"Herb and Eneva" wrote in message
...
What`s the best way to store a lawnmower for the coming winter?
Should I change the oil now or wait untill spring? What about sta-bil?
Last year I started all of the small engines once a month. That seemed
to work but sometimes was a real pain. What do y`all do?


Just an observation for the naive readers. Does not matter if you sharpen
or change the blades at the end of the season, or the beginning of the
season. Same for air filter or spark plug changes.

The primary reason for gasoline problems is water intrusion. A marginally
filled gas tank in an environment that changes humidity levels quite often
is very susceptible to that. Unlikely to occur in a mostly closed garage or
a tight storage shed as the ambient temperature doesn't vary that much. For
long term storage, in terms of a year or more, drygas or similar additive is
recommended if retaining full gas tank. However, in those cases, running
the mower till the tank is empty is not recommended. Reason being is the
empty gas tank is more prone to rust internally.

Doesn't matter when you change the oil. Minimum, once a year. More if the
engine is severely worn., or, if used excessively. Yes, a hot engine
reduces the viscosity of the oil, and, assures more drainage of same.
That's more important in colder climates. But, the ambient temperature from
Maine to Texas in late summer is not variant enough to worry about a hot
engine before draining the oil. The resulting difference in volume of oil
during drainage is extremely negligible vs. a hot engine.

The most important difference is storage time, that will be much different
in Maine vs. Texas. Texans may be mowing as early as February to as late a
November as an example, nevermind any climate change.

You don't need to start a lawnmower engine during storage. Same for an
automobile for that matter, difference, disconnect the battery ground cable.
--
Dave