Important! Aviso! Faites Attention!

[MineralMan]

Just in case anyone is buying a piece of gasoline-powered equipment, please remember that most such equipment is shipped without oil in the crankcase. You MUST add oil to your engine before starting it the first time.

I mention that, because my new snowblower was delivered today. There was no notice of the need to add oil. I checked it, and sure enough, there was no oil in the crankcase. The place where I bought it was kind enough to take it out of its crate and set it up before delivering it, and must have tossed the notice about the oil. Not a good plan on their part. Normally, there's a clearly worded hanger slip on the oil dipstick to that effect.

No harm done, because I know they're shipped without oil, but I can sure see how someone might not know that, and could end up destroying the engine by starting it without oil.

Just a PSA.

[tularetom]

1. If there's ethanol in the gas sold in your area, be sure you add a stablizer

Particularly for an engine which will not be in use for long periods of time such as a snow blower.

[MineralMan]

2. I always do. It goes in the gas can every time I fill it.

I never have any problem with old fuel that way. Stabil. It's what's in the gas.

During the winter here, there's never any problem, though. Once the snow starts falling, the snowblower gets used fairly frequently. This year, I get to start with a new one. The old one is 11 years old and getting tired. It still runs, but I can't sell it in good faith. I'll put it out on the curb with a Free! - Runs but needs TLC! Truth in advertising. It'll be gone in less than two hours.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Troy-Built is one of the

big offenders when it comes to not placing a tag on the engine. Operators manual will say do not run engine until you fill the crank case. Did time at a DIY Store,and you would be amazed at the number of machines that were returned with blown engines. It is a Guy Thing not to read Manuals.

[MineralMan]

4. Well, since I check the oil on small engines

every time before I start them, I'd never make that mistake. Thou need to make it absolutely clear, though, and should supply the oil, too. Since Lowes set up this snowblower, they should have filled the crankcase, too.

People don't read manuals, it's true. I do, but I'm weird.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. had a hunch you bought your blower from Lowes.

Sad to say,nothing new with these folks. If you didn't high lite it on a work order or verbally tell the setup person to fill the crankcase,for get it.