Most of us will be aware that there are lots of different types of lawn mowers out there on the market and all of them have their own uses, advantages and disadvantages.
It’s quite common for some lawn mowers to operate using gas for example.
Now, while lawn mowers that run off gas can be very handy, the downside is when you need to remove the gas from them. Generally speaking, to drain gas from a lawn mower, you’d need to use a siphon – but what if you haven’t got one?
Luckily, there are other ways to drain gas like disconnecting the fuel line from the carburetor or sucking the gas up using a turkey baster!
We’re going to look at these methods and more with this very helpful guide. So, if you need to learn more – then read on for the answers!
Draining Gas Without A Siphon
As we said, generally speaking you would want to drain the gas from your lawn mower using a siphon. This is because it saves you a lot of time, energy and in some cases money.
Not only this, but you’re less likely to accidentally spill any gas on the ground.
But if you really don’t have access to a siphon, there’s no need to panic. There are two other main ways to drain gas from your lawn mower.
Let The Gas Run Out
This may seem a little obvious, but it’s perhaps the most simple way to drain gas from your lawn mower. Imagine you have a car and someone needs it completely free of fuel. You could spend hours trying to find ways to remove the gas, or you could let it run out!
To do this, all you need to do is start your lawn mower’s engine and let it run until the gas has completely run out. It’s a good idea to do this when you need to cut your grass first though, just for practical purposes.
However, before you start, be sure to add the fuel stabilizer prior to cranking up the engine so that any fuel left in the engine is treated and does not break down over the months in the winter.
This method might not be the most economical or most environmentally friendly, so this is why we suggest you do this when you’re running relatively low on gas and you have some use for the lawn mower first.
Disconnect The Fuel Line From The Carburetor
This method will not apply for everyone, but if you are lucky enough to have a lawn mower that has a fuel line directly connected to the carburetor, then you should consider this method.
All you need to do is get a container for the fuel and then disconnect the fuel line, which will then allow the gas to run from the tank, down through the line and directly into the container.
Of course, once you have fully drained the tank, you need to remember to reconnect the fuel line to the carburetor. Be sure once you have done this that you check on the air filters and the oil filters, along with the oil level.
Turkey Baster
We would only suggest this as a very last resort, but if you do not have the option to disconnect the fuel line, you’ve got too much gas to let run out and you don’t have a siphon around – then you can decide to go for this one.
It’s quite simple assuming you have a turkey baster in the kitchen! All you need to do is get a turkey baster and place it into the tank. Then, squeeze the baster bulb which will cause a suction. Once the baster is filled, squeeze it into a separate container.
This method might not be easy and you will likely need to repeat the process a lot until you have completely drained the tank. It’s also not entirely the safest because you’re at risk of spilling the gas.
Ways Not To Drain Gas From Lawn Mower
We’ve covered the ways that you might drain gas from your lawn mower if you do not have a siphon, but it’s important that we cover “what not to do” as well. Here’s a very important thing to remember.
Suck The Gas From A Hose
You may have seen this method on TV through people trying to remove gas from a car, but this is an absolutely terrible idea. The method works by sucking the gas from the tank to increase the pressure and forcing it from the tank to a new container.
However, this method is incredibly dangerous. Accidental ingestion of gas can lead to blindness, extreme vomiting and even death. Not to mention you will likely have a lot of gas on your clothes and face making you susceptible to being set on fire!
Destroy The Tank
Perhaps one of the dumbest ways people have removed gas from their lawn mower when they’ve not had a siphon is by literally trying to destroy the tank and then pour it into a new container.
We probably don’t need to tell you how much of a bad idea this is. Not only will it undoubtedly destroy your lawn mower, but there’s a real risk of fire and certainly a big risk of fuel spillage.
Remember, if you are ever unsure about how you should drain the gas from your lawn mower, speak with a professional.
The Bottom Line
And that’s all you need to know about draining your lawn mower of gas if you do not have a siphon. While it’s best that you do have one, we recognize that sometimes it isn’t possible.
Just remember to always do these methods safely and avoid the “what not to do!” pointers.
