End-of-Season Care for Lawn Mowers

If you are getting ready to park your lawn mower for the next few months, there are a few steps you can take to make sure it’s ready when spring arrives.

Clean mowers thoroughly. Remove dirt, grass clippings, and other debris to prevent rust and corrosion. You’ll also be able to spot any damage that needs attention or worn parts that need replacing.

Perform routine maintenance. Change the oil, clean the air filter and replace the spark plugs on gasoline engines. Not going to crank it for two months or more? It is recommended to drain all the gasoline from the tank and run the motor until all the fuel is out of the carburetor. Alternatively, you could put fresh fuel in the tank and run the engine for about 10 minutes each month. Another option is to add a gasoline stabilizer, such as Sta-Bil, to the tank to prevent gas from separating and causing clogging issues in the fuel system.

Store mowers out of the elements. Protecting your mower from moisture and direct sunlight will help preserve its rubber, plastic and metal parts, as well as its paint.

Consider replacing worn-out equipment. The end of lawn mowing season means you might find a sale or two on lawn equipment.

For more on lawn mower maintenance, check out this information from our friends at Illinois Extension. https://extension.illinois.edu/lawns/mower-maintenance