Winter is coming!

Winter is just around the corner, before you put your equipment and toys away there are a few things you should do to prevent problems later on.

1) If you have been ignoring your oil all summer change it before you put it away. Clean oil is the key to engine health. As an added bonus, you don't have to worry about it in the spring.

2) Take care of your fuel. There are two schools of thought on this, some people argue that completely draining the fuel from the tank and the carburetor is the best bet for winter storage while others will tell you to fill your tank completely. Of course there is always the third option, ignore it and hope for the best.  

We suggest this; if you are not already using ethanol free gasoline, drain your fuel tank and fill it completely with non-ethanol gas. Mix Sea Foam or some other fuel stabilizer with the gas. Run the engine long enough to get the old fuel out.  Make sure the fuel tank is completely full to minimize the oxygen exposure. 

3) Take care of your tires. Check the pressure in all of your tires; tires can lose as much as 2-3 pounds of air each month. Keep an eye on them over the winter or, even better put your vehicle on blocks of some sort. Sitting on a flat tire will ruin the tire over time. Particularly when the weather is cold and the rubber gets brittle. 

4) Park your equipment under cover, don't let it sit out in the rain and snow. If you don't have a structure of some sort to park them under get a tarp. Water has a nasty way of finding it's way into your engine and fuel tank over time. 

Taking a these few precautions will make your life much easier in the spring and can potentially save you money in repair bills.