Winterizing A 2-Stroke

2-Stroke engines, at least smaller ones, require a little bit more work when you're preparing them for winter. As they contain rubber diaphragms, which dislike ethanol, as it dries them out, not to mention the fuel likes break down with the ethanol fuel, faster than using regular fuel, and the UV rays damaging them. If you've ever seen rock hard fuel likes, or ones that fall apart just by looking at them, it likely means that it is Ethanol damaged, unless they're very old.

Opening the fuel cap on a Stihl BG30 Leaf Blower

A simple method to keep that from happening?  Add 2-stroke oil into the fuel tank, and pump it thru the carb.

Adding 2-stroke oil to the fuel tank

By doing this, you're essentially displacing the fuel, and keeping the diaphragm, and fuel lines, well lubricated.
This will help keep them from dying out, and falling apart.

The only thing is that, come summer, when you drain it all out, the first few minutes of run time, it'll likely smoke like a fire pit!  But that's okay, it'll help clear the air of mosquitos, and other biting pests!

When you have the fuel tank filled up, and you start priming the system, you'll notice that it gets quite difficult to get it to pump after a bit, this is because the oil is quite a bit thicker than 2-stroke fuel.
But that's okay, it's worth it in the end. The oil won't break down, it'll help keep the rubber lubricated and protected, and means saving money in the spring, when you get it out to use, and.... find that you can't get it started because the diaphragm has dried out.
It's either your time to fix it, if you're proficient, or your money, if you have to take it to a shop.
And if it's a home owner's model, well, then it'll likely be a "toss/sell" and get a new one, which means... more of your money!

Pumping the oil thru the system

Draining Out The Excess Oil

When you've finished priming the system, you can drain the excess out back into the bottle, or you can leave it in the tank, and pour it out in the spring when you get the machines back into service.

Anyway guys,

Chat soon!