If you have a snowblower, you probably know that you need motor oil, just like in a car, to keep it running properly. It provides lubrication of the engine parts and cools them while keeping debris, dust, dirt, and grime away. Provided that they work on the same engine principle, is it okay to use regular motor oil in your snowblower?
Snowblowers have the same engine type as your car, so using regular motor oil is perfectly fine. There’s no such thing as special snowblower motor oil. However, an oil with a low viscosity (5w30) runs better during colder winter temperatures and is easier for cold start ups.
Your snowblower will still work if you use 10W-30 motor oil, but 5W would be the better choice. You should always stick to what your mower’s user manual says, but if that’s not an option, here’s what you can do regarding your snowblower’s motor oil.
Oil’s You Should Use For Your Snow Blower
The motor oils below will work just fine for your snowblower. The main difference in these types of oil is the viscosity. The thinner oils work best at colder winter temperatures.
The “W” in 5W30 for example stands for “Winter” and the number “5” is the viscosity at cold temperature. The second number “30” is the viscosity at higher temperatures, after engine has been running.
| SAE Oils | Viscosity | Summary |
| 0W-30 | Thinnest oil that basically turns into 5W30 at operating temperature. Great for very cold starts. | Good for extremely cold temperatures and if storing snowblower in freezing temperatures. |
| 5W30 | Slightly thicker than 0W-30 while cold. | Good for extreme cold and even mild winter temperatures. Most commonly recommend by snowblower manufacturers. |
| 10W30 | Thicker than 5W30 but still compatible. Better for warmer temperatures. | Fine for snowblower engines and even better for lawnmower operation during hotter temperatures. |
All of these oils are designed for operating during lower temperatures outside because they are thinner. If you use a thick oil during the winter oil takes longer to heat up, which puts more stress on the engine.
The “SAE” stands for “Society of Automotive Engineering” and they came up with the system for oil labeling.
Can You Use Regular Motor Oil In A Snowblower?
As I mentioned in the introduction, your snowblower uses the same type of engine as your car or any other fuel-powered machine. The internal combustion engine needs to have sufficient motor oil applied at all times, and your snowblower’s engine is no different.
An approximate amount of working time before filling up the motor oil on your snowblower is around five hours. It will depend on the weather conditions, the type of snowblower, etc. The best way to ensure you always have enough oil is to check the level with every tank of fuel.
To ensure your machine is working at its best performance rate, always check the manual to see the recommended motor oil. You can use regular motor oil that you use for your car, but keep in mind that snow blowers are used in winter conditions, and winter conditions require some adjustments.
If you use motor oil in your car that doesn’t have a W mark, it means it wasn’t designed to operate in winter conditions. You should buy different oil for your snowblower in that case, as you’ll need oil capable of withstanding low temperatures and freezing conditions.
What Kind of Motor Oil is Best for Your Snowblower
You should always strive to use the type of motor oil recommended for the particular snowblower model you have. If that’s not the case, you should keep a few things in mind before going shopping.
You need motor oil with low viscosity because these types of oils work best in winter conditions—the lower the viscosity, the better, especially if you live in areas where it’s freezing. To find oil with low viscosity, all you need to do is check the first number in the oil’s name.
For instance, in 10W-30 motor oil, the 10 marks the viscosity level. The lower the number, the better it works in cold conditions. The W indicates that the oil is designed to work great in winter, so you should always look for that mark upon buying snowblower motor oil.
The 10W-30 is the most common, regular motor oil. But, if the winter is freezing where you live, you’ll be better off with 5W-30 or 0W-30 oil, depending on how freezing the conditions are.
Also, I found that synthetic oils work much better and waste much slower than regular motor oils. They are a bit more expensive but provide better protection, performance and burn a lot cleaner.
To conclude, your safest bet for motor oil to use in a snowblower would be 5W-30 synthetic motor oil. 0-W-30 might be an overkill, as it works well in conditions well under 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so if it doesn’t get that cold, there’s no need to pay more to get it.
Can You Use 5w20 In A Snowblower?
While you can use 5w20 oil in a snowblower there isn’t much of a difference between using 5w20 and 5w30. Unless your snow blowing weather minus 0 degrees. Still a 5w30 will work okay under those conditions as well.
If you happen to have some lying around or got a bottle for free you should be okay using it. There is a slight risk of the oil being too thin where it doesn’t lubricate as well. If you don’t plan to use the snowblower for very long (under 5 hours) it will probably be just fine.
Some snowblowers may require this oil but if your’s says in the manual to use 5w30 then its best to stick within the recommendation.
Good Motor Oil Brands For Snowblowers
These are our recommend brands of motor oil available online.
Arnold MTD 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil
The Arnold MTD 4-Cycle Snow Thrower Oil is a specially-designed motor oil for small 4-cycle engines, as most snowblowers use. It’s pretty easy to use, and the package has a neat small cat that will enable you to pour oil into the snowblower precisely.
One package contains 28 ounces of motor oil, and it’s specially formulated for engines that work in winter conditions. The type of oil is SAE 5W-30. Most instruction manuals advise using this type of oil, and the Arnold MTD is one of the premium choices you can make.
Castrol GTX 5W-30
Castrol is one of the most popular car mechanics brands in the entire world. Even professional racers use their products in their vehicles, and motor oil is no different. The Castrol GTX 5W-30 motor oil is one of the premium oils on the market, and it works great for a snowblower, just as well as in a car.
You can choose between several styles of oil, including ultraclean, full synthetic, and high mileage. It comes in a 4.73L tank, market as SAE 5W-30 motor oil. It’s a bit more luxurious price-wise but well worth the price when you feel its performance.
EXPLORER SAE 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil
Explorer is a brand that specializes in small engine motor oils. Their motor oil, EXPLORER SAE 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil, is one of the best oils I’ve tried on the market, as it’s a great blend of affordable pricing and good quality. I feel like I’ve burnt through it a bit quicker, but it’s worth buying two bottles instead of one when you compare the price and quality with other brands.
This SAE 5W-30 oil is great for snowblowers, keeping them well lubricated even in harsh winter conditions. If you’re on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice quality and jeopardize your machine’s well-being, this is a great choice for you.
Valvoline Advanced Fully Synthetic SAW 5W-30 Motor Oil
By far my favorite on the list, the Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 5W-30 Motor Oil is one of the best motor oils on the market, especially for 4-cycle engines like the one in your snowblower. It’s versatile and long-lasting and provides the best protection for all the engine parts.
Other oil variants are also available, including the 10W-30 and 0W-20, depending on how harsh the winter is where you live.
