Does the upcoming winter season cause you anxiety, making you concerned about the possible harm it might bring to your beloved ATV? We get it – we’ve experienced those frosty nightmares as well. Nonetheless, we’ve found that taking part in some preventive maintenance can significantly help in keeping those cold problems at bay.
In this diligently researched article, we’re excited to share our top tips for cold weather storage – covering everything from preserving battery life to preventing pesky tire deflation.
So let’s dive right in and gear up for some proactive care together! Read on and rest easy knowing your ATV will roll out of the winter months in tip-top shape, just as vibrant as ever!
Key Takeaways
- Clean your ATV before winter. Use warm water and mild soap. Add oil to parts that can rust.
- Take care of the battery. A battery tender keeps it charged all winter. You could also store it in a warm place.
- Check your tires and fill them up to their max. This stops too much air loss during cold storage.
- Keep pests away from your ATV with heavy – duty covers and peppermint oil or mothballs.
The Importance of Winterizing Your ATV for Cold Weather Storage
Taking care of your ATV before cold weather hits is a big deal. It is named winterizing your ATV. This helps keep it safe and in good shape when not in use during the chilly months.
Winterizing your ATV stops pricey repairs later on.
One key part of this process involves draining the fuel and adding a stabilizer. This step keeps the gas from going bad while stored for months. Another important step is to clean it well before storage, which cuts down on winter rusting.
Inflating tires correctly also matters a lot during cold storage of your ATVs. It aids in keeping tires healthy throughout the winter season. Do not forget about changing oil and air filter as they are very important too for winterizing your ATV properly.
7 Expert Tips for Storing Your ATV Outside in the Winter:
When it’s time to store your ATV for the winter, ensure your ride is ready for cold weather by following these seven expert tips: build or buy a sturdy cover for protection, give your machine a thorough cleaning to avoid rust and corrosion, maintain fuel and oil levels to keep engine parts lubricated, check your battery’s health so it can withstand freezing temperatures, inflate tires correctly to prevent flat spots, guard against vermin with mothballs or peppermint oil-soaked rags in strategic places like exhaust pipes or air intakes, and finally – park it properly under its cover.
Build a shed or invest in a cover
Let’s build a shed. It is one of the best things we can do for our ATVs. A shed keeps the cold, rain, and snow away from them. No shed? No problem! We have other choices.
We invest in a good cover instead. This cover will keep our ATVs safe from bad weather too. It will also fight off UV rays and stop dampness from hurting our trusty rides. Plus, it stops dirt and dust as well! Using this cover saves us money on repair costs later on.
Give your ATV a thorough cleaning
We need to clean our ATV well before winter storage. This means we get rid of all the dust and dirt. We start by washing it with warm water and mild soap. Make sure you rinse off any soap that is left over.
Then, use a soft cloth to dry it so rust doesn’t form. Pay attention to parts that can rust like metal bits and the drive chain.
A good tip is putting oil on these bits: it helps stop them from getting rusty in the cold weather. Don’t forget to wax painted areas too! This gives extra protection against winter damage.
Perform fuel and oil maintenance
Before we put our ATVs away for the winter, we take care of the fuel and oil. We drain all the gas out and pour in a stabilizer. This stops gunk from forming in the tank. Then, we change both the air filter and oil.
New oil keeps everything running smooth when it’s time to ride again.
Check and maintain the battery
Let’s keep our ATV batteries strong in the cold. First, we should use a battery tender. It won’t eat up much power but will keep our battery charged all winter. This helps to prevent the battery from dying if we don’t use our ATV for a long time.
Trickle charging is also important here! Another good idea? We could take out standard batteries and store them somewhere warm during winter storage. This is how we do winter care for ATV batteries so they’re ready when riding season comes back around!
Properly inflate tires
We need to talk about your ATV’s tires. They play a big part in how well it runs. Before you store your ATV for winter, check the tire pressure. You want them at their max! This is a must-do step.
Why? Tires lose air slowly over time. When stored outside, this can happen faster in cold weather. By filling them up now, you’re stopping too much air loss from happening. It also keeps your tires in better shape for longer use! So make sure you take care of this important task as part of your regular maintenance schedule.
Protect against vermin
Vermin like rats, mice, and bugs can hurt your ATV. They chew wires and make nests in warm spots. Keep them away from your ride. Use a good heavy-duty cover on it. This stops the pests from getting close to your ATV.
Make sure you clean your ATV well before you put it up for winter too. Dirt and food scraps attract critters so clean it all off. Your ATV needs to be safe not just from weather but also these unwanted guests!
Park and cover your ATV
Find a dry spot for your ATV. Maybe you have a garage or car port. This will keep it safe from the sun’s harm. If not, think about building a shed. Don’t forget to cover it up nice and snug! A waterproof cover is good to stop rust and wetness damage.
It keeps seats dry and cables safe too. Always lock up your ATV when you’re done with it for the day. Store it in a way that stops thefts from happening in winter months!
