Personal opinion only, I don't think there's enough difference to make any
difference. I usually do sort of a combo of the two with my Ariens snow
blower. Letting the tank go low on gas (or siphon most of it out), I add a
shot of Stabil to the tank, let it run for about ten minutes or so until it
gets good and warm, then shut off the gas valve on the tank. The bowl
empties & it stalls, then I drain the oil & refill it, pop the plug out,
squirt some ND 30W into it, turn it over a few times with a cloth over the
plug opening, put the plug back in, refill the oil, & consider the engine
done. After that it's just a couple grease fittings, some WD40 on linkages,
etc, oil on the movable metals, & store it. It takes about thirty extra
seconds next spring to start it, but after coughing once or twice it springs
to life and gives me yet another year's service. Bought it in 1979. Only
part ever replaces is the throttle cable and the rubber-edged wheel inside
that spins the drive wheels. I especially love being able to "start & go"
in the spring that way. And it doesn't rust. Oh year, I replaced both belts
a few years ago too - boy is that a b_tch of a job! But, it's a faithful
ol' gal, still full of **** & vinegar.

If there's no gas shutoff (lawn tractors, etc.), I still do the same thing
but I leave a little more gas in the tank, maybe an eighth to a quarter
tank.
Oh, and pull the starter cord just before storing it to be sure the valves
close - set the choke full on; keeps moisture & spiders out of the
mechanisms.

I guess it mostly depends on where you store it. If it's got a safe place
to winter over, fine; but NEVER leave gas in anything that's near sparks or
any source of heat! There you want to empty the tank completely.

HTH,

Pop

--
Let someone else do it
I'm retired!
"Jim" wrote in message ...
Well the trees are turning green and the snow's finally gone, so that
means it's time to put the snowblower away. After I run it for a little
while to warm it up and then change the oil, should I keep running it to
drain the gas from the tank/carb, or should I keep gasoline in the tank
and rely on gasoline stabilizer? (The gas in the tank already has
STA-BIL in it.)

I figure that draining the gas completely will ensure no varnish/junk
build up in the fuel system, but keeping fuel + stabilizer in the tank
will prevent moisture in the fuel system/carburetor. Which is better?