For those of you who will be bedding down their ATV for the wintertime, here are a few things that you should know.
Winterizing your quad is important so that when the springtime arrives, it’s in perfect drivable condition. To prepare your ATV to sit in the storage for a prolonged period - weeks or even months - follow these steps.
Fuel Stabilizer
Gasoline contains ethanol. And when the gas sits in the tank or fuel lines for a long time, the ethanol starts to sediment at the base. Also, if your tank is half empty, the condensation issue is going to make the situation worse. To avoid all of this, you need to do two things. First, add fuel stabilizer to the tank. Second, fuel up to make sure there’s little to no space in the tank for condensation to occur. And when you are done, turn on the ignition and let the engine run idle for 5 minutes. This will ensure the fuel stabilizer has made its way through the fuel lines and other components.
There’s a wide variety of fuel stabilizers available on the market, and you can choose any brand or ask a friend for a recommendation if you haven’t used fuel stabilizer before.
<h2> Standard Maintenance
Standard maintenance includes oil and filter change, and it must be done before winterizing so that when you pull your ATV out of storage, it’s ready to go.
Air filter
After you replace the air filter, block the air intake to restrict the entry of pests and critters. And don’t forget to put an indicator to remind yourself to unblock the filter before taking your quad for a spin.
Coolant
When your ATV is going to be sitting for a long time, it’s a good idea to flush the cooling system and add fresh coolant before storing it.
Engine Oil
When it comes to winterizing, most ATV owners don’t mind the dirty engine oil or transmission fluid. But think about it. The engine oil sitting in there will get oxidized and won’t be fit for use when springtime comes around. And it’s always better to prepare beforehand than dealing with last-minute hassles. So while you are at, change the engine oil as well.
Fogging the engine
As your quad sits in storage, the engine oil gradually drips off the pistons and other internal moving components, exposing them to rust and corrosion. To avoid this, remove the air filter and spray the fogging oil directly into the intake manifold while the engine is running. Keep spraying until the fogging oil gets combusted and comes out of the exhaust pipe in the form of blue smoke. The fogging oil will protect the pistons, cylinders and valves from corrosion.
Battery
To prevent your battery from getting discharged, remove it from the ATV and hook it up to a trickle charger that will keep it topped up at all times. If you leave the battery inside the vehicle before storing the vehicle, not only will the battery get discharged but it will also die down before its time.
Final Check
Plug off all the openings in your ATV, such as CVT, air intake and exhaust. Maintain optimum tire pressure and cover your ATV with a waterproof tarp.