Tuning up your snow blower for winter helps to ensure smooth and efficient operation during the snowy season. Whether you have a single-stage snow blower or a more powerful two-stage snow blower, taking care of your snow blower will help ensure that it's ready to roll when the flakes start to fly. "Simply put, getting a snow blower primed and ready for the winter season before the first snowfall is critical to homeowners’ peace of mind each winter," underscored Wes Bollingmo, Channel & Product Support Manager at Toro. "Taking the time to perform simple preventative maintenance on a snow blower can help homeowners avoid the time-consuming and labor-intensive task of manually shoveling a driveway and sidewalk."

Tools and Materials You'll Need

Tune Up a Plug-in Electric or Battery-Powered (DC) Model

  • Use clean cloths to wipe down the entire unit. Doing so reduces dust and dirt that can affect controls and mechanisms.
  • Charge the batteries (DC models). Charge and store the batteries inside your garage or in a sheltered spot.
  • Check the condition of the power cord (plug-in models).
  • Check and tighten loose bolts and screws. The reverberation from the snow blower can cause these connections to loosen over time.
  • Lubricate moving parts
  • Check the tire pressure and fill the tires as needed
  • Notice bigger issues? There's still time to schedule snow blower repairs.

Tune Up a Gas Model

Gas snow blowers require more maintenance over their lifespan.

  • Check the tire pressure and fill the tires as needed. Are the tires worn? This may be the year you replace them.
  • Tighten any loose bolts, visually inspect for worn belts and chains, and check for rust on the snow blower auger housing and other damage. You'll want to address any issues before they become bigger problems.

1. Fuel Up

  • Add fresh fuel. Ideally, you should have used a fuel stabilizer last season and haven't needed to drain the tank. If not, drain the stale fuel (safely!) from the fuel tank and fill it with fresh gasoline.
  • Check the snow blower fuel filter. Replace it if debris appears to be clogging the mesh screen, pleated paper, or the inside of the fuel filter casing.
  • Check the fuel lines and fuel cap vents, too. Look for cracks and leaks that indicate a need for replacement.
  • Choosing the right fuel. Use the correct fuel type recommended in your manual, generally unleaded with low ethanol content (less than 10%)
Checking the oil level in a snowblower.
Check the oil. Credit: Emily Fazio

2. Check Oil Levels

"Snow blowers are often parked in the garage after the last snow without a second thought only to be powered up and pushed into the first snowfall with the expectations of top-notch performance," notes Bollingmo. "Oil in a small engine does not break down very fast but it does become contaminated. Moisture from the air and exhaust will build up in the oil within a very short time. This contamination will result in increased wear and eat away at internal parts over time. Following the recommended oil change schedule for the machine can help prevent expensive repairs."

  • Top off the engine with oil, if necessary.
  • Change the engine oil if you didn't at the end of the previous season. Refer to your manual for the recommended oil type and grade. Remember that the process is different for single-stage and two-stage snow blowers. 

3. Inspect and Change the Spark Plug

  • Inspect the snow blower spark plug. If you see any damage or wear, it's time for a spark plug replacement. A dirty spark plug is no good. Install a fresh spark plug so it's easier to start the engine.
The casing around the snowblower spark plug and its engine.
Remove the casing to expose the spark plug. Credit: Emily Fazio

4. Check the Belts, Chains, and Shear Pins

  • Check the snow blower belts and chains for wear. Replace them if cracked, frayed, or loose.
  • Make sure all the shear pins or shear bolts are in position. Check the shear pins for wear, too. Missing any? They can loosen or wiggle out over time, but are easy to replace.
A shear bolt on a snowblower.
Check and tighten shear bolts/shear pins. Credit: Emily Fazio

5. Check the Skid Shoes

  • Check for natural wear on the skid shoes. Plastic skid shoes wear down over time.
  • You can adjust the skid shoe height to prevent your snow blower from chewing the ground and driveway gravel. Set the skid shoes to the minimum depth so the scraper blade won't scrape the ground as it maneuvers its path.

6. Lubricate Everything

  • As specified in your manual, use a grease gun to all lubrication points, including auger shafts, gears, and chains. A fresh coating of silicone lubricant keeps moving parts working smoothly and prevents rust.

7. Give it a Test Run

  • Move the snow thrower into a well-ventilated area, and start it up. Let it run for a few minutes. Check for any leaks, unusual noises, or smoke. Engage the auger belt and auger controls to ensure everything functions properly.
Checking snowblower wires for damage or wear.
Check snow blower wires for damage or wear. Credit: Emily Fazio

8. Other Assorted Tasks

  • Consult your owner's manual for specific instructions and maintenance schedules for your model.
  • Sharpen the snow blower auger blades if they appear dull or chipped.
  • Having issues with the engine? A small engine repair specialist can help you troubleshoot and make repairs to extend the life of your snow blower.

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The Importance of Keeping Extra Parts on Hand

There's nothing like trying to maintain your snow blower in the dead of winter. Do yourself a favor and keep a few extra parts on hand:

  • Shear pins: Not all snow blowers use shear pins (for example, Toro upgraded its equipment to solid steel bolts), but we lose at least one pin every winter as it vibrates loose. Keep a couple extra in your garage so you have them in a pinch.
  • Fuel: "Keep extra fuel on hand in case a huge storm with heavy snow prevents you from filling the gas tank back up," recommends Bollingmo. No one wants to try and get to a gas station in the middle of bad weather."The type of fuel put into the snow blower’s engine can have a real impact on its performance during cold days and the life of the engine. Using a premium fuel like this can also lead to a cleaner fuel system, better fuel economy and less wear and tear on engine parts."
  • A tune-up kit: A bottle of oil, extra spark plug, and a package of fuel stabilizer help guarantee that you'll be ready to clean it up and pack it away once the temperatures warm up.