Get Your Snow Blower Ready Before the First Storm
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The short answer
Before the first storm: change the oil, fill with fresh stabilized fuel, install a new spark plug, inspect belts and paddles, keep spare shear pins on the machine, set skid shoes for your surface, and run it for a few minutes. Cordless owners just charge batteries indoors and check the paddles and chute.
STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer
Keeps fuel fresh all winter.
Gas snow blower checklist
- 1Change the oil to the winter weight in your manual.
- 2Fill with fresh fuel plus stabilizer — never last season's leftovers.
- 3Replace the spark plug; it's cheap insurance for cold starts.
- 4Inspect auger and drive belts for cracks or glazing.
- 5Tape two spare shear pins and bolts to the handle.
- 6Set skid shoes: low for paved, raised for gravel.
- 7Check tire pressure and the scraper bar or paddles for wear.
- 8Test run for 5 minutes and engage the auger.
Cordless checklist
- Charge every battery indoors at room temperature.
- Check rubber paddles and scraper for wear.
- Spray the chute with a non-stick coating so wet snow slides out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When should I service my snow blower?
- Late October or November, before you need it — parts sell out after the first big storm.
- Do I need to change snow blower oil every year?
- Most makers recommend once a season or every 50 hours.
- What spray keeps snow from sticking in the chute?
- A silicone or PTFE non-stick spray applied to a clean, dry chute.
The Gear We’d Buy
Everything referenced in this guide, in one place.
STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer
Top pickKeeps fuel fresh all winter.
Typically $10 - $20
5W-30 Small Engine Oil
Winter-weight oil for cold starts.
Typically $8 - $15
Non-Stick Chute Spray
Wet snow slides right out.
Typically $10 - $18
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Key Takeaways
- Fresh stabilized fuel and a new plug prevent most problems.
- Spare shear pins belong on the machine.
- Set skid shoes for your surface.
Fix this next
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Three safe ways to deal with gas in your mower before winter storage — siphon pump, run it dry, or stabilize — and which one your mower needs.
Reviewed by
The Lawn Tool Hub Test Bench
We buy, borrow and break lawn tools on our own yards — clay in the back, sand-cut Bermuda in the front — and write down what actually changed the result.
Keep reading
Snow Blower Won't Start: Check These Six Things First
Stale fuel, choke and primer, spark plug, fuel valve, shear pins and cold oil: a step-by-step fix for a gas snow blower that won't start or won't throw snow.
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Top pick
STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer