If you use a snowblower to clear your driveway and walkways, you may be wondering what kind of gas is the best to use in it. For a small engine that is generally only used part of the year – the coldest part – it is important to keep a few things in mind as you choose fuel for your snowblower.

Type of Engine

Does your snowblower have a 2-cycle or 4-cycle engine? It’s tough to find 2-cycle snow blowers these days, so unless you have an older machine, you probably have a 4-cycle. If you do have a 2-cycle, you’ll have to mix gas and oil in a prescribed ratio. Check your owner’s manual for the right ratio, and mix carefully. If you have a 4-cycle engine, gas is all you’ll need! (But, do be sure to change your oil about once a season.)

Fuel Recommendations

For small equipment such as snowblowers, do not use fuel with high ethanol content. Standard gas station fuel will have about 10% ethanol, which is fine, but you may have the choice to purchase E15 fuel, which has 15% ethanol. Do not use this in your small engine, as it will gum up the works and ultimately begin to corrode the engine parts. It is only recommended for specific types of vehicles. Most users find that 87 octane fuel is sufficient for a snowblower, and the more expensive higher octanes are unnecessary. If you can find gas with no added ethanol in your area, that is ideal for small engines. However, it can be tough to locate.

When to Add Stabilizer

If you often have long periods of time between snow blower uses, you’ll want to add some fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank. This will keep water from building up in your tank and minimize the impact of the ethanol in your fuel.