How often to change oil on snow blower?

[Astro_Guy]

My snow blower hasn't seen a lot of use these past few years but it did get a minor workout tonight on four inches of light snow. I checked the oil before starting and noticed the oil to have some color but it wasn't black. I believe the oil to be at least five years old but would be surprised if it had more than ten hours of run time. It's an Ariens Deluxe 24 with the 254cc Chinese LCT engine. The oil in the sump is 5w-30 M1 EP and more of that is on hand. I'll probably change the oil after running the gas tank dry in the Spring; just curious to know how the BITOG community treats their snow blowers.

About once every ten years we get a 24+ inch snowfall here. Based upon my limited memory we are overdue.

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

Similar use case to my generator and pressure washer, I change it every few years or 20 hours, whichever comes first. Or whenever I'm bored and want a small job to do.

 

[Jdeere562]

I used to change mine every year, as part of the winterizing process. Still looked as clean as the day I put
it in, but what's a quart of oil for piece of mind. Maybe I should have said summerizing process. After the
yearly use and prior to storage.

 

[Torrid]

It's probably overkill, but I change the oil when I do my first mow of the year so it gets put away with fresh oil in it. Same with my mower, I change it when I put the mower up for the winter.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I use any syn 5W30 that I find on sale, and change it annually.

 

[SC Maintenance]

On things that I can't live without - I would probably change it. 5 years its due. I am guessing it holds less than a quart, so its not a cost question. Does it have a drain plug?

 

[Lubener]

After atleast 5 years, I would change it with 5w-30 and every 2-3 years of active use.

 

[#18FAN]

I'm on a 3 year run of Amsoil Formula 4stroke 0w40 on a 12.5hp briggs not much use this year might just go another year if we don't get much more snow.

 

[demarpaint]

If we got snow I used to change the oil at the end of the season as part of the end of season prep for storage. Since we've been getting little to no snow and the oil is clean I leave it alone. The machine will get about 1.5-2 hours use today. I'll run fresh gas, with Stabil Marine and a little TCW3 to coat the cylinder. If we don't get any snow this year I might just store it that way until next season. Or pull the plug, give it a shot of fogging oil, move it around by pulling the cord, reinstall the plug and call it good. As I get older I discovered I might be over maintaining my OPE.

 

[nickaluch]

I got fresh 89 gas checked the oil started on 3rd pull. Oil was clean probably changed it 3 years ago but haven't really used it much if at all. Not using it today my neighbor got a new snowblower he was excited to use it did my property last night

 

[BobsArmory]

Don't know if I need to but I do mine every other year.

Current fill Mobil1 0w-30. This spring I will put in some left over HPL 0W-30.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Usually if I use my snowblower a few hours I will change it yearly. So far last year I barely used it and have not used it yet this year except to move a small pile I shoveled up toward the end of the driveway. I will go two seasons on the last oil change because it has few hours and it looks nice and clean.

 

[dlundblad]

I’m sure what you’re doing is fine, but I doubt it’s getting enough use to get hot.

I do my OPE yearly. Makes for a great sunny warm spring is finally here March weekend task.

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

I got fresh 89 gas checked the oil started on 3rd pull. Oil was clean probably changed it 3 years ago but haven't really used it much if at all. Not using it today my neighbor got a new snowblower he was excited to use it did my property last night

That's a great neighbor!

 

[eljefino]

You're about right. I've got a rototiller that runs half an hour every year. It sees OCIs when the oil gets a little color, probably every 5 years. Fuel system problems are what I work to avoid.

 

[repairman54]

My blower gets used. Before putting it away for summer it gets a full drivetrain inspection and maintenance so it's ready to go at the first snow. Plenty of synth. 5-30w on hand from the other vehicles.
I stabilize my fuel cans when they get filled so I'm covered all year in all my OPE and its self idiot proofing.

 

[Bighorn2500]

Usually change my brother's cub cadet every two years with Mobil 1 5w30 he buys. It might see 5-8 hours of use a year if that.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

FWIW, when I had my walk behind 2 stage blower, I changed it annually in the fall prior to the snow season. My thought was 20ozs of oil is a minor cost when I needed the beast to move snow. I now have a 2 stage blower for my riding mower. The oil is changed in the mower annually as well.

Just my $0.02

 

[Foreman04]

Mine doesn’t see a lot of use so it usually gets changed when I start reading a “thread”like this from Astro_Guy.

 

[BrianF]

I had an AYP built Poulan blower with the LCT. Loud but a great engine. I bought it in the fall of 2013 and it blew the gear box around 2020. I used it very hard as it was the primary way to clear snow on my 10 acres. Would run it 3 to 4 hours at a time. I think it asked for every 50 hours. So sometimes it got a change every season and sometimes every second. I used left over 5w30 synthetic from my vehicle oil changes. Never burnt a drop.