We ran 3 snowblowers today at work for about 6 hours each changed the oil two years ago didn't bother this spring didn't run them last year.
How often to change oil on snow blower?
- Thread starter Astro_Guy
- Start date
Yes - it has a piece of pipe from the engine sump with a cap on it leading to a place where it is really easy to place a catch pan to collect the drain oil. This may be the easiest oil change in my entire OPE fleet. It's not a question of cost or effort to change the oil on this machine but more the fact that it sees so little run time. After 40 years of owning snow blowers I can honestly say that I've never run one for ten hours in a season. We haven't had much snow the past few years and this machine may not have ten hours of run time in total. That being said I will likely change the oil at the end of the season after running the fuel tank dry. We still have a lot of winter ahead of us so maybe it will get a real workout before then.
We've had very limited snowfall here the past few years and there hasn't been a really large 24+ inch event since this machine was purchased. I believe it ran once last season plus once so far this season but not at all the two seasons prior. It's due for a change at the end of this season and there is an ample supply of 5w-30 M1 EP on hand. Up until now it was very difficult to see the oil on the dipstick because it was so clean but I can see it now. Perhaps the new mantra should be "if you can see it you should change it."
I change it annually in mine. Snowblower engines are not hard on oil, and don't accumulate many hours (homeowner machines), but they also don't usually get the oil temp hot enough to burn off condensation.
Often when I drain the oil from them there is a significant amount of moisture.
Often when I drain the oil from them there is a significant amount of moisture.
2x, when I do the summer storage routine, I make sure to run it until it gets hot enough to cook out moisture before the fresh oil goes in.
) in late October or early November . .Kestas
Staff member
The first oil change is most important to remove breakin debris, sometimes after 5 hours use. After that, I don't stress too much about the oil changes... every 20 hours?
I don't think I've changed the oil in my Toro 726 in 3 or 4 seasons prior to this weekend. Just haven't seen much use too, but I prepped it to sell so I changed it out.
I picked up a 2015 Ariens Deluxe 28 that got its oil changed as soon as I got it home. Looked like it has also gone a few seasons between oil changes.
Used Pennzoil 5w30 syn blend for both as that's the only 30 grade I have.
I picked up a 2015 Ariens Deluxe 28 that got its oil changed as soon as I got it home. Looked like it has also gone a few seasons between oil changes.
Used Pennzoil 5w30 syn blend for both as that's the only 30 grade I have.
I'm retired so I have plenty of time in the fall in Wi.to full service my two Toro's.I use Amsoil,I know it's overkill to change this often,but what the heck.I also get to check that all the machines functions are working properly before it's needed
I use Royal Purple in my Snowblower only because it allows me to see the oil on the dipstick. I run it until it loses the purple tint, and turns brown/black. That takes 2-3 years depending on the seasons. I'm on year 2 now and the oil is a very clear purple, as if I had recently changed it.
The universal rule here is that you assuredly are changing the snowblower/lawnmower/weedwhacker/powerwasher/leafblower far too infrequently.
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