ATV Care
How To Winterize Your ATV
Winterize Your ATV Today
If you are looking for some tips on how to winterize your ATV for those cold winter months then you have come to the right place! When the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall you may need to store away your ATV for an extended period of time. No need to fret because below we have listed a few basic actions you can take to make sure your ATV is well protected and ready to ride come spring thaw.
Fuel
The Problem
Most gas at the pumps contains around 10% ethanol which can attract water and you guessed it, water is not good for your machine. After the gas sits for a long period of time the ethanol can separate from the fuel and settle at the bottom of the tank attracting water through condensation. This last thing you want is to start up your ATV after a long winter’s nap and find that it now has a little water in the fuel system.
The Solution
To help avoid all of these well-hydrated fuel system troubles you can treat your fuel with a good fuel stabilizer. Once you treat the fuel you will want to run it through your machine for at least a few minutes to make sure it has made its way through all vital fuel system components. If you have a machine with a carburetor you will then want to turn the petcock off and drain the carburetor float bowl prior to storage. Alternatively, you can fill your gas tank with a non-ethanol fuel and just make sure you fill it to the brim to avoid as much condensation as possible. Taking these steps to guard against water in the fuel system may seem a little dry but you should not skip them if you are wanting to properly winterize your ATV.
Battery Care
Taking care of your battery is something you must do if you want to properly winterize your ATV. It is never good for a battery to sit in a poor state of charge, especially outdoors during the cold winter months. To extend your battery life it is always a good idea to pull the battery from the machine and store it indoors where you can hook it up to a battery tender and keep it in a good state of charge. Just don’t leave it sitting on the bare concrete floor.
Oil
Change Your Oil!
If your machine has been recently serviced then you are probably good to just put it up for storage. But if you are due for a service then you likely have some dirty grimy oils and it is probably a good idea to go ahead and replace them before you store your machine. It may also be a good idea to periodically startup your ATV every month or two just to get the oils moving and avoid corrosion.
Gentlemen Fog Your Engines
If you are going to be storing your machine for a very long extended period of time then you may want to consider fogging your engine. Fogging the engine will coat the internal components like the piston and cylinder wall with a protective coating that helps prevent rust. To fog the engine you simply remove the air filter and spray the mixture into the intake while the engine is running until it combusts and you can see it coming out of the exhaust. Keeping your machines internal components corrosion free is a vital step to winterizing your ATV.
Air Filter
Before you store your ATV for a long time it is always a good idea to replace your air filter. That way when you pull your ATV out of storage you have a nice fresh filter and your machine will be ready to go. It may also be a good idea to block off the access to your air box to avoid a possible rats nest in your machine. Just be sure to leave your self some kind of indicator to remind you to remove the blockage.
Anti Freeze or Coolant
It is also recommended that you replace your coolant at least once every two years. If you have not been keeping up with this then now would be a great time to go ahead and flush and replace the coolant.
CVT Clutch
CVT clutches have an inlet and outlet duct that you might want to plug up to prevent mice and other rodents from nesting in your machine. Just be sure to leave yourself an indicator so you remember to remove the plugs before you take your machine out to ride. Warding of rodents when you winterize your ATV may seem like a small step but failing to do so can have some big consequences.
Tires
If you have the ability you can elevate your machine and get the weight of the ATV off of your tires. This will help prevent them from getting flat spots and prolong the life of your tires. If you are storing your ATV outdoors it is also a good idea to keep the tires off of the frozen ground and out of direct sunlight.
Storage
Another key factor in winterizing your ATV is storage. Ideally, you want to store your ATV indoors and out of the elements. However, if you do not have the means to store indoors then you will want to make sure you get a decent cover for your ATV. A good cover will help protect your ATV from the rain, snow, peeping crackheads, and the sun. It is a good idea to consider a material that has some ventilation to prevent moisture from building up on the inside and causing rust or corrosion.
Whats the alternative to winterizing your ATV?
Don’t want to go through the hassle of winterizing your ATV? Then get out and ride that beast! You’re not scared of a little snow and cold air are you? Check out our list of The Best ATV Winter Accessories to take advantage of while riding your ATV during the winter months.
