Best way to winterize string trimmer

I’ve a very inexpensive Husky string trimmer, I’d like to treat it well. What’s everyone’s methodology?


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Store with non ethanol fuel.

 

Ditto on non-ethanol fuel. I run non-oxy premium gas mixed with a portion of Sea Foam in all my small engines, including two snowmobiles, quad, generator, ice augers, chainsaws, trimmer, tiller, blower, outboards, power-washer, mowers, etc.etc..

Over the last 25 years I have been doing this, I have never seasonally drained gas, winterized, summarized, or had a single fuel related problem. Some of my summer equipment is that old, or older, and is not started from late October until well into May in a typical year.

 

I’d get some tru fuel and run some through it. I try to start everything at least once a month.

 

I'll endorse filling it with non-ethanol fuel with Sea Foam. Haven't drained a tank in 10 years. Hadn't used my 461 in at least 8 months, started with 5 pulls last Sunday.

 

Non-E fuel for sure, and make sure the tank is full before putting it away. The less air in the tank, the less condensation you will get with varying temperatures during storage.
This won't apply to your trimmer, but anything with a fuel shut off should be run dry so there's no gas in the carb before storing.
Just my opinion and what has worked for me over the decades.

 

I buy 1 quart of the expensive premix stihl gasoline and I put a splash in the tank , run it for a few minutes and shut it off till spring . I use this method for the string trimmer , 2 chain saws , 1 leaf blower , and a Mantis tiller .

 

I'm not a fan of seafoam...seen too many problems in machines that it was supposedly used in regularly (as fuel stabilizer)
I like using e free fuel...for the last tank of the year I would also add some Stabil (or equal) and then run it a bit...then dump the tank out and run it dry...should store well that way, for as long as you want.

 

I always use E-free fuel but if I don't plan on using a small engine for awhile I like to dump the fuel, start and idle the carb dry. this includes trimmers, chain saws, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, outboards and ice auger. Engines with fuel switches like snow blower and generator I turn the fuel off and low idle dry.

 

I empty most of the gas out of the tank and run it until it stops, that should leave the carb without any gas in it. We do treat our gas before it goes in the weedeater.

 

I also use non E fuel and I store the trimmers and blowers in the basement out of extreme cold.

 

I've been getting away with using "stable", the blue marine version with normal pump gas. I treat every gas can with stable before I go to fill it no matter the time of the year. That way the equipment always has treated fuel in it. Time has a way of sneaking away from you and with a bunch of small gas engines..... It works for me.
Supposedly your major manufacturers 2 stroke mix has these fuel stabilizers in them, I still dump in stable the gas can along with the 2 stroke oil.

 

I would treat it just like I do my chainsaws. I use premixed, canned gas like Stihl, Husky or Trufuel. Run the beast every 3-4 weeks or so during no- use periods

 

What problems have you seen with seafoam ?

 

I’ve never had a problem with seafoam. I love the stuff. I used to use it in all my small engines before I started using E free this year. I never had a prob starting my saws when I put them away in November and starting them in April.

 

Keep it next to your bed with the rest of your equipment. One these days I’m going to follow my own advice. But the wife is not going to be to happy. Good luck.

 

Understood...I hear of happy SF users all the time...but then as I said, I had plenty (too many) customers that said they couldn't understand how things got so nasty, they always use Seafoam...

 

ethanol free with a quality 2stroke oil that has good stabilizers in it. FILL THE TANK, the airspace in the tank can cause condensation of water vapor.....

 

Make me wonder if it is the non-oxygenated gas versus Seafoam, Either way based on my results I am not going to stop using either.

I wonder if the folks with problems are using poor gas...and Seafoam to no avail?

 

I generally reserve "fill the tank" recommendations for OPE with metal tanks...only way to keep them from rusting

Its certainly possible that someone got a tank of nasty from the station...but it seemed to follow just SF users so...
Back in the early 90's the local game warden brought his ATV in for hard starting when cold...checked it out and everything was good, seemed to start ok for us...but it came right back in again shortly for the same problem, and people on both sides of the counter were getting irritated...long story short it was bad gas...he had just bought the fuel, and we had previously checked it for water and excess ethanol, but somehow (don't recall how anymore) it was then figured out that the stuff wouldn't burn...as in when poured out on the concrete it would only burn when a torch was held on it...looked and smelled like gasoline, but wouldn't self sustain flame once lit.
Changed his gas out and it was fine then...no idea what his "gasoline" actually was...