Maintenance Checklist for Winterizing Your ATV:
To ensure your ATV’s longevity, here’s a checklist you should follow: start by cleaning and lubricating all parts of the ATV to prevent rust; undertake necessary oil and filter changes for optimal engine performance; disconnect the battery to protect it from freezing temperatures; choose a suitable cover that can withstand harsh winter elements; lastly, if you’re looking for an extra layer of protection, consider investing in a self-storage unit specifically designed to shield ATVs during subzero weather.
Clean and lubricate
First, we gather our cleaning equipment. We start with a good wash of the ATV’s body. This gets rid of dirt and debris. Next is the interior including vital parts like the transmission and differential.
Clean these to ensure they run smoothly when you use your ATV after winter.
Now it’s time for lubrication, which goes hand in hand with cleaning. Proper lubrication makes sure moving parts don’t rub together too much. This cuts down on wear and tear. It also keeps rust away while your ATV sits during winter storage.
Perform oil and filter changes
Change the oil and filter on your ATV. Clean spots around the dipstick and oil filter. This keeps dirt from getting into the engine. Then, drain all the old oil out. Doing this is good because it keeps water from gathering in your engine when you keep your ATV for winter.
Make sure to change the oil if you have used your ATV more than 50 miles since the last time you changed it. After that’s done, turn on your bike for a little bit to get everything moving well inside again.
Disconnect battery
First off, we take out the battery. We do this to keep it safe in the winter and stop it from losing power. It’s important to clean the battery before we store it inside. This keeps our ATV ready for when spring comes around again.
We also avoid any damage or drain to the battery while our ATV is sitting in Cold Weather Storage over winter.
Choose a suitable cover
We have to think about a good cover for our ATV. We need a cover that keeps out the bad weather. It is best to use one made of cloth that can breathe. This type of fabric helps guard against rain, snow, and dust without trapping moisture inside.
Another thing we should do before sliding on the cover is lift our ATV off the ground. Using jack stands or blocks lets us keep the tires in great shape during storage time.
Consider investing in a self storage unit
Storing your ATV in a self storage unit is a great idea. This keeps it safe from the harsh cold weather. A self storage facility offers extra protection for your ATV against dirt and other things that can harm it.
We think a self storage unit is good because it stops damage from bad weather like snow or rain. It gives you peace of mind knowing your ATV is in a secure place during the winter months.
Preparing Your ATV for Storage Indoors:
When winter hits, storing your ATV indoors is a solid option. Start by changing the oil and filter as dirty oil can cause damage during long storage periods. Slightly deflate the tires to prevent flat spots from forming under the vehicle’s weight.
Next, add fuel stabilizer to avoid gum and varnish buildup in the engine. Lastly, prepare your battery for storage – either disconnect it or connect it to a trickle charger to keep its charge throughout winter months.
Following these steps will ensure you kick start next riding season without any glitches!
Change oil and filter
We must change the oil and filter before storing our ATV for winter. Old oil can harm the engine over time. Use fresh, high-quality oil that is right for your model. After draining out old oil, put in a new filter.
Add new oil according to your owner’s manual. New oil keeps the parts of our ATV safe until we are ready to ride again.
Deflate tires slightly
Let’s talk about tire pressure. In winter, we let some air out of the tires. We do this a bit, not too much. This stops flat spots from showing up if your ATV sits for a long time.
But be careful! Don’t let too much air out or you might hurt the tires or rims. Good tire care keeps your ATV running well after storage is over.
Add fuel stabilizer
We add fuel stabilizer to our ATV for indoor storage. This important step helps keep the gas fresh. We put it in new gas, not old gas that is already bad. The use of fuel stabilizer makes the shelf life of fuel long.
It lasts 3 to 4 months.
For ethanol-based fuels, some studies show that adding a fuel stabilizer might not help much. So we fill the tank with fresh gas and use an alcohol-free stabilizer if we can get one.
This way, our ATV stays in good shape during its indoor wintersleep.
Prepare battery for storage
We have to care for the battery. A cool, dry place is best to store it. We should disconnect it so it does not lose charge. The temperature needs be between 32°F and 60°F. This keeps the battery healthy for longer.
Doing this stops drain of power when we do not use our ATV. Using these tips helps us keep our batteries fresh till spring!
Conclusion: Ensure your ATV is properly winterized for a smooth start to your riding season.
Get your ATV ready for the cold. Follow these steps and you’ll have no problems in winter. Your ATV will start right up when it’s time to ride again. So, take good care of your ATV during winter!
FAQs
1. What is ‘winterizing’ an ATV?
Winterizing an ATV means preparing it to stay in good shape during cold weather.
2. Why should I winterize my ATV?
You should winterize your ATV to protect it from damage that can happen due to the cold.
3. How do I prepare my ATV for winter storage?
To prepare your ATV for winter, clean it, fill up the gas and add a fuel stabilizer, check the coolant system, remove the battery and keep it warm.
4. Where should I store my ATV in the cold months?
In the cold months, try to store your ATV indoors like in a garage where there’s no snow or ice.
5. Do all ATVs need winterizing?
Yes, all ATVs need winterizing as they can be hurt by long periods of very low temperatures.
