How to Store a Snow Blower for Summer in Missouri
In Missouri, a snow blower spends 75% of the year sitting idle in a hot, humid garage. That humidity attacks exposed steel augers and oxidizes pump fuel. Follow this 6-step checklist in late March to ensure flawless startup next November.
The 6-Step Summer Storage Checklist
Either run the fuel tank completely dry until the engine stalls, or fill the tank with 100% ethanol-free fuel mixed with double-dose Sta-Bil 360 Marine, running it for 5 minutes so treated fuel reaches the carburetor bowl.
Used oil contains acidic combustion blow-by and microscopic metal debris. Storing an engine with dirty oil causes internal pitting on crankshaft journals. Drain warm oil and refill with fresh 5W-30 synthetic.
Remove the spark plug, spray a 2-second burst of engine fogging oil (or pour 1 teaspoon of clean motor oil) into the spark plug hole, and gently pull the recoil cord twice to coat cylinder walls against summer rust.
Wash off caustic street salt residue. Inspect the scraper bar and housing for bare scraped metal and spray with automotive rust-inhibitor primer or fluid film.
Apply white lithium grease or silicone spray to chute worm gears, drive cable linkages, and wheel axle bushings.
If your garage floor tends to sweat during humid Missouri summer days, park the machine on a rubber mat or wooden 2x4s to prevent tire dry rot and wheel rim corrosion.
Frequently Asked Questions
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