Winterizing Your ATV or UTV
As the winter season continues, it may be time to store your ATV or UTV to protect it from the cold weather! You shouldn’t leave your vehicle outside to get buried in the snow. In order to winterize your ATV or UTV, you should take some specific steps and precautions to make sure your vehicle is properly winterized and ready to be stored for the colder months. If you take the right steps, you’ll be able to ride without delay when the warm weather returns.
At Peak Powersports, we are here to help! We’ve created the following guide with tips for winterizing your ATV or UTV.
If you need any more advice or you want to check out some powersport vehicles for sale in Wyoming, stop by our location in Sheridan. We proudly serve Buffalo too. Give us a visit for all your ATV and UTV needs!
Cleaning and Lubrication
The first step to take before you winterize your ATV or UTV is to clean it thoroughly. Make sure you wash, rinse, and fully dry your model. You don’t want there to be any debris, bugs, brake dust, or other materials that could lead to corrosion. It’s a good idea to consider waxing any painted or chromed parts on your machine. Lubrication is a critical part of avoiding corrosion so make sure to lubricate the cables, lug nuts, sprockets, chains, and other vulnerable parts.
Fuel and Oils
The next step in winterizing your vehicle is dealing with fuels and oils. Most fuel has ethanol in it which attracts water. You do not want ethanol sitting idle in your tank for months. You’ll have problems with the tank if you leave the gas inside. Luckily, some fuel stabilizer can fix this problem. Start up your machine and run the engine for at least five minutes. You’re going to want the fuel stabilizer to be well distributed so the treated gasoline makes its way to all of the fuel-related parts.
After your engine is warm, it’s time to change the oil and oil filter. Leaving oil with acids and other combustion byproducts will damage your vehicle if you let it sit during the cold months. If your oil is used and dirty, you need to replace it as a part of the winterization process.
If your ATV or UTV is going to be stored for a long period of time, you should fog your engine. Remove the air filter and start the engine. While it’s running, spray fogging oil into the intake track. This process will apply a protective coating to the internal parts to prevent rust and corrosion.
Tires
Next, you want to perform some winterization tasks on your tires. You should refer to the manufacturer of your tires for specific instructions on how to prepare them for winter. For radial tires, you can inflate them slightly above riding pressure. For bias-ply tires, we recommend deflating the tires to expel moisture and then re-inflate it to the recommended level. This will prevent flat-spotting which will cause damage. If you can, you should elevate your vehicle while stored to reduce the weight placed on the tires.
Battery
You should always remove your battery before storing your ATV or UTV. Store it in a place where it won’t freeze. You can also hook it up to a trickle charger and install quick-disconnect leads. You want to preserve the life of the battery and prevent loss of charge.
Storage
The final step in the ATV/UTV winterization process is storing your machine. A breathable cover is a good place to start. The last thing you want is any moisture or bugs getting inside the machine. Tape over any entry points and choose a waterproof cover if you plan on storing the vehicle outside.
Do you have any questions about ATV/UTV winterization? Ready to browse some powersports vehicles for sale? Give us a visit at at Peak Powersports in Sheridan, Wyoming. We proudly serve Buffalo as well. Stop by when you need an ATV or UTV!