What Type of Gas for a Snow Blower?
In This Guide
Knowing what type of gas for a snow blower is more important than most owners realize, because the wrong fuel choice, or the right fuel gone stale, causes the majority of no starts. The octane question is easy: regular 87 is correct. The part that actually matters is ethanol and freshness. Get those right and your snow blower starts on the first pull all winter. Here is the fuel that keeps a snow blower reliable.
The Short Answer on Octane
Snow blowers use regular 87 octane unleaded gasoline. These are low compression engines, so higher octane premium fuel provides no benefit and simply costs more. Do not pay for premium expecting easier starts, it does nothing here.
Ethanol Is the Real Issue
Most pump gas contains up to 10 percent ethanol, labeled E10. Ethanol attracts water and, as fuel sits, separates and forms the varnish that gums a carburetor. In a machine that sits idle for months, this is the leading cause of no starts.
Where you can get it, ethanol free gasoline is the better choice for any small engine that is used seasonally. If only E10 is available, a fuel stabilizer offsets much of the risk.
Never use E15 or higher ethanol blends in a snow blower. They are not approved for small engines and accelerate fuel system damage.
Fuel Choices Ranked
| Fuel | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Ethanol free 87 octane | Best for seasonal use |
| E10 87 octane with stabilizer | Fine if used regularly |
| E10 with no stabilizer, left to sit | Common cause of no starts |
| Premium (91 plus) | No benefit, wasted money |
| E15 or higher | Do not use |
The Habit That Prevents No Starts
Buy ethanol free fuel where available, or add stabilizer to E10.
Use fuel within about 30 days, or stabilize it.
At season end, drain the fuel or run the machine dry after stabilizing.
Start each winter with fresh gas, not last year's leftover.
If It Already Will Not Start
If your snow blower sat over summer on untreated fuel and will not start, the carburetor is almost certainly gummed. Fresh fuel alone will not fix it. It needs a carburetor clean, which is a quick and inexpensive repair, and then good fuel habits keep it from happening again.
Rather Have a Real Technician Handle It?
A Wildwood technician comes to your driveway, diagnoses the snow blower on site, and gets it running, usually in about an hour. More than 10,000 repairs completed since 2019, with flat rates quoted before we arrive so there are no surprises. When the snow is falling, you cannot wait around.