Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - No doubt you've been digging out of your driveway after this weekend's lake effect storm. Some of you tried to use your snowblower to no avail. One expert says a problem may be in your fuel tank.
Bill Malczewski says one common problem is old gas in the tank. "(People) leave old gas in from last year, and they try to use it and it won't start because the old gas with the ethanol in it now lasts about 30 days," Malczewski of Hector's Hardware. "What a lot of people do is they empty out the gas tank put in fresh gas, and they still won't start because you have gas in the carburetor in the fuel bowl. And that's where it all clogs up."
Malczewski says the best advice is to take it out and try to start it. He says remember to put the key in, turn it, choke and prime it a few times. "If it does start, let it run for a few seconds and slowly take the choke off. If it doesn't start, dump out the old gas put in fresh gas. Sometimes you can prime it like maybe 10 or 20 times if you have a primer," suggests Malczewski. He says that can flood it and maybe the engine will catch with the new gas. He adds if you're a little bit handy, you can maybe take out the fuel bowl, clean out the gas, if not take it to a shop to get it fixed.
You could also try changing a spark plug. He says if that works, run it forward and backward and engage your auger. "Make sure the auger is turning and throw some silicone on there if it's hasn't been used in a while, put a few coats on there and that'll help if we have any wet sticky snow that'll help to shoot it out a lot better for you," adds Malczewski.
More snow is in the forecast this coming week.