Simplifying the stash, what oil for snowblower?

[Balrog006]

As the title says and most BITOT'ers do I went thru a phase of having a specific oil for every piece of equipment....

I'm now trying to narrow the field, simplify and reduce the clutter of carrying 10 different oils for all my various motors. Case in point I am down to buying the best price XW20 for my vehicles, usually Valvoline or Mobil due to sales at Meijer and rebates and M1 Delvac 5w40 (on rebate) for my air cooled OPE such as my mower, chipper, generator, diesel tractor, etc.

However my one oddball is my Craftsman snowblower which calls for a Syn 5w30 for all range temps, or 0w30. What say you BITOG crowd, which would be better and why, the 20 or the 40 wt for the blower if I wanted to eliminate having to get and store the oddball Mobil Super Syn5w30 I'm using now?

Note-blower is stored in my heated barn during winter at ~55F so cold starts are not an issue.

 

[Alex_V]

5w40, hands down. I suspect the same powerplant in a piece of equipment not designed for use in frigid temps would spec a multi-vis or straight 30 wt. and especially in an air cooled engine (runs hotter than liquid cooled) I'd rather be a weight too thick than too thin.

 

[IndyIan]

5W40 is the one for me too, and buying it in pails is handy.

 

[Balrog006]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
5W40 is the one for me too, and buying it in pails is handy.


I was leaning this way to be honest...

Anyone out there using a 40 wt HDEO in a snowblower like this? Thoughts or experiences?

 

[JC1]

I'm using Mobil 1 5w30 in my snowblower with no issues. It's stored in an unheated garage and sometimes it's -20 C /-4 F.

You should be fine with 5W-40.

 

[silveravant]

I use T-6 5W-40 in all OPE. Snow blower starts just fine at -5 deg. Always on first or second pull, never use electric start.

 

[EdwardC]

Of the two, I would vote for the 5W40, easy. I've used Rotella T6 in that application.

Alternatively, you can just do a 50/50 mix and likely get a 30 weight. Or do what I did and buy a full 5qt jug for 0W30 just for the snowblower - because that's what a bitogger would do!

 

[Balrog006]

Originally Posted By: silveravant
I use T-6 5W-40 in all OPE. Snow blower starts just fine at -5 deg. Always on first or second pull, never use electric start.


Very comparable scenario, thanks for the info!

 

[Balrog006]

Originally Posted By: EdwardC
Of the two, I would vote for the 5W40, easy. I've used Rotella T6 in that application.

Alternatively, you can just do a 50/50 mix and likely get a 30 weight. Or do what I did and buy a full 5qt jug for 0W30 just for the snowblower - because that's what a bitogger would do!

I have a jug or so of my MSS 5w30 that I'm usingn up and trying to get rid of a grade...

Seeing the posts above and people's experiences with Syn 40wt HDEO in a snowblower I'm very inclined to think it's doable.

 

[FastLane]

I use Mobil 1 5W30 in my 8hp Tecumseh. No issues even at -30. Doesn't use any oil over the season.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Use 0w20 in your modern vehicles and either a 5w30 or 5w40 in your OPE. A snow blower isn't likely to need 5w40, but your summer OPE may. Given that you live somewhere where a snow blower is needed, you can probably get by with 5w30 in all of the OPE.

Now the truth be told, I have a snow blower but also run 5w40 in my portable generator. Unlike the other OPE, that machine is called to duty at full load for long periods; I wouldn't see any need for 5w40 in my mowers.

 

[CrAlt]

Interesting thread. I will have to rebuild my OPE stash soon. I am getting down to the last few qrts of white bottle "Premium Conventional" valvoline 10w30 SM oil I got on a close out sale years ago. Been running that in my Honda genset, mower, and power washer. As well as my snow blower with a B&S engine. No issue with cold starts. BUT the coldest it gets here normally is single digits F. I have never tried starting the snowblower in negative temps.

 

[JR]

I have edgeTi 5w-20 in my 04 Power Built Snow 8hp. It see heated storage in the ball park of 45 to 50 degrees.
So no cold storage for me, I could run 25w-40, 20w-50, sae30.

The last few years I have used any pcmo I have for the cars, no problems here.
It is usually 5w-20/30, generator is my only exception.


harvey