Originally Posted By: Joel_MD
I just winterized my Toro 22" Recycler mower with B&S engine this week. This is my process:
During the mowing season I use normal gasoline from a local station that has ethanol in it, and just mix a little Sta-Bil in it. The last time I mow the lawn I don't fill the fuel tank, so the tank will run dry when I'm mowing. Then I put in some TruFuel (engineered 4-cycle fuel with no ethanol), just enough to finish mowing and to run a few minutes while I winterize.
After mowing I connect a garden hose to the washout port and run the engine for a few minutes. After shutting it off I remove the decorative plastic housing on top of the engine. I spray a mixture of Purple Power degreaser and two parts water to everything; engine, top of deck, underside, wheels, etc. I brush everything thoroughly and then hose off with a stream of water. After rinsing I blow everything dry with compressed air as best I can.
After the cleaning process I change the engine oil, using Amsoil synthetic 4-stroke 10W-30/SAE 30 small engine oil. Then I start the engine and let it run a few minutes, which heats the fresh oil to operating temp and evaporates any water remaining from the cleaning procedure. While the engine is still running I remove the air filter housing and filter, then spray B&S fogging oil into the carburetor. I spray enough to kill the engine, which makes my front yard look like a reenactment of the Battle of Verdun!
I spray WD-40 all over the carburetor and controls/springs/etc in the area, using paper towels to wipe up the excess and catch the drips underneath. Then I remove the blade and sharpen it. This year I also sanded the rust off the blade and painted it with satin black spray paint, but usually I don't bother. I clean the air filter housing and put in a new air filter. The last thing I do is take a new Champion spark plug and tape it to the top housing of the engine to remind me to change it in the spring. The first time I mow next season I'll run on the old spark plug so it burns off the fogging oil and then change the spark plug afterwards.
I have the same lawn mower. Your winterizing of your lawn mower seems like serious overkill. but to each their own. we'll see whose toro recycler last longer!