Power washers are handy tools to keep your home, deck and driveway looking their best. Manufacturers recommend purging the system of all detergent and water after each use to keep your power washer running at peak efficiency. It is necessary to winterize a power washer when storing it for the season. Before winterizing your unit, purge it as you normally would after using the power washer. Taking the necessary steps to winterize the power washer ensures that the unit is ready to operate when warmer weather arrives.
Instructions
1. Connect a garden hose and the high-pressure hose to the power washer. Start the engine and allow it run until the fuel tank is empty. This requires operating the nozzle on the hose. Alternatively, add a pint of fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank and allow the engine to run for 5 minutes. This enables you to keep fuel in the tank during storage without the risk of gumming up the seals in the fuel system.
2. Remove the hoses from the unit. Allow the engine to cool, and locate the crankcase oil drain plug and the pump oil drain plug. Place a container under the engine oil drain plug and turn the plug counterclockwise to open the oil drain. Turn the plug clockwise when no more oil is draining from the engine. Repeat the process for the pump oil drain.
3. Remove the oil fill cap and insert a funnel into the hole. Fill the engine crankcase with 20 ounces of SAE 30 motor oil. Pour five ounces of SAE 80W-90 oil into the pump oil fill hole. Replace the caps on both fill holes.
4. Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug with your fingers. Clean around the spark plug with a rag. Remove the spark plug with a socket wrench. Insert a clean filter in the spark plug hole and pour 1/2-ounce of SAE 30 motor oil into the hole. Place a rag over the hole and slowly pull the starter rope to distribute the oil in the piston. Remove the rag and thread the spark plug into the crankcase. Tighten the spark plug with a socket wrench, but don't reinstall the spark plug wire.
5. Place a four-foot section of garden hose over the inlet connection for the high-pressure hose and insert a funnel into the opposite end of the hose. Pour six ounces of windshield washer fluid into the hose. Pull the starter rope six times to draw the fluid into the system, then remove the garden hose. Store the unit in a dry area that doesn't reach freezing temperatures.
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