Fuel Stabilizer Before Storing a Gas Blower

For storage that lasts longer than the period specified in your leaf blower’s manual, use fuel stabilizer only if the manufacturer allows it. Add the amount listed on the stabilizer label to fresh fuel, then run the blower long enough for treated fuel to reach the carburetor. Some manuals instead call for draining the tank and running the engine dry, so follow your model’s instructions first.

Should you use fuel stabilizer?

Stabilizer can slow fuel deterioration during storage, but it does not make old or contaminated gasoline fresh again. It also cannot guarantee that fuel will remain usable indefinitely. Check both the blower manual and the stabilizer label for storage limits and directions.

For a two-cycle blower, use the correct gasoline-to-oil mix specified by the manufacturer. Stabilizer does not replace two-cycle oil. If you use premixed fuel, check that the stabilizer is compatible with that fuel and follow its label.

How to add stabilizer before storage

1. Start with fresh fuel of the type and mixture specified in the blower manual. Don’t treat fuel that has already been sitting for a long time.
2. Measure stabilizer for the amount of fuel you’re treating. Use the product label’s rate; more is not necessarily better.
3. Mix the treated fuel thoroughly in an approved fuel container, or add it to the blower as directed by the stabilizer and blower manufacturers.
4. Run the blower outdoors, following its operating instructions, long enough for treated fuel to circulate through the fuel system. Keep it away from flames, sparks, and other ignition sources.
5. Let the engine cool, then store the blower as directed in its manual.

Work outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Avoid skin and eye contact with fuel, clean up spills promptly, and keep fuel away from children and heat. Never run a gas blower indoors or in an enclosed space.

Stabilizer or draining: which storage method is right?

Use stabilizer when the manual permits treated fuel to remain in the system and you can follow the product’s storage guidance. Choose draining when the manual specifically instructs you to empty the tank or run the carburetor dry. These methods are not interchangeable for every model.

If draining is recommended, use the procedure in the manual. Don’t improvise by loosening fuel lines or disassembling the carburetor. If you’re unsure how to drain the system safely, ask a qualified small-engine repair professional.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating stale fuel: Stabilizer is intended for fresh fuel, not as a repair for fuel that has already degraded.
• Guessing the dose: Follow the stabilizer label and account for the actual amount of fuel being treated.
• Forgetting the two-cycle mix: Maintain the manufacturer’s specified oil-to-gas ratio.
• Ignoring the manual’s storage method: Some blowers require draining rather than storing treated fuel.
• Storing fuel in an unsuitable container: Use an approved, labeled container and follow local rules for fuel storage.

If the blower won’t start after storage, don’t keep trying to run it on questionable fuel. Check the manual’s troubleshooting steps and use fresh, correctly mixed fuel. If the problem continues, a clogged carburetor or another fuel-system issue may need professional service.