Prepping your Ride....

Prepping your ride for the winter season


By Big Jim Charles



Today’s automotive machines are remarkable compