How to Winterize and Store a Zero-Turn Mower

A proper winterization means your machine starts and runs right in spring instead of fighting a gummed-up carburetor. In Illinois, that's several months of storage, so it's worth doing well. This is the full routine, plus the one alternative some owners choose instead.

Fuel: stabilize or empty

Ethanol fuel goes stale and attracts moisture over a winter, gumming up carburetors. Either add a fuel stabilizer and run the engine several minutes to circulate treated fuel through the system, or run the tank dry. Stabilizing a full (or nearly full) tank also reduces condensation in the tank.

Battery

Cold kills weak batteries. Either remove the battery and store it somewhere cool and dry on a maintainer, or keep it on a trickle charger/maintainer in place. Clean the terminals and coat them lightly to prevent corrosion.

Fluids

Winter is a good time to change the engine oil and filter so the engine isn't sitting on acidic, contaminated oil for months. Check hydrostatic fluid and coolant (if applicable) per your manual. Grease all fittings before storage.

Cleaning & protection

• Wash off grass and dirt, trapped moisture causes rust, especially on the deck underside.
• Dry thoroughly; touch up bare metal and apply a light protectant.
• Remove, sharpen, and store blades (or note it as a spring job).
• Inspect belts so you can order replacements over winter.

Storage

Store in a dry, covered space out of the elements. Set proper tire pressure (or lift to relieve the tires on long storage), cover to keep dust and rodents off, and keep it away from anything that could chew wiring. A concrete floor with a barrier under the tires beats bare ground.

The implement alternative to storage

Not every owner stores the machine at all. On a front-mount implement platform, Grasshopper's is the clearest example, many Illinois owners pull the mowing deck in late fall and mount a snow thrower or dozer blade, then run the machine all winter. If your machine can do that, "winterizing" becomes "changing implements," and the mower keeps earning its keep through the Illinois winter. It's a genuine versatility point worth weighing when you buy.

Frequently asked questions

Should I run my mower dry or use fuel stabilizer for winter?

Either works. Running the tank dry avoids stale-fuel problems entirely; stabilizing a full tank prevents condensation and keeps seals wet. Whichever you choose, don't leave untreated ethanol fuel sitting all winter, that's what gums up carburetors.

Do I need to remove the battery for winter?

Not necessarily, but you should keep it charged. Either remove it and store it on a maintainer somewhere cool and dry, or leave it in place on a trickle charger. A neglected battery often won't survive an Illinois winter.