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6 Best Oils for Snow Blowers – Reviews & Top Picks 2024

man using a snow blower

man using a snow blower

Oil is critical for virtually any kind of machine with moving parts. Snow blowers have a special dependence on the right kind of oil due to the temperatures involved in cold environments. Not only do you need an oil that retains its viscosity in the cold, but it also needs to continue lubricate your engine as it gets hot.

To ensure your snow blower runs effectively and goes the distance, the friction within your engine must be minimized sufficiently, and that’s the main purpose of finding the right oil. So, don’t jump in and buy just any oil. The type of snow blower you use will determine what’s best, but there are also a few universal oils that excel in most snow blowers if they meet the right conditions.

We have written reviews on six different types of oil that are best for different snow blowers. Each one is unique to a certain type of snow blower and scenario, so make sure you read through and find what best suits your snow blower and particular needs.


A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Winner
Briggs & Stratton Synthetic Engine Oil Briggs & Stratton Synthetic Engine Oil
  • Synthetic oil
  • Excellent low-temperature fluidity
  • Good for four-cycle motors
  • Second place
    Ariens Company 4 Cycle Wint Oil Ariens Company 4 Cycle Wint Oil
  • Good low temperature fluidity
  • Perfect for Ariens Snow Blowers
  • Good for four-cycle motors
  • Third place
    Husqvarna Synthetic Blend Engine Oil Husqvarna Synthetic Blend Engine Oil
  • Semi-synthetic oil
  • Good low temperature fluidity
  • Compatible with mineral oil
  • Arnold 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil Arnold 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil
  • Easy to pour bottle
  • Excellent low temperature fluidity
  • Good for four-cycle motors
  • Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Motor Oil Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Motor Oil
  • Self-measuring bottle
  • Good low temperature fluidity
  • Good for two-cycle motors
  • The 6 Best Snow Blower Oils

    1. Briggs & Stratton Synthetic Engine Motor Oil

    Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Motor Oil - 32 Oz. 100074

    Our first review is of this synthetic, small engine motor oil from Briggs & Stratton. This SAE 5W-30 oil is an excellent choice for most snow blowers with four-cycle engines. It has exceptionally good low-temperature fluidity to ensure it lubricates your engine immediately in spite of temperatures reaching negative figures.

    What’s great about this synthetic oil is that it helps to keep your engine running smoother compared to mineral-based oil. However, it shouldn’t be used with any other oil additives. It runs very well on its own, but this changes if it’s mixed with anything other than synthetic SAE 5W-30 oil.

    Therefore, it’s best not to use it with engines that have once used mineral oil. It performs better than mineral oil, but only if it’s exclusively synthetic without the residue from past mineral oil cycles. All in all, we think this is the best oil for snowblowers on the market this year.

    Pros
    • Synthetic oil
    • Excellent low-temperature fluidity
    • Good for four-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Not good for two-cycle motors
    • Not good with oil additives

    2. Ariens Company 4 Cycle Wint Oil

    Ariens Company 707068 32 oz 5W30 4 Cyc Wint Oil

    If you have an Ariens Company snow blower, then the Ariens Company 707068 5W30 4 Cycle Wint Oil is designed specifically for your machine. It has good low-temperature fluidity, but not as excellent as the Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil.

    It’s a long-lasting oil that doesn’t require filling or changing as frequently as lower-quality oils. This makes it ideal as it’s slightly more expensive than budget oils but lasts longer and always ensures your engine stays lubricated.

    Make sure you don’t use it for any two-stroke engines, and it’s best performed with consistent use rather than mixing it up with other types of oil. Overall, it’s a good choice for any four-cycle motor, especially if you have an Ariens Company snow blower. However, the 707068 oil is not our first choice unless you have an Ariens Company snow blower.

    Pros
    • Good low temperature fluidity
    • Perfect for Ariens Snow Blowers
    • Good for four-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Not good for two cycle motors
    • Not suitable with synthetic oil
    • Not synthetic oil

    3. Husqvarna Synthetic Blend Engine Oil

    Husqvarna 32-oz 4-Cycle 5W-30 Synthetic Blend Engine Oil

     The Husqvarna 32-oz 4-Cycle 5W-30 Synthetic Blend Engine Oil is a top of the line snow blowing oil. It suits other purposes other than just cold-temperature machines, but it’s particularly good for snow blowers. It’s useful because it can be used with engines that have previously run mineral oil, and it has a synthetic blend with unique additives for top engine performance.

    It has shielding additives that help extend the engine life while maintaining sufficient lubrication when motors are running at their peak. It also provides excellent lubrication during icy cold winter startups to ensure there are no dry patches during any engine cycles.

