I’ve been getting a lot of readers asking, “Is the Ariens EFI worth the extra money?”
Here are three short videos that will help you answer that question.
The snow blower in this video is available at The Home Depot and your local Ariens dealer. Home Depot Link: Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI
Feel free to ask questions in the comment section below.
About Paul Sikkema Paul Sikkema has been writing about snow blowers, riding mowers and other lawn and garden equipment for over 10 years. Paul does most his writing out in his workshop where he feeds the wildlife and birds in the yard. His goal is to have a red squirrel eating out of his hand. He spends as much time with his granddaughter as he can.
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Rich
I bought a Platinum 30 SHO in September, 2015. The EFI version had not been released yet.
I live in the lower Hudson Valley, NY. This thing is a beast. Never stalled out ever, not even once.
I use StaBil in the gas and turn off the gas feed and run it dry after every use. I do not drain the tank for storage.
It always starts on the first pull, even the first use of the season.
I could not be happier, except if the gas tank were bigger.
Brendan
I’m on the fence with EFI. I like all of the benefits, but what about repairs? It’s a new technology. I can at least rebuild or replace a carb. EFI not so much, and I’d be at the mercy of a dealer.
Kinda leaning towards a carb model and just use trufuel exclusively.
Maybe give EFI a few more years ? I’d like to at least see a stator instead of a battery.
Paul
Hi Brendan, EFI systems are electronic so they need electricity (battery) to set the fuel mixture before the engine starts.
Brendan
how do you feel about long term reliability for EFI?
It sounds good, but I’m kinda thinking a regular carb model, and just use trufuel.
As for what blower….. I’m in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada, literally in the middle of North America.
Driveway is a two car, let’s say no more than 60 feet. It’s paved and has a very slight incline.
Current blower is a 1981 Canadian tire model (Tecumseh motor). 8 hp, 26” wide.
Other than something 24” wide (fits in the garage better) I’m open to anything as any of the Ariens are better than what I have.
Obviously the platinum is the best, but could I get by with a deluxe?
Still Leary on the EFI, although I like it in theory but if it brakes I can’t fix it. At least I can rebuild a carb for 12 bucks.
Paul
Hi Brendan, EFI is here to stay. Will these first models have problems down the road – I don’t think so. Ariens is very good at prove-design. That said, if you are nervous about them and you can clean/rebuild your own carb I suggest buying a conventional carb.
Do you get a lot of heavy/wet snow? If you do – go with the Platinum. If your snow is more “normal” most of the time – the Deluxe is a good machine.
Phillip
Hi Paul,
Living on Long Island (Suffolk county, NY) I’m about to make my first snow blower purchase (with much thanks to your videos) and narrowed it down to the Ariens 28, 28SHO and 30EFI. Price is a factor as it seems like a steep premium ($600) to pay for the EFI from the Deluxe. How much maintenance am I saving over the life of the device with an EFI engine, what is my $600 premium buying? I’m curious if I save on $600 will I spend that in extra maintenance costs over the life of the carb engine.
Paul
Hi Phillip, The Ariens Deluxe 30 $1399 the Deluxe 30 EFI is $1699.
The EFI engine has a better power curve. It develops more torque quicker than a carb’d model and won’t lug down blowing heavy/wet snow. I had one here last year and I was really surprised at how much stronger the EFI version was compared to a carb model. The EFI also gets better fuel economy.
The number one problem today with normally carbureted small gas engines is fuel. If fuel is left in the carb it can go bad as soon as 30 days. It separates and gums up the fuel jets. A repair shop will charge $250-$400 for that repair. EFI fixes the fuel problem by automatically compensating for the changes in the fuel.
Phillip
Thanks for the quick reply, Paul. I saw the deluxe 28 for $1,099 and was trying to understand if the cost savings on that model would be worthy the extra care needed to maintain the carb engine over the EFI for the higher upfront cost.
If you run a carb engine empty all the time with fuel stabilizer, what other care is needed that the EFI doesn’t require?
Paul
Hi Phillip, Not much more. Make sure you also treat the fuel you are storing and that the storage container is sealed. DO NOT buy fuel with higher ethanol content than E10.
E15, E30, and E85 will ruin your engine.
Aaron Morrison
Hi Paul,
I live in Traverse City MI and am debating between a deluxe 30 efi and platinum 30 sho. Would I notice a large difference in power, performance and fuel efficiency? I’m wondering how much of a boost you get from efi compared to the beefier SHO carb engine. What would you suggest? Driveway is 90’ long and wide to to a 3 car garage.
Paul
Hi Aaron, The EFI engine gives you easier starting. You don’t have to worry about using today’s crappy fuels as much. No one gives you Horsepower ratings but I’ll guess the Deluxe 30 EFI has about 10hp where the Platinum 30 SHO has about 14HP.
Where you live, I always suggest the higher HP machine. You get a lot of snow and the Platinum 30 SHO can handle anything you get quickly. The SHO impeller also throws snow farther than the Deluxe impeller.
Gene
Hi Paul, I’ve watched your videos on the Ariens EFI models. Impressive how easy they are to start. From looking at the Ariens owners manual it seems they’ve reduced the size of the fuel tanks. Do you have any ballpark idea about how many hours or minutes of run time for the 369cc and the 420cc? Considering 8″ snowfall, not too wet and not too dry.
Thanks, Gene
Paul
Hi Gene, Everyone is making the gas tanks on snow blowers smaller. Why? First, The large majority of problems with snow blowers is stale fuel. A snow blower may go months between uses and the fuel in the tank can go bad. By using smaller tanks you have a better chance of rotating the fuel through the machine and fewer problems with stale fuel. Second, today’s engines are much more fuel efficient than the old side-valve models.
Roughly a 369cc will use 1/2 gallon of fuel an hour and the 420cc about 3/4 gallon per hour.
Rich
I have a 2-year-old 30″ Platinum SHO with a good old carburetor and it started up last week for the first time, since last season, on the first pull. All I could think was wow! I use stabilized gas and always turn off the gas tank and run it dry after every use. Love my Ariens!
Steven D Visek
Paul, a year or so ago I’d asked for a recommendation for a snowblower and you suggested the Ariens Deluxe.
I ended up getting the EFI version and didn’t pay a premium. At the end of last season the EFI went on sale and was the same price, briefly, as the carb version. I even got to use it once when we got an unexpected late season snow.
I have also used it once so far this season. At the end of last season, there was no running it dry or draining gas. I just put the cover on it and then every 3 months started it for a few minutes. With our recent snow I pulled it out and it started right up and ran like a champ. Awesome machine!
Thank you again for the great recommendation. Unless someone likes dealing with chokes and carb maintenance, etc. I would suggest for most folks there shopping can begin and end with the Ariens EFI. Even if you have to pay the premium it is worth every penny. Though I didn’t have to pay a premium, I would have, even if that premium was double what it is now.