't rustAfter the last mow
  • Change the oil if it's due; replace the air filter if dirtyFall or spring
  • Sharpen or replace the bladeOnce a year
  • Store dry and covered; remove battery on electric-start modelsWinter

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Why the fuel is the big one

Oklahoma State University Extension says that if you do nothing else, deal with the fuel. The University of Georgia notes that ethanol-blend gasoline can attract water and gum up carburetor jets, so emptying the fuel and running the engine dry is the safest choice when you can; if fuel has to stay in the machine, use a stabilizer made for ethanol fuel, and only in fresh gas.

What you'll need

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Questions

Should I drain the gas from my lawn mower for winter?

Draining and running the engine dry is the safest choice for ethanol-blend fuel. Adding stabilizer to fresh fuel is the common alternative. Follow your owner's manual if it says otherwise.

Do I need to change the oil before winter storage?

Many owners do it in the fall so the engine doesn't sit with dirty oil. Either fall or spring is fine as long as it happens on schedule.

Sources

Related guides

Fall home maintenance checklistA printable fall home maintenance checklist: furnace, gutters, outdoor faucets, sprinklers, mower storage, smoke alarms and more, with what to do and when.How to winterize a sprinkler (irrigation) systemSprinkler winterization before the first freeze: shut off the irrigation water, drain or blow out the lines zone by zone, and protect the backflow preventer.How to winterize outdoor faucetsTo winterize an outdoor faucet or hose bib: disconnect the hose, close the indoor shutoff, open the faucet to drain, and add a cover.How often to change your furnace filterCheck your furnace filter monthly and replace it at least every 3 months. Change intervals by filter type, plus pets and allergies.

General guidance for typical homes. Follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions and local codes, and hire a pro for anything you're not comfortable doing.