5 Simple Steps to Get Your Snow Blower Ready for Off-Season Storage

Man in garage fueling Toro product with tube

Good-bye, winter. Spring is here and it’s finally time to put away your snow blower. We’ve compiled 5 simple steps below to help you take proper care of your snow blower now, so it’s ready for next winter.

5 Simple Steps to Get Your Snow Blower Ready for Off-Season Storage

You may want to forget about all things winter, but a little time spent now can save you big headaches when the next snowstorm hits.

Step 1. Drain the Fuel System

For starters, empty the fuel system by running the engine dry. It’s a good idea to use Toro Premium Fuel Treatment all season long but if you haven’t being doing that, put a little in your tank before you run the fuel out.

Why add fuel treatment before you drain the fuel? Because it prevents any gas that’s left from forming dummy deposits in the fuel system, or fouling your carburetor or spark plug.

When the engine stops running, engage the choke and try to restart it. Keep restarting it until it won’t start anymore. Then, loosen the carburetor drain bolt to drain that last little bit of gas into an approved container.

Step 2. Change the Engine Oil

Now that you’ve drained the fuel system, it’s a great time to change the engine oil and refill it with fresh Toro 4-Cycle Winter Engine Oil. Do it while the engine and oil are still warm to make sure that more of the old oil drains out.

Here are some helpful Toro snow maintenance videos on how to properly change your engine oil:

Step 3. Inspect Cables, Rotor Blades, and Scraper

Give your machine a walk around inspection. Tighten any loose cables, nuts or fasteners. Inspect wear parts like your rotor blades and scraper on a signle-stage blower or the auger scraper and skids on a two-stage machine.

If anything looks worn or damaged, replace it with Genuine Toro Parts.

Step 4. Protect from Rust – Especially in Humid Summer Months

If you have a two-stage machine, grease the wheel shafts to inhibit rust. If you find any chipped surfaces, sand them and then touch them up with Toro Red Touch-Up Paint so they don’t expand during the humid summer months.

You can also fight rust by storing your snow blower in a dry area, but not in your house, basement or near any ignition sources like furnaces or water heaters.

Step 5. Review the Off-Season Storage Section of Your Owner’s Manual

Lastly, take a look through the off-season storage section of your owner’s manual. Use a protective single-stage snow blower cover as shown below to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating in and on your snow blower during the summer months.

Built to Last

Way to go! These simple chores will make your snow blower last longer and perform better. That’s something you’ll really appreciate the next time it snows.

Make sure to protect the reliability of your snow blower with parts designed specifically for your Toro model. Genuine Toro parts are made from premium materials and engineered to enhance the safety and performance of your Toro equipment. Plus, every part we ship comes with a one-year full warranty*.

*See your local dealer or retailer for complete warranty details.

Read More Toro Equipment Maintenance Blogs here.

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