7 Best Snowmobile Oil

Oil is the very lifeblood of any gasoline-powered engine. The extreme cold and heavy use you can put a snowmobile through means that proper lubrication is needed to keep your sled running strong. 

I grew up in the mountains of Colorado and have used many different snowmobile oil brands over the years. While any oil is better than none at all, a high-quality option is going to give you better performance that you can always rely on. 

Klotz Snowmobile TechniPlate Synthetic oil is my go-to choice for a full-synthetic 2-stroke option. This is top-notch oil that delivers exceptional lubrication and high-power performance. 

While you can technically use any type of 2-stroke or 4-stroke oil in your sled, I would highly recommend using snowmobile-specific varieties.  

I’ll show you a handful of some other great oils here as oil to keep any snowmobile running at full blast all winter long. 

Check your mix and fire up the engine!

The Snowmobile Oil Reviewed

To help your snowmobile run at its best and have a long operating life, you need to take care of it inside and out. Good quality oil is one of the most important steps to a healthy engine and always a beneficial investment.

1. Klotz TechniPlate Synthetic Snowmobile

• Best for: Overall
• Key features: Long operating life, excellent lubrication, TC-W3 warranty compliant, improved throttle response, increased RPMs
• Type of oil: Full Synthetic
• Emissions: Smoke-free
• Brand-specific: No

If you only had one oil to choose from for the best performance out of your sled, I fully recommend Klotz TechniPlate Synthetic. 

This is a high-quality oil built to meet the rigors of cold weather engine performance while boosting your engine’s abilities along the way. 

It offers excellent lubrication for the proper performance of any engine and is long-lasting for fewer oil changes during the season, thanks to its full-synthetic formula. 

Klotz TechniPlate has the advantage of being certified warranty compliant, making it a trusted option by the major manufacturers. You can use it in just about any type of engine. It has earned a trusted reputation over the years and always delivers. 

It has a Clean Burn technology mixed into the blend, which allows for smoke-free use that benefits the environment while boosting performance. 

The oil also has one of the lowest pour points on the market, and its patented formula can also improve throttle response and RPMs. This is another reason why I suggest using TechniPlate and is an obvious advantage over the competition. 

There’s not much to mention in terms of a downside, but it is hard to find quarts for sale, so you typically need to purchase it by the gallon. That means you’ll always have a fresh supply of some of the best oil on the market.   

==> You can also get it at Walmart.

2. Amsoil Interceptor

• Best for: Power Valves
• Key features: Prevents piston ring and power valve sticking, great engine protection, excellent cold-weather performance
• Type of oil: Synthetic
• Emissions: Low burn
• Brand-specific: No

If you are operating a snowmobile with power valves and want an oil that will keep them functioning correctly and prevent sticking, Amsoil Interceptor is the way to go. 

This is another full-synthetic 2-stroke oil that is specially formulated to meet the demands of snowmobile engine performance. It has a cold temperature fluidity of up to -63F, and that rating is accurate and reliable. 

Interceptor’s formula was created to limit oil burn off, thereby increasing the amount of oil that stays inside your engine after the engine fires. This leads to long-lasting engine protection and ample lubrication at all times. 

It also can help keep your engine clean and prevent harmful deposits from building up as your ride. This is a result of a thermally stable formula that won’t break down under constant use. 

Interceptor also has a low smoke point for cleaner emissions and little odor, another benefit of a refined recipe that aims to keep things clean.  

It is an expensive option, so be prepared to spend a decent amount on a quart or gallon of the good stuff. That’s a small price to pay for exceptional performance, especially in DFI engines that require top-notch performance. 

3. Polaris OEM VES Full Synthetic

• Best for: Polaris Sleds
• Key features: Easy start formula, a great option for Polaris sleds, good protection against rust and corrosion, long-lasting performance
• Type of oil: Full Synthetic
• Emissions: Low smoke
• Brand-specific: Yes

Polaris VES is the oil to use if you have a Polaris Snowmobile. 

