Kestas
Staff member
I'm one of those guys that is too lazy to do the seasonal fuel maintenance in my snowblower or lawnmower. I just drain the fuel before the beginning of each season or take my chances with trying to start it.
I experienced a first this season where the gas in my snowthrower gelled and corroded the aluminum fuel bowl. I'm pretty sure it's because of the alcohol in the fuel. I'm aware of the phase separation phenomenon. But this got me thinking about the cars I store. I have two convertibles that are stored in my garage over the winter. I'd hate to see the horrible gelling in these cars that I saw in my snowthrower. What seasonal regimen would make the most sense? Should I top off the tanks and call it good? Or should I take the time to siphon the gas and retop the tanks with fresh fuel every three months?
Am I worrying about this too much? Perhaps the volume to surface (gas to air) ratio was greater in the snowthrower than it would be in the gas tanks, and winter storage isn't as bad as storing a snowthrower in a humid environment.
I experienced a first this season where the gas in my snowthrower gelled and corroded the aluminum fuel bowl. I'm pretty sure it's because of the alcohol in the fuel. I'm aware of the phase separation phenomenon. But this got me thinking about the cars I store. I have two convertibles that are stored in my garage over the winter. I'd hate to see the horrible gelling in these cars that I saw in my snowthrower. What seasonal regimen would make the most sense? Should I top off the tanks and call it good? Or should I take the time to siphon the gas and retop the tanks with fresh fuel every three months?
Am I worrying about this too much? Perhaps the volume to surface (gas to air) ratio was greater in the snowthrower than it would be in the gas tanks, and winter storage isn't as bad as storing a snowthrower in a humid environment.