    The Husqvarna Synthetic Blend Engine Oil has been designed exceptionally well for small engines like snow blowers, but in spite of its brilliant performance, the oil’s rather expensive. We think it’s too expensive, so we only recommend it if you require the best and want your snow blower running to its optimum. It does, however, last longer with optimum performance compared to most other oils.

    Pros
    • Semi-synthetic oil
    • Good low temperature fluidity
    • Compatible with mineral oil
    • Good for four-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Expensive oil
    • Not good for two-cycle motors

    4. Arnold 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil

    Arnold MTD 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil - 28 oz.

    The Arnold MTD 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil has been specially designed for MTD snow throwers. It is the choice of oil if you have an MTD snow thrower, but it works well with any other snow blower too so long as it runs off a 4-cycle engine.

    It’s one of the most fluid oils in freezing temperatures but can perform well in warmer temperatures, too. One of the benefits of this oil is that it comes in an easy-to-pour bottle. The Arnold MTD Oil has a flexible bag-like bottle that can be positioned well to pour without spilling. This may seem like a small area of consideration, but one that makes it stand out for many snow blower owners who purchase it specifically for this luxury.

    Asides from this, the oil is one of the top-performing cold weather oils without a synthetic base or additives. It’s a good choice if you have an MTD snow thrower or have a snow blower that you haven’t used synthetic oil in before.

    Pros
    • Easy to pour bottle
    • Excellent low temperature fluidity
    • Good for four-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Not good for two-cycle motors
    • Not synthetic oil

    5. Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Motor Oil

    Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Easy Mix Motor Oil - 16 Oz. 100036

    Two-cycle engines are much less common than four-cycle engines, but many people still have them, and for a good reason. If that’s the case for you, then the Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Easy Mix Motor Oil is what we recommend.

    It’s designed for higher operating temperature air-cooled engines, but it runs exceptionally well for snow blowers, too. It is a fuel stabilizing oil with ashless additives to prevent residue build-up and plug fouling.

    Anti-friction characteristics are critical in two-stroke engines, but ash is a common result of anti-friction additives. The ashless additives minimize this effect while keeping the anti-friction characteristics strong. Therefore, the Briggs & Stratton Easy Mix Motor Oil is an excellent choice to consider for any two-cycle engine, especially if you’re having trouble with a smoky engine.

    Another big reason people like this oil so much is the unique measuring system built into the bottle. There is no need for a second small jug to do your mixing. It can be done simply within the bottle itself.

    Pros
    • Self-measuring bottle
    • Good low temperature fluidity
    • Good for two-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Not good for four-cycle motors

    6. Toro 4-Cycle Winter Engine Oil

    Toro 4-Cycle Winter Engine Oil 5W 30 20oz #38908

    Last on our list is the Toro 4-Cycle Winter Engine Oil. This has been designed for any small four-cycle engine running in the winter and does particularly well in snow blowers. It’s been formulated specifically for Toro snow throwers and is the Toro manufacturer’s top recommendation for the machine’s lubrication.

    It’s not a synthetic oil, but it has been specially formulated to cool, clean, and seal along with its strong ability to lubricate effectively. However, the oil isn’t the highest grade available, so don’t expect it to outperform an oil like the Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Motor Oil.

    The Toro Oil costs more than we think it’s worth, especially considering it comes in a small bottle that’s not big enough to complete a full Toro snow throwing oil change. However, if you don’t mind paying a little more for two bottles, this is the same oil the Toro snow thrower comes with. It’s best practice to use the same oil manufacturers use, so we recommend this as the top choice for any Toro snow thrower.

    Pros
    • Good low temperature fluidity
    • Good for four-cycle motors
    Cons
    • Not good for two-cycle motors
    • Not synthetic oil
    • Small bottle of oil

    Conclusion

    To wrap things up, when choosing your next snow blower oil, it’s a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. It may not be considered the best oil on the market, but there’s always a good reason the manufacturers recommend it.

    Yet, there is not always a recommendation available, and sometimes other types of oil have been used. While following advice from the manufacturer about oil is always a good practice, mixing different types of oil isn’t, unless the oil is designed to mix well with others like the Husqvarna 32-oz 4-Cycle 5W-30 Synthetic Blend Engine Oil.

    However, the best snow blower oil on the market is the Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Motor Oil. It’s the best synthetic winter oil for small engines. It performs better from the instant you use it, and lasts longer than any non-synthetic oil. Yet you should only use it if your engine is free from non-synthetic oil contaminants.

    We hope these reviews help you find the best oil for your next oil change or top-up. Feel free to leave your comments below in our comment section.


    Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

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