It’s engineered to provide maximum protection to this type of engine and is fully synthetic to provide long-lasting lubrication whether you ride hard or take your time on the trail. 

I like that it is specially formulated for easy starts in extreme cold. I’ve very rarely had issues turning over a Polaris and think that VES oil certainly has something to do with that reliability. 

Another awesome benefit of this oil is that it can help prevent rust and corrosion in your engine, thanks to an improved formula that’s designed to keep this from happening. That consideration alongside full synthetic performance leads to quality across the board. 

By using a brand-specific formula, you can extend your machine’s life and make sure that it has all of the necessary lubrication and additives flowing through the engine at all times. 

The downside to a brand-specific blend is that you won’t want to use this in anything other than a Polaris engine. While you’ll be ok in a pinch, sticking to the manufacturer’s suggestions is always recommended. 

==> You can also get it at Walmart.

4. Lucas Oil Full Synthetic Snowmobile

• Best for: For the Money/Budget Pick
• Key features: Affordable, low ash additives, lower exhaust, good cold-weather performance, special snowmobile blend
• Type of oil: Fully synthetic
• Emissions: Low smoke
• Brand-specific: No

Lucas Oil Full Synthetic Snowmobile is a high-quality budget option. It’s one of the most affordable synthetic options around and provides you with good lubrication and lasting protection as a result. 

You’ll get a blend of several different synthetics with this oil, which keeps the price down but the value high.  

The formula works well to lower exhaust emissions and keep smoke down, which cheaper oils can’t always accomplish. A low ash additive package adds to the environmentally friendly focus and can be used in other 2-stroke engines that require a lower ash system. 

The blend also has some quality detergents mixed in to prevent deposits from building up while keeping your engine clean and in good working order. 

It also has excellent cold-weather performance to give you reliable starts and dependable power all winter long. It’s also a good option for sleds with power valves due to the supplemental additives to boost their performance. 

You will see a bit of a tradeoff with a valued blend here. It’s not the highest quality synthetic oil around. I wouldn’t use it in a sled that you want to see maximum performance out of. But it’s a great oil for the average machine, and the price is hard to beat.   

==> You can also get it on RevZilla.com, CycleGear.com or Walmart.

5. Polaris Blue Synthetic Blend 

• Best for: Blended Oil
• Key features: Good engine protection, designed to limit deposits and buildups, dependable performance, easy cold starting power 
• Type of oil: Synthetic blend
• Emissions: Clean burn for a blended option
• Brand-specific: Yes, but can be used in other machines

Polaris Blue is the option to use if you need a blended oil for a fan-cooled or non-exhaust valve liquid-cooled engine.

The synthetic blend formula is designed to be used in pre-mix and oil injection sleds, and it gives these types of engines quality lubrication and performance.  A proprietary synthetic blend formula burns clean and leads to fewer carbon deposits within the engine as well.

This is a good oil for older Polaris sleds and provides the increased lubrication of synthetic oil without the risk of blowing out old deposits, leading to leaks. It’s also an affordable quality oil. 

It is another option that I wouldn’t recommend in newer, high-performance machines. And you should check your specs before putting it into anything other than a Polaris. 

Blue is one of the best-blended formulas out there and has a versatile application and quality performance across the board.   

==> You can also get it at Walmart.

6. XPS 4 Stroke Synthetic Blend 5W-40

• Best for: 4-stroke Oil
• Key features: High-performance formula, anti-corrosion additives, excellent protection and lubrication
• Type of oil: Synthetic Blend, 5W-40
• Emissions: Not specified
• Brand-specific: No

If you have a newer sled with a 4-stroke engine, you need to make sure you always use 4-stroke oil. XPS 4-Stroke Synthetic Blend is a top option to choose as it’s designed for high-performance powersport engines.

It features a special formula that uses premium additives to provide anti-wear and anti-corrosion protection. This is an excellent feature for all performance engines as they generate more torque and power, leading to increased wear over a standard 2-stroke engine. 

This oil works well in extreme cold and will give you good lubrication and protection even when the thermometer plummets. 

