What oil for your snowblower and why?

[572ratt]

I still have the oringinal oil in the lawn mower from the factory. I just add some straight 30w Pennzoil when it needs some. I bought it new in 2002.

The mower is a MTD Yard Man self propelled model. Has a Techumsa 6.5 horsepower motor. Bought new in 2002. Runs great.

I live in south east Pa. and cut grass every one to two weeks, depending on how much rain. Almost 3/4 of an acre.

 

[572ratt]

Toro with a Techumsa snow king motor.

Only Mobil 1 5w30

Twice a year change. The Toro was expensive so I treat it good.

 

[Scott P]

When I had my snowblower, I ran Mobil 1 5W-30. I had a lot of it around at the time and figured an $800 machine needed the good stuff. Alas, we moved two winters after I bought it. My father is now getting good use out of it. I have no idea if he is using Mobil 1 or not.

 

[gd9704]

My 25 year old Ariens 724 gets straight 30 Valvoline HD. It lives in my heated garage, so it never gets below 40-45 degrees. It seems to like it.

 

[Bror Jace]

Dad's aging (1980s vintage) John Deere 1032 got straight 40 weight (Pennzoil?) for a couple years several years ago. The machine is old and had a rough life with at least 50% parts having been replaced. The engine consumed oil so I switched from whatever it had been using to straight 40.

In the last couple of years, I switched it again to a 15W-40 HDEO (Delo400 or Pennzoil Long Life) and oil consumption did not change so this is the oil it has used to date.

It sits in a heated garage so I never had to worry about cold start-up.

Since the John Deere was getting on in years, Dad bought an Ariens 11528 as a back-up and eventual replacement. I ran this on the factory oil for two hours, then switched to 5W or 10W-30 for additional break-in. This machine sat for 2 years in an unheated garage so cold starting was a factor.

Once the engine had 15-20 hours on it, and I stopped changing the oil every few hours, I switched it to Rotella 5W-40. I love the HDEOs and this one would pump at temps as low as 0F without much trouble.

However, this machine has since been moved to the warm garage as well. When the 5W-40runs out, I'll have Dad switch it to 15W-40 with the other blower.