Forgot To Drain Gas From Snowblower

You can recycle old fuel at many gas stations. Unfortunately, you may not be able to use it in your snowblower because it can gum up your carburetor. Worst case scenario, you might have to replace it.

So what can you do if you forget to drain gas from your snowblower? I’ll walk you through all the details so you can empty your tank, add fuel and get back to removing snow.

Forgot To Drain Gas From Snowblower

If you forget to drain the gas from your snowblower, it can wreck the carburetor. Because gas separates over time, the two parts will no longer mix and ignite properly to run your engine. Moreover, it can block up the carburetor with a thick, heavy substance at the bottom, while the varnish that floats to the top eats at the metal.

What Can Happen To Snowblower If I Forgot To Drain Gas

When you forgot to drain the gas from a snowblower, you must check how much is left first. If it’s a third of a tank or less, top it off with more fresh fuel and add a stabilizer.

Otherwise, you should use a siphoning system if you can or drain it from the fuel line if necessary.

The list below shows the process and effects of leaving gas in your snowblower long-term.

• Gas goes bad in as little as thirty days. It’s crucial to keep fresh fuel in your snowblower.

• The fuel separates into gum and varnish. The heavier part falls to the bottom as fuel ages, and harsher, more acidic varnish floats to the top.

• Varnish damages metal. Metal is very durable, but acids from separated fuel can eat away at the metal as it sits.

• The gummy leftover substance blocks parts of your carburetor. The heavier parts of gas are too thick to move through a carburetor smoothly and can stop pistons, filters, and other elements quickly.

• The carburetor cannot run on old gas. Because of the thickness, not only does the carb get blocked, but the fuel cannot combust appropriately.

• You have to disassemble the carburetor and clean it. The best-case scenario is that you can get all the old fuel out, but not everyone is so lucky.

• Your Carburetor may need to be rebuilt or replaced altogether.

What Do I Do If I Left The Gas In My Snowblower

When you suddenly realize that you’ve left gas in your snowblower, you need to take immediate action.

The longer it sits, the worse the problem will be as the separated fuel settles into every nook and cranny. Fortunately, you may catch it early enough to drain the blower.

Better still, if the fuel hasn’t been sitting too long, there is a more ingenious solution. Add fresh fuel and stabilizer to the machine.

Once the mix is in place, you need to turn the blower on and let it run for about ten minutes, according to Family Handyman.

When you add the stabilizer and more fuel, it mixes and moves through the carburetor and fuel injection system.

The stabilizer helps prevent the gummy deposits that stop parts from moving. This process only works if you leave the tank low enough to add extra fuel.

You’ll need one ounce of Sta-Bil for every two and a half gallons of fuel, so it’s best to pre-mix. I keep a couple of containers in my garage at all times because Sta-Bil can keep fuel stable for up to two years.

Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Do I Need To Drain Gas From Snowblower

You should always drain old gas from your snowblower. However, that only applies if you’ve left it too long without using it or adding a stabilizer.

If you plan to put a snowblower away for the season, you can either drain or fill it completely.

When you fill the gas tank, it prevents moisture from condensing inside and causing rust. However, under normal circumstances, there are very few reasons to drain your tank.

Unless you are cleaning, troubleshooting a problem that parts of the carburetor may cause, or replacing parts, there’s no reason to drain the gas from your snowblower.

Store Snow Blower With or Without Gas

When it’s time to put away your snowblower for the season, you’ll have to decide whether to leave it full or empty.

Although you can opt for either method, there are disadvantages to both. SnowblowersDirect recommends running the engine until the last of the fuel is gone for proper storage.

A dry engine is much harder to start, but the proper technique depends on which make and model you use. If you put your snowblower away with gas inside, ensure that you add a fuel stabilizer first and then run it for a few minutes.

This will prevent the fuel from separating and coat the inside of the carburetor and pistons so it doesn’t gum up even if the gas separates.

The worst thing you can do is leave a half-full tank of gas. When you do this, it leaves room for water to condense inside your machine.

Alarmingly, when water and ethanol mix, you get a corrosive substance that will eat the inside of your carburetor.

How To Drain Gas From Snowblower

Draining gas from a snow blower isn’t tricky. You’ll need a siphon pump and a container to store used gas inside. If you need to dispose of the used gas, you should talk to local gas stations since many accept used fuel for recycling.

Follow the steps below to drain the gas from your snowblower.

1. Start by making sure your machine is off and cool. It would be best if you never worked on a hot engine.
2. Add fuel stabilizer to the partially used gas.
3. Place one tube from your siphon pump inside the gas tank and the other in a gas can.
4. Squeeze the siphon bulb. Doing this starts the process.
5. Remove as much fuel as possible. It’s okay to move the tube around if necessary to get more gas.
6. Open the fuel drain on the carburetor bowl and allow it to run into your gas can.
7. Turn on the engine and let it run on whatever small amount of fuel remains until it shits off automatically because there’s nothing left inside.

Helpful Tips To Know If You Forgot To Drain Gas From Snowblower

Deciding whether to drain your snowblower to store it depends on the model and brand. I strongly suggest referencing your owner’s manual before determining how to store a snowblower in the off-season.

Below are a few helpful tips to know if you forgot to drain gas from the snowblower.

• Gas sitting in a carburetor for as little as two weeks can begin causing oxidation inside your snowblower.

• Typically, the right time to drain the gas from your snowblower is a couple of weeks before you plan to put it away for the season. You can always add fuel if it snows again, but the gas won’t be aging inside the machine.

• If you don’t have access to a siphon pump and you cannot open the carburetor bowl, let the engine run until your machine is out of fuel. This method is wasteful, but it will ultimately remove all the gas.

• Never run your snowblower indoors. The toxic fumes from the gas can get into your lungs and bond to blood cells in place of oxygen, causing you the suffocate even as you keep breathing.

Final Thoughts

If you discover you left old gas in your snow blower, drain it as soon as possible. Getting the outdated gas away from your carburetor is important to prevent further damage.

However, when it hasn’t been too long, and there’s not a lot of older gas, you can always opt for a stabilizer and adding fresh fuel to the mix.

It’s important to be careful and drain the gas before you put your snowblower away long term.