I haven’t ridden on that many 4-stroke sleds, and this is one of the only options I’m familiar with. You might want to look into a few other options with that in mind, but I’m happy with what this XPS blend has to offer. 

==> You can also get it at Walmart.

7. Lucas Oil Semi Synthetic 

• Best for: Vintage Sleds
• Key features: Low ash, smokeless, adequate rust protection, reduces carbon build-up
• Type of oil: Semi-synthetic
• Emissions: Burns a little dirty
• Brand-specific: No

If you are babying a vintage sled and trying to get it to last another 20 or thirty years, you’ll want to pay attention to what oil you put in the engine. 

Lucas Oil Semi Synthetic is a good option for older machines as it provides quality lubrication and protection without as many harsh additives and detergents as modern full synthetic oil. 

It provides quality rust protection when your sled is sitting during the warmer months and reduces carbon build-up while you’re running it hard on the trails in the winter. 

The oil can also prevent piston burning and ring sticking, two common problems with older sleds. 

Even though this is a smokeless oil, it still burns a little dirtier than newer oils with current environmental concerns in mind. That’s to be expected in an older sled but should be noted as a definite downside of running vintage engines. 

==> You can also get it on FarmandFleet.com or Walmart.

What to Look for in Snowmobile Oil

When you are looking for good snowmobile oil, keep the following factors in mind. 

Check Your Specs

Before making your mix or putting new oil in your sled, you always want to check your manufacturer’s specifications for what oil to use. The first concern here is making sure you put 2-stroke oil in a 2-cycle engine and 4-stroke oil in a 4-cycle engine. 

On top of this, the snowmobile maker may have a specific oil that it suggests for the best performance. This can be brand-specific and should generally be followed if you want proper lubrication and power. 

Regular/Synthetic/Synthetic Blend

I generally recommend that you should always use a full synthetic snowmobile oil for the best performance. This type of oil lasts longer than regular oil and will increase the lifetime operation of your sled. It is the most expensive type of oil, however. 

If you want to save some money or the manufacturer recommends it, you can use a synthetic blend. This type of oil is a blend of regular and synthetic oil. It works well for most machines, but you’ll need to change the oil more often. It’s also cheaper. 

Regular oil might be needed for an older or vintage sled. If an old engine has never seen synthetic oil, you may not want to use it as it can cause leaks and other small issues as it cleans out the motor. 

Here is a useful reference for some more information on the different types of oils. 

Don’t Forget Your Oil/Check Your Ratio

If you are using a 2-stroke sled, which many of us still are, you need to make sure you always mix your oil into your gas. And you also need to make sure you get your ratio right for optimal performance. 

Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for the proper ratio, but a 40:1 mix is a good starting point. 

Snowmobile Oil FAQs

Here are some quick answers to common questions regarding snowmobile oil.

Can I use any 2 stroke oil in my snowmobile?

Technically, yes. As long as your sled is a 2-stroke engine, you can use any type of 2-stroke oil, and it will operate properly. If you have a 4-stroke engine, you will want to use 4-stroke oil. I still recommend synthetic oil most of the time. 

Is Synthetic 2 stroke oil better?

Synthetic 2 stroke oil offers better lubrication than conventional oil. It also has a longer life, so it can be used for more hours between oil changes. The downside is that synthetic oil is more expensive. 

What is the best oil for 2-stroke? 

The best oil for a 2-stroke engine is typically a full-synthetic option. Any of the 2-stroke oils you find here are considered some of the best around, and all come recommended. If you have an older sled that has only used conventional oil, I suggest sticking with that type. 

My Verdict

Klotz TechniPlate Synthetic Snowmobile earns my recommendation for the best snowmobile oil. This is a high-quality option that I’ve used in many different types of sleds for years. It provides plenty of lubrication and delivers exceptional performance, even in colder temperatures. 

Oil is an essential part of how your sled operates. Never forget to mix oil into your gas for a 2-stroke or add it to your oil pan on a 4-stroke. Always use one of the recommended oils here before starting up your engine.  

About Chaz Wyland