How to Winterize a Snow Blower
In This Guide
Learning how to winterize a snow blower is about preparing it before the season so it is ready the moment snow falls, not the summer storage step that many people confuse it with. The machine that fails on the first snowfall is nearly always one that sat all summer and was never checked. A short pre-season routine, fresh fuel, fresh oil, and a quick parts check, means you are clearing the driveway while your neighbors are pulling a dead cord. Here is the routine.
Fuel: The Make or Break Step
If the machine sat over summer on old fuel, drain it and refill with fresh gas, ideally ethanol free, plus stabilizer. Old fuel is the leading cause of a first snowfall no start, because it gums the carburetor while the machine sits idle.
If you stabilized the fuel last spring, run it a few minutes to be sure it is drawing cleanly.
The Pre-Season Checklist
Change the engine oil if you did not before storage.
Fit a fresh spark plug, or clean and gap the current one.
Inspect the auger and drive belts for cracks or glazing.
Check the shear pins and keep a spare set on hand.
Set the skid shoes for your surface, higher for gravel.
Grease the auger fittings and check gearbox oil per the manual.
Test Start Before the Storm
Do not wait for snow to find out if it starts. Run the machine for a few minutes on a dry day well before the first forecast storm. If it will not start then, you have time for a calm repair instead of a frantic one at 6 a.m. with snow piling up.
Common Pre-Season Faults
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Will not start | Gummed carburetor from old fuel |
| Starts then dies | Partially clogged carburetor jet |
| Auger will not turn | Broken shear pin or worn belt |
| Weak throw | Loose or worn auger belt |
If It Will Not Start After Sitting
If the snow blower sat on untreated fuel and will not fire, fresh gas alone rarely fixes it. The carburetor needs cleaning, a quick, inexpensive job. Getting it done in fall, before the rush, is far easier than during the first storm of the year.
Do the fuel and start test early. Every shop is swamped the week of the first big snowfall, so a fall check gets you seen sooner.
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.