How to winterize gas weed trimmers so they start next spring
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
Either run the tank dry or add fuel stabilizer and run it 2 minutes to circulate. Ethanol fuel starts degrading in as little as 30 days and gums carburetors solid by March.
The Witty Breakdown
Ninety percent of 'my trimmer won't start' spring calls are a varnished carburetor from last October's leftover gas.
Buy ethanol-free fuel or canned premixed fuel for two-stroke equipment. It costs more and saves a $90 carb rebuild.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Drain the tank or add stabilizer and run the engine to circulate it.
- 2
Remove the spark plug, add a few drops of oil, pull slowly, and reinstall.
- 3
Clean the air filter and clear grass from the cooling fins.
- 4
Store indoors, off concrete, with the head cleaned out.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Don't store equipment with half a tank of pump gas over winter. That's how a $200 trimmer becomes a $200 lawn ornament.
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