How to Drain the Carburetor on a Lawn Mower

The carburetors on lawnmower engines are designed to mix fuel drawn from a float bowl with air in the proper proportions for combustion. The float bowl of a carburetor contains a small amount of fuel which is replenished regularly during engine operation. A float bowl needs to be drained of fuel for carburetor maintenance reasons or winter storage. You can drain the carburetor on your lawnmower with a few tools and basic lawnmower maintenance know-how.

Ceramic container
Steel container
Flat-head screwdriver
Small vise-grip pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Make sure the lawnmower engine is cool.
- 2
  Close the fuel supply valve at the bottom of the fuel tank. Turn the valve handle clockwise until fully closed.
- 3
  Locate the carburetor float bowl at the bottom of the carburetor. Follow the fuel line from the fuel tank to the carburetor.
- 4
  Locate the float bowl drain valve at the bottom of the float bowl. Identify the valve by its attached spring.
- 5
  Place a ceramic or steel container under the carburetor float bowl. This container will be used to receive the drained fuel.
- 6
  Depress the float bowl drain valve with the tip of a flat-head screwdriver. Hold the screwdriver on a slight angle with the handle at the higher end. This prevents the fuel from telegraphing down the shank of the screwdriver as it drains from the bowl.
- 7
  Continue Step 6 until the fuel ceases to flow from the drain valve. This usually takes less than a minute.

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