Is it better to run out of gas periodically vs topping off the tank before each use?

I don't do anything special to my OPE engines for winter. I always use ethanol-free gas, and everything runs every spring. My main mower is a Cub Cadet Pro Z, which has dual fuel tanks. I let one run completely empty before switching tanks. This keeps fuel from ever going bad. The fuel in each tank is always less than 2 months old. The engine will start sputtering, and if you're paying attention, a quick tank swap will allow it to keep running. This is the 4th season I've had this mower, and this is how I've always done it, and I've not had any problems with it. Well, any problems related to this practice.
 
I’ve always parked my mowers with E10 in the unheated garage for the winter. Always started easy next spring.

The Honda engine is the only one I did anything special for. Carburetor needed to be run dry to restart in 2 weeks or 4 months. Gas in tank was fine.

E10 in my zero-turn is about 6 months old.
 
Hello Folks,

Keeping equipment "at the ready" is something I had instilled in me year ago.

I grew up in the mountains of Virginia and recall when we would drain or siphon/pump all the fuel out of equipment for our cars and trucks then run the equipment carburetors dry and store them for the long Fall/ Winter.

The small engine equipment oil only got changed if it was starting to turn black from carbon blowby. We had mostly antique Clinton and Tecumseh along with cast-iron Briggs and Stratton powered equipment. Aluminum small engine equipment was just becoming popular. We seldom had running issues except for the occasional worn-out contact points.

Now, I'm here in Texas (40+ years) and I keep the equipment fuel tanks full of non-Ethanol fuel and change the oils in the early Winter and late Spring as time permits me. Down here in South Texas, the equipment seldom gets stored or shut down for any significant length of time. I have limited storage, so I only rotate out a few bulk gallons of oil and fuel without them sitting around having birthdays.

My emergency generators get run once a month for 30-60 minutes regardless of need and I transfer the fuel in them to my mowers in the Spring, so the generators always have the freshest fuel in them. (My 15KW Generac portable has a 16-gallon fuel tank, and the 5KW Storm responder has a 7-gallon fuel tank). I also keep a 16-gallon boat tank 90% full of treated fuel during the Winter stored under an outside overhang. My smaller generator is also setup to run on Propane, so I have 5-20lb (about 4-gal. each) bottles that I rotate out as I use them.

For two-stroke stuff, I mix the oil/fuel as I need it, then empty the 2-stroke tanks when done using them and keep the fuel in a tightly sealed 1-gallon metal can. I do not try to run the carburetors on them dry because the diaphragms will stiffen up and crack.

For me, I keep the fuel tanks topped off and the oil levels full year-round. Even though I keep fuel constantly renewed, I still like to use a fuel stabilizer additive as good "future insurance" in case I become incapacitated for a period of time.

For my customers who insist on using regular E-10 fuel I advise them to use Seafoam, Star-Tron, Ethanol shield or the "Blue" Marine Stabil fuel stabilizer. I have found that the heat down here affects the "Red" Stabil. Of course, some of these same customers think treated fuel will last for years (LOL).

I like repeat business, but not for the same reasons year after year.

Even as a small engine "repair guy" I still have trouble with my own equipment from time to time, but I do my best to minimize the severity.
 
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