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forgot to drain gas from snowblower

495 32 December 6, 2012 at 07:47 PM
Realized we put away the snow blower last season without running down the gas or adding fuel stabilizer to the fuel. Not sure what I was thinking! In any case, should I try to drain the gas from the tank without starting, or maybe add some stabilizer to the tank now and start? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Possibly I'm worrying for nothing.
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dvcbwvfans
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> bubble2 10,459 Posts
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ReverseHandedJO
12-06-2012 at 09:16 PM.
12-06-2012 at 09:16 PM.
drain all the gas out of it and just put fresh new gas in it.

you will be okay, no reason to panic.
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> bubble2 6,960 Posts
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zzyzzx
12-07-2012 at 06:29 AM.
12-07-2012 at 06:29 AM.
Have you tried starting it to run it out of gas?
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> bubble2 15,027 Posts
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LiquidRetro
12-07-2012 at 06:40 AM.
12-07-2012 at 06:40 AM.
I would try and start it on old gas first before you do anything. You might get lucky. If you have no luck what the above suggested will work.
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> bubble2 19,382 Posts
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Frogstar
12-07-2012 at 07:03 AM.
12-07-2012 at 07:03 AM.
I'd just add some Heet and start it.
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> bubble2 3,590 Posts
moey
12-07-2012 at 07:48 AM.
12-07-2012 at 07:48 AM.
I think I would just try and start it assuming it starts fill the tank up the rest of the way. Ive left gas in my mower every winter no stabilizer and it has always been fine. I just recently started running things dry and using stabilizer.
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> bubble2 38,193 Posts
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bonkman
12-07-2012 at 10:37 AM.
12-07-2012 at 10:37 AM.
Yeah, fuel stabilizer isn't always needed. I rarely remember to bring in my fuel tank from my shed and/or drain my mower during winter. Always worked fine getting through MA winters. Don't panic. Worst that happens is you empty the gas tank, refill your fuel container, and refuel your blower.
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> bubble2 3,897 Posts
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my2k2zx2
12-07-2012 at 01:47 PM.
12-07-2012 at 01:47 PM.
Try it and see if it starts. Throw a little fresh gas in there and see if that works. Then drain if none of that helps.
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> bubble2 495 Posts
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dvcbwvfans
12-07-2012 at 04:34 PM.
12-07-2012 at 04:34 PM.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I may add some fresh gas to the current gas in there and give her a try to see if it starts.
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> bubble2 38,237 Posts
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Dr. J
12-07-2012 at 05:02 PM.
12-07-2012 at 05:02 PM.
i've never been bitten by the "bad gas" issue - if you're hesitant, put some stabil in the tank right now, let it sit overnight (to diffuse), then run.
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> bubble2 291 Posts
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paralyzer
12-07-2012 at 05:31 PM.
12-07-2012 at 05:31 PM.
No harm done although can take some hard pulls to start and can throw some gunk on the spark plug. I would drain or use heet/stabil if you already changed the spark plug which some do yearly like myself but I always forget to drain the mower and blower tank and never been an issue or failed to start with some fresh gas or heet.
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Last edited by paralyzer December 7, 2012 at 05:33 PM.
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> bubble2 532 Posts
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User1858048
12-08-2012 at 05:54 AM.
12-08-2012 at 05:54 AM.
I live on, own, operate a cattle ranch. I have NEVER drained any gas from an engine when it sits for the winter. Tiller (12 years old), lawn mower (8 years old) (both replaced much older models), even 2 cycle stuff. I've never had a problem. I used to have gas tractors for the mower and rake in the hayfield (full size tractors) before I finally switched to all diesel. They sat all winter and started right up in the summer. Sometimes with them though during use the carbs had to be taken apart to clean due to dirt (like 5 minutes in the field). They run most of the day every day for a couple months, it was dusty, and I sometimes was in a hurry filling them out of 5 gallon pails. I never put filters on the gas line, the old tractors only had sediment bowls. I suspect it would depend on your gas. I always have non-ethanol delivered for off road stuff.
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ReverseHandedJO
12-08-2012 at 07:24 AM.
12-08-2012 at 07:24 AM.
OP did you get that mule started?
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moey
12-08-2012 at 07:47 AM.
12-08-2012 at 07:47 AM.
Quote from 1two3 :
I live on, own, operate a cattle ranch. I have NEVER drained any gas from an engine when it sits for the winter. Tiller (12 years old), lawn mower (8 years old) (both replaced much older models), even 2 cycle stuff. I've never had a problem. I used to have gas tractors for the mower and rake in the hayfield (full size tractors) before I finally switched to all diesel. They sat all winter and started right up in the summer. Sometimes with them though during use the carbs had to be taken apart to clean due to dirt (like 5 minutes in the field). They run most of the day every day for a couple months, it was dusty, and I sometimes was in a hurry filling them out of 5 gallon pails. I never put filters on the gas line, the old tractors only had sediment bowls. I suspect it would depend on your gas. I always have non-ethanol delivered for off road stuff.
Supposedly its the ethanol that creates the problem in most cases. Most people cant get ethanol free gas anymore. I used to be able to go to the local airport but they wont sell to me anymore.
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> bubble2 495 Posts
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dvcbwvfans
12-08-2012 at 08:18 AM.
12-08-2012 at 08:18 AM.
Quote from ReverseHandedJO :
OP did you get that mule started?
Haven't tried yet. Neighbor said he has a siphon so once he digs that out of the garage I think I will try to do a quick drain of most of the gas in there first and replace with fresh. I will update once my mission is complete.
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