Chemicals & Lube
About Chemicals & Lube
Snowmobile engines start cold and run hard, so the oils, coolants and fuel products in this category are chosen for low temperatures. The listings include two-stroke and four-stroke engine oil, snow-specific motor oil, fork oil, shock fluid, racing coolant and antifreeze, grease, chain lube, bonding compounds and fuel additives. Many products here also suit other powersports machines, so read the label.
Match the oil to the engine. Two-stroke engines use two-stroke oil and four-stroke engines use four-stroke oil in the viscosity grade the manual lists, and the two types should not be mixed. Synthetic oils flow better in the cold. A liquid-cooled sled needs the coolant type your manual names, and some products are sold as premixed while others are concentrates, so check which. Fork oil and shock fluid are chosen by weight, such as 15W, to the suspension maker's specification.
Brands here include Lucas, Liqui Moly, Permatex, VP Racing and Sta-Bil. For cleaners see Cleaning & Detailing, for tools and other accessories see Misc. Accessories, and the group is Accessories.
FAQs on snowmobile oils and fluids
Does cold weather change which oil I should use in a snowmobile?
Check the temperature chart in your owner's manual. A lower first number in a grade such as 0W or 5W flows more easily at start-up. Use the grade your manual lists for the temperatures you ride in.
Can I mix two-stroke and four-stroke oil?
No. The two types are made for different engines, and a four-stroke oil in a two-stroke injection tank, or the other way around, can damage the engine. Use only the type your engine requires, and check the label.
Which coolant does a liquid-cooled snowmobile need?
Use the coolant type and mix ratio in your owner's manual. Some products are premixed and ready to use, while others are concentrates to be diluted, so check the label before you pour, and do not mix different coolant types.
What does full synthetic mean on snowmobile oil?
It means the oil is made from synthetic base stocks, which generally resist thickening in the cold and breakdown in heat better than conventional oil. The oil still has to meet the grade and rating your manual calls for.
How do I choose the weight of fork oil or shock fluid?
Follow the suspension maker's specification for your sled. The weight, such as 15W, changes damping, so a thicker or thinner fluid changes how the suspension feels. Replace the fluid as the service instructions describe, and do not mix brands or weights.
