gas in lawn mower storage, Digi Mart USA News: Gasoline left in a lawn mower does not stay usable indefinitely. According to a publisher report, standard gas can sit in a mower for about 30 days before it begins to degrade, a risk that can rise with high temperatures and humidity.
Fuel stabilizer can extend that window, but the report says the maximum realistic lifespan is around a year, and less if temperatures fluctuate. Stabilizer does not make fuel permanently safe, and the report advises replacing the gas well before a year has passed.
Degraded gas can cause early problems such as difficult starting, sudden engine shutoffs, increased smoke and poor performance. If fuel is left untreated for longer periods, the report says the residue can cause more serious, long-term damage to the carburetor.
To avoid this, the report suggests two approaches for storage. One is to fill the tank with fresh, stabilized fuel to the top, run the engine for a few minutes so the fuel circulates through the system, and then store it.
The other is to drain the gas and run the engine until it is completely dry.
Whichever method is used, the report recommends draining the carburetor bowl so no old gas remains to gum up the components. Fuel should be checked and refreshed periodically rather than assumed safe from one season to the next.
