What would you do without a snowblower during a snowstorm? You would be outside trying to dig yourself out of that pile of snow with a hand shovel.
Knowing the right gas to use in your Ariens snowblower can help minimize starting and running problems caused by running the wrong fuel or old fuel.
Ariens snowblowers use an unleaded gas with a minimum 87 octane rating and maximum 10% ethanol content. An Ariens snowblower with a 4-cycle engine uses straight gasoline. An Ariens snowblower with a 2-cycle engine uses gasoline mixed with a 2-cycle premium oil.
One of the main reasons a snowblower starts running sluggish is old fuel. Knowing the right type of gas to use and how to care for it is a must for every Ariens snowblower owner.
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Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual before diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.
Choosing Gas for an Ariens Snowblower
Buy Fresh Gas with a Low Ethanol Content for Your Ariens Snowblower
Gas that has been sitting around will begin to break down and lose its combustible properties as quickly as 30 days after purchase. It’s important to purchase fresh gas and consume it within this time frame.
If you are unable to use all of the gas you purchased, add a fuel stabilizer to make it last a little longer. You can find information on adding a stabilizer near the end of this guide.
Most gasoline contains ethanol. This is a plant-based alternative fuel that is added to gas to make fuel more environmentally friendly.
While ethanol is okay to run in most vehicles, it is not good for the small engine and fuel system on your Ariens snowblower.
Ethanol attracts moisture that will not only corrode your snowblower components, it will also leave behind gummy deposits that cause clogging.
Your snowblower will not start or will run sluggishly when these deposits restrict the fuel flow to the engine.
Always use unleaded gasoline with an ethanol content of 10% or less. If your Ariens snowblower is running a 2-cycle engine, you must mix oil with the gas before filling the tank.
How Do You Know If Your Ariens Snowblower is 2 or 4-cycle?
It’s important to know whether your Ariens Snowblower is running a 2-cycle or 4-cycle engine before you add gas. Making the mistake of adding the wrong fuel can permanently damage the engine beyond repair.
You can find whether your Ariens Snowblower has a 2 or 4-cycle engine by looking at the number of fill ports, the original fuel cap, or the operator’s manual.
- Number of fill ports: A 2-cycle engine will have one fill port for a gas and oil mix. A 4-cycle engine will have two separate fill ports. One fill port is for gas and the other fill port is for engine oil.
- Original fuel cap: A 2-cycle engine will have a gas pump and oil can image on it. It may also include the fuel mix ratio. A 4-cycle engine will have a gas pump image on the cap.
- Operator manual: You can find the type of engine and the fuel to add listed in the operator’s manual for your Ariens snowblower model.
Gas to Use in a 2-Cycle Ariens Snowblower
Don’t make the mistake of adding straight gas to a 2-cycle Ariens snowblower. Straight gas runs very dry and will cause the engine to seize up. Without mixing gas with oil for a 2-cycle snowblower, the engine won’t get the lubrication it needs for the internal parts to move freely.
A 2-cycle Ariens snowblower uses a gas and oil mix consisting of unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol content of 10% mixed with a 2-cycle oil that is ISO-L-EGD and JASO M345 FD certified. Briggs & Stratton and Kawasaki make a good 2-cycle oil.
Most Ariens snowblowers use a gas-to-oil mix ratio of 50:1. This means 50 parts gasoline is mixed with 1 part 2-cycle oil.
You may also find some engines that Ariens have used on their snowblowers require a mix of 40:1. Refer to the operator’s manual if you are unsure of the correct gas-to-oil mix ratio.
| Gas to Oil Mix | 1 Gallon Gas | 2 Gallon Gas | 2.5 Gallon Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50:1 | 2.6 oz oil | 5.2 oz oil | 6.4 oz oil |
| 40:1 | 3.2 oz oil | 6.4 oz oil | 8.0 oz oil |
How to mix gas and oil for a 2-cycle Ariens snowblower:
- Use the chart below to determine how much fuel mix to prepare.
- Remove the cap from an approved gas can. Add unleaded fuel (minimum 87 octane rating & maximum 10% ethanol content) to a gas can.
- Using the chart above for ounces of oil required, add the 2-cycle oil to the gas can.
- Replace the cap.
- Gently shake the fuel and oil until they are mixed.
- Add the mixed fuel to the snowblower’s fuel tank.
Gas to Use in a 4-Cycle Ariens Snowblower
Ariens 4-cycle engines have separate fill ports for the engine oil and gas. Ariens 4-cycle snowblowers use an unleaded gas with a minimum 87-octane rating and a maximum 10% ethanol content.
Do not mix oil with gas in a 4-cycle snowblower. Never use 2-cycle oil in a 4-cycle engine. Use a standard engine oil like 5W-30 from Briggs & Stratton.
Best Gas for an Ariens Snowblower
While it is okay to use the gas mentioned earlier in the article, the best gas for an Ariens snowblower is an ethanol-free fuel.
This type of fuel is a little more expensive, however, it will minimize the problems that develop from using ethanol-based gas through your snowblower.
You can find ethanol-free fuel at the pump from select fuel stations. This type of fuel is sold as REC-90 or recreation fuel. Check out pure-gas.org for a fuel station near you.
Ethanol-free fuel is also sold in canisters online and at your local hardware store. This is the most expensive way to purchase ethanol-free gas.
Add a Fuel Stabilizer to Your Ariens Snowblower Gas
A fuel stabilizer should be used to gas when you are unable to use it within 30 days. I know…because you never know when that next snowstorm is coming, it’s hard to estimate how quickly you’ll go through the gas.
This is why I choose to add Sea Foam Motor Treatment to every tank of gas to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.
Another alternative to Sea Foam is STA-BIL. Read more about the advantages of using a fuel stabilizer in “The Best Fuel Additive for Your Snowblower“.