Long term storage of engines - best practice? - 29/03/24 04:43 AM
Hi All,
Wasn't sure whether to put this in the engine forum or not - is pretty general so chucked in here, mods feel free to move if I've done incorrectly.
I'm just wondering what the Small Engine Sages here think is the 'best practice' when storing small petrol engined gear that you rarely use? I've tended to follow whats in the manuals - that being to drain as the fuel from the unit completely, including from the base bowl of the carb, then remove the sparkplug and place a small amount of engine oil in the cylinder, pulling the start rope a few times, leaving the piston in it's CLOSED position.
I use this for gear i rarely need or might have for emergencies e.g fire pump, petrol generator.
However, I've also read Youtube 'experts' advocating placing some ATF fluid in the carb, so that the residue of fuel in it does not 'lacquer' all the parts & also to protect the seals etc of the carb.
So welcome what folks feel is best practice........also once the gear is in this 'storage mode' is it fine to leave as is - or should you be popping fuel in and running say annually etc and then putting back into 'storage mode'?
Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.
Wasn't sure whether to put this in the engine forum or not - is pretty general so chucked in here, mods feel free to move if I've done incorrectly.
I'm just wondering what the Small Engine Sages here think is the 'best practice' when storing small petrol engined gear that you rarely use? I've tended to follow whats in the manuals - that being to drain as the fuel from the unit completely, including from the base bowl of the carb, then remove the sparkplug and place a small amount of engine oil in the cylinder, pulling the start rope a few times, leaving the piston in it's CLOSED position.
I use this for gear i rarely need or might have for emergencies e.g fire pump, petrol generator.
However, I've also read Youtube 'experts' advocating placing some ATF fluid in the carb, so that the residue of fuel in it does not 'lacquer' all the parts & also to protect the seals etc of the carb.
So welcome what folks feel is best practice........also once the gear is in this 'storage mode' is it fine to leave as is - or should you be popping fuel in and running say annually etc and then putting back into 'storage mode'?
Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.