If you've never added fuel stabilizer to the gas you put in your lawn mower, like the 53 percent of gas-mower owners we surveyed, chances are you had some trouble starting your mower last spring. You may also have had trouble if you hadn't replaced the air filter or at least checked the spark plug, among other tasks we consider vital to making mowers last. You don't want to go through that again, right?
Owners of lawn tractors tend to take better care of their machines, probably because they cost significantly more. But whatever type of mower you use for your lawn, in most parts of the country it's almost time to put it away for the season. Here's what to do:
Walk-behind mowers Buy some fuel stabilizer, available at home centers and gas stations and add the appropriate amount to the existing fuel. If you keep your mower in a dry basement, run the engine till it's dry . If you store it in unheated garage or shed, condensation is a concern. Once you've completed other maintenance, mix the proper amount of fuel stabilizer with fresh gas in a gas can and fill the tank to the top.
Clean the underside. Many new mowers have a washout port, which can prevent buildup of grass clippings. Whether or not you've been cleaning the deck, you'll need to spray or scrape off any remaining clippings to prevent rusting. (An old bristled pot scrubber might do.) Spraying the cleaned, dried deck with silicone spray can help prevent future buildup.
Change the oil. Chances are you'll need to flip the mower (with the gas tank empty) to drain the oil. Look for the designated mark on the dipstick while refilling, as too much oil can be as bad for the engine as too little. You can take used oil to a local service station or recycling center for disposal.
Charge the battery. If you have an electric mower, or even just a battery-powered starter system in a gas mower, you'll need to periodically
charge the battery throughout the winter. Otherwise, its ability to fully recharge will diminish gradually before failing altogether—and sooner than you expected. The batteries for some electric mowers can and should be brought indoors over the winter; check the manual for temperature specifics.
Other chores. Spark plugs don't need replacing once a year—typically, it's every 100 hours of operation. But most of us don't keep track. (An hour meter, available at your local home center or parts supplier, can help, but so can a stop watch and a memo pad.) Early fall is a good time to get your blade sharpened, since repairmen aren't yet fixing people's leaf blowers or snow throwers. Also, check your owner's manual for how often to replace the air filter and, if your mower has one (few do), the fuel filter.
Lawn tractors and riding mowers The needs of larger cutting gear differ from those of walk-behind mowers in only a few ways. Changing spark plugs and sharpening blades, for instance, is standard practice across both walk-behind and riding mowers.
Gas and oil. If you hadn't already added fuel stabilizer, do it now and run the engine dry. Replace the fuel filter. And while you also need to change the oil, flipping isn't required; every lawn tractor and zero-turn-radius mower has a way to drain oil.
Air filter. If your carburetor's air filter is paper, replace it. If it's foam, wash it in soap and water. Rinse and squeeze it dry. Check your owner's manual: Some suggest you also, at this point, oil a foam filter with engine oil. If so, squeeze the filter dry again before you reinstall it.
Electrical. Remove the battery, and keep it charged over the winter using a trickle charger.
—Ed Perratore More on mowers: If you'll be in the market for new cutting gear, see our
buying advice for lawn mowers and tractors. Subscribers to ConsumerReports.org can view our Ratings for
push mowers,
self-propelled mowers, and
lawn tractors.
