My auger I lay on the tank, I make sure I close the vent cap so no gas leaks.
If I lay it on the other side, it sits on the muffler, not bad but after I blow a bunch of holes, the muffler will melt the snow or ice and I am not sure that is too good for it getting water in there.
It will not lay on its side and my auger has the metal handles so there are no plastic tabs to prevent the muffler from hitting the snow/ice.
I have started to rest it on my sled so it is angled upward and I make sure the blade is facing up so it doe not get covered with snow and then freeze.