OPE and keeping those carbs filled....

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UNC201

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What camp do you sit in
There seems to be 2 sides to it.
Keep the carbs filled so the rubber does not dry out and the latter which keeps gas in it.

It's been a all ethanol state her for at least the last 8+ years....
I don't use Stabil or Seafoam.
I just drain the carb and run it dry between seasons for each respective equipment. No issues yet to date...
 
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I'm a "run it dry" person (running it dry on stabil-ized gas) but still find yellow gelatinous goo in my carb bowls. Have also had petcock problems/ blockages. Can't win for trying. My solution is to get better at fixing carbs.
laugh.gif


Fortunately a quick paper towel wipe of my carb bowl, and reassembly, gets me back in the game.

Gas in the can has remained great whether or not I use stabil for 6+ months. Can seals pretty tight and stays out of the sun.
 
I just leave gas in it, no stabilizer. But I only use a few gallons per year, between snowblower and push mower; and I'm ok with tearing apart the carb every few years if need be to clean it out. Simple B&S machines is what I tend to have.

I probably fill up my 5 gallon plastic gas can twice a year? However, it is decently sealed up (I close the vent on it) so perhaps it has low vapor loss.
 
From this forum I got the two answers for the two camps of thought.
If the gas tank is metal, run it dry. (My preference.)
If the tank is plastic, store it full with some Sta-bil or other storeage additive.

You can search for the threads in this forum. May not be a bad idea since I may have switched the directions. I think that was the way though. Plastic full and metal dry.

"Happy Birthday Eljefino"
 
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Originally Posted By: chefwong
It's actually the other way around. Gas full - to prevent rust.
Plastic drain..


With my memory, I wouldn't contest your statement.
Billy Martin said it best on the Lite beer commercials of the '70s:
"I feel very strongly both ways."
 
Both ways. Small equipment gets run dry. Rider has gas in it, but am using 1 oz SeaFoam per gallon of gas. Small equipment gets the SeaFoam/gas mixture the entire season. That has eliminated carb problems.

My problems is the fuel line. I have had to replace it in the rider, mower, tiller, etc. They rot and crack with new gas with alcohol. So I would say run it dry, more for the fuel lines.
 
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I usually run things dry, though I leave the riding mower and motorcycles with a tankful of gas and stabil.

I'm an OPE off craigslist junkie, I've rebuilt my share of carbs. I really think either way would work provided you don't leave it sit for more than 6 months. If you're doing long term, like over a year, draining is the only way to do it.
 
I've always left them full with ethanol and Stabil. Never a starting issue, even with my ~30 year old rototiller that only gets used for an hour or so each spring.

The only time I had an issue was when I stored the tiller without Stabil in the fuel (about 15 years ago). But that was my own fault, and I've never had a problem as long as I keep Stabil in the fuel.
 
The garden tractor is used year round with the snowblower attachment so it almost always has fuel in it. I keep stabilized fuel in the machines that won't get used over the winter such as the push mower, leaf blower, pressure washer, etc.

I haven't had any problems leaving stabilized fuel in the machines for storage. I have seen a few carb bowl gaskets leak due to drying out, and another carb that had a bowl full of rust. Those were machines I worked on for friends though, so no guess as to how long they had been sitting.

Knock on wood I haven't had any fuel issues with my own equipment while using stabilizer. The bigger problem around here (especially during colder months) is keeping the mice out of the engine blower housings. A friend of mine's dad is an antique car buff. He keeps cars stored for long periods of time and uses dryer sheets to keep mice away. He says they hate the smell. I've stuffed a few dryer sheets in near the pull start on some of my rarely used equipment and haven't had mice issues since.
thumbsup2.gif
 
This is my 5kw gen-set with a 10 HP Tecumseh flat head. In between last October and last Sunday, I managed to break the tip off the main jet needle. Plus, I think I messed up setting the float when I replaced it. Anyway, it runs fine. Now. It has a plastic tank and I installed a shut off. I use the shut offs after every use on my OPE . I am gonna give it a good dose of Stabil and run the carb dry before I store it this time.
 
Either way works.

"I" leave all of 'em full with non-Oxy gas + Stabilizer ran through the systen.

Never had a problem in 36 years of owning them.
thumbsup2.gif
 
I run Stabil year round and leave the carbs full. 1 mower, 2 chainsaws and 1 pressure washer have not had any issues using this procedure. This year I have added a Husqvarana blower to the mix but I don't expect any problems with that either.

Before I discovered Stabil, which was many, many years ago, I did run my equipment dry prior to winter storage.
 
For years, I used to run out the fuel in the gas tank & carbs on the last time that I used that peice of equipment for the season. Wheather it was my lawn mowers/snow blowers. This is in over 35+ years of owning my home(s) and various outdoor power equipment

The very next season when I refilled the gas tanks with fresh fuel(just purchaced fresh fuel), the OPE would always take for ever to start and when they did start, they ran poorly for at least the first day although, they were OK for the remainder of the season(s).

Now, I use Sta-Bil(regular RED) in my fuel each time I fill the gas can and I also leave the fuel tanks and carbs full during storage. I don't have any problems anymore after storage(6 months) since I've been doing this in regards to restarting them for the new season and the OPE seem to run better from the get-go!
 
Originally Posted By: Oldwolf
I run Stabil year round and leave the carbs full. 1 mower, 2 chainsaws and 1 pressure washer have not had any issues using this procedure. This year I have added a Husqvarana blower to the mix but I don't expect any problems with that either.

Before I discovered Stabil, which was many, many years ago, I did run my equipment dry prior to winter storage.


How did you equipment restart/run the next season with fresh fuel?(after sitting for several months)...My experience is stated above!
 
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