Winterization is an important step in UTV maintenance here in Ohio, where the elements can take a heavy toll on our powersports vehicles. This guide from Addy Polaris explains how to winterize your UTV, so it will be ready for action when spring rolls back around! Addy Polaris is your trusted UTV dealer in New Philadelphia, OH.
Clean & Lubricate Parts
First things first: pick a sunny day to thoroughly wash and rinse your UTV. You need to get off all the mud and debris so you can see what needs maintenance. Debris can be corrosive if left on too long, and it’s just unsightly and messy, so why not give your vehicle a good scrub-down? Once you’ve washed and waxed your vehicle, you will need to apply some lubricant to the lug nuts, sprockets, chains and cables to protect these parts.
Change Out Fluids
If you fuel up your UTV at a standard gas pump, then chances are good that your gasoline has some ethanol in it. If left to sit for too long in your fuel tank, water can separate out of ethanol gasoline and cause rust and corrosion, resulting in the need for repair or replacement. To avoid this, drain the fuel you have and add fresh fuel, then add a fuel stabilizer that will prevent water separation. You will need to run your engine for a few minutes to get this stabilized fuel circulated to protect all parts of your engine.
When the engine is warmed up, you can change out your oil and the oil filter. Old oil contains lots of acids and other byproducts of usage which can also cause corrosion, so you need to drain it and replace it with fresh oil, along with a nice clean oil filter.
Check the Tires
When storing your UTV, it’s a good idea to check over the condition of your tires and make sure they don’t need major repairs or replacement. Months of hard usage may have worn down your treads or caused objects to become embedded in the rubber. If your vehicle has radial tires, inflate them a little bit more than the recommended psi level for storage. If the vehicle has bias-ply tires, deflate them to get moisture out and then re-inflate them to the correct level to prevent flat-spotting. If you can elevate your vehicle while it’s in storage, this will completely prevent wear and flat spots on your tires, keeping them in perfect condition until you ride again.
Attend To Your Battery
Remove the battery from your UTV and place it onto a tender during storage to keep it charged up. A battery that’s allowed to fully drain over a few weeks or months of storage is likely to become a dead battery that has to be replaced! Meanwhile, tenders help to keep your battery in good shape. Make sure to inspect your battery for any signs of corrosion or build-up that might merit replacement, too.
Store Securely
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you have a dry, secure space to store your UTV during the winter. This is especially important when temperatures get down below freezing. To prevent moisture accruing and pests infesting your exhaust and intakes, tape over these points. If you store your vehicle outside, you’ll want a good waterproof cover that fits securely. Otherwise, indoor storage is best as it will prevent theft, pest infestation and weather damage.
If, during your winterization process, you discover that your UTV could benefit from some professional attention, don’t hesitate to contact the service department here at Addy Polaris. We’ll be more than happy to schedule you an appointment with our team of professional mechanics so that we can get your vehicle serviced.
Searching for a new powersports vehicle instead? Check out our website to see our full stock of UTVs for sale at Addy Polaris! We proudly serve New Philadelphia and Dover, OH.