For contractors in northern climates, the end of the paving and dirt season means putting the heavy equipment into hibernation. Improperly storing a gasoline or diesel walk-behind roller over a harsh winter is a guaranteed way to ensure it won't start in the spring. My winterization protocol is militant, and it focuses heavily on the two biggest enemies of idle machinery: water expansion and fuel degradation.
The most critical step is the water sprinkler system. If you leave even a small amount of water in the poly tank, the lines, or the brass spray nozzles, the winter freeze will expand that water and shatter the plastic and brass components. We drain the tank completely, leave the valves open, and use an air compressor to blow pressurized air through the lines until they are bone dry. Some of my guys will even run a cup of RV antifreeze through the system just to be safe.
For the engine, if it is a gasoline model, we shut off the fuel petcock and run the engine until it dies, draining the carburetor bowl completely to prevent the ethanol in modern fuel from gumming up the tiny jets. For diesel models, we top the tank off completely to the brim to prevent condensation from forming inside the steel tank, and we add a high-quality winter anti-gel additive. Finally, we change the oil in the exciter shaft housing. That oil has been subjected to extreme heat and friction all season; letting contaminated oil sit on the bearings all winter invites corrosion. A proper winterization takes two hours, but it saves thousands of dollars in emergency spring repairs.
