Preparing the Snowblower for Winter

Now is a great time to take your snowblower to a local dealer for any needed maintenance or repairs. Once the snow falls, their shops will be extremely busy, and they will most likely have long delays.

If you want to see what we recommend, see below to ensure your snowblower is ready for winter.

Use Fresh, Good-Quality Fuel

Use fresh fuel (less than 30 days old). Gasoline gets “stale” over time and fresh fuel ignites more easily. Stale gas can leave harmful deposits in your product’s fuel system. Ethanol-free gasoline is even better for your small engines.

Today’s gasoline does not have the same chemical makeup as years ago. Testing has shown that significant deterioration can begin in as little as 30 days. The first sign of old gas is it makes starting more difficult. This is because the most volatile components of the fuel are the first to deteriorate and are the ones that help an engine start easily.

We recommend you use a national brand to ensure you are beginning with good- quality fuel. Use fuel with an octane rating of 87, or as close to 87 as you can. Higher octane fuels offer no benefit for your residential products, and some high octane additive packages are not good for small engines. Only purchase what you expect to use within 30 days, or add stabilizer. If you add a fuel stabilizer the day you buy the gasoline, you can expect the fuel to stay fresh for 4-6 months. Fuel stabilizer and ethanol-free fuel is available at Monnick Supply.

It’s also a good idea to wait until the cool fall weather season arrives before purchasing gasoline for your machine. Gasoline is reblended to suit the season, and although the difference isn’t as great as it once was, winter-grade fuel will make cold weather starts easier.

Check Your Spark Plug

Starting will be easier if the spark plug is in good condition. If in doubt, replace it. A new spark plug will be able to better ignite the fuel-air mixture within the engine. You should also make sure the spark plug wire securely attaches to the spark plug.

Check Your Oil

If you have a 4-cycle model (fuel and oil are separate) and didn’t change the oil last spring, now is the time. Even if you only run the machine a few hours a year, the oil should be changed. Oil in a small engine does not break down very fast; however, it does become contaminated. Moisture from the air and small amounts of combustion byproducts (exhaust) will build up in the oil within a very short time. This contamination will result in increased wear and can even eat away at internal parts over time. Following the recommended schedule for your machine can help prevent expensive repairs.

Check Your Owner’s Manual

Review the starting procedures outlined in the operator’s manual, including the proper operation of the safety features on your unit.

Perform an Annual Inspection

Before each season, the rotor blades should be inspected for wear. When a rotor blade edge has worn down to the wear indicator hole, both rotor blades and the scraper should be replaced. Inspect the drive belt for fraying, cracking or signs of stretching. Replace the drive belt if any of these conditions occur. It is recommended to have an extra belt on hand in the event the belt breaks while operating. Check for any loose fasteners and tighten as necessary. Missing fasteners should be replaced immediately.

For more information on getting snowblowers ready for winter, contact Monnick Supply.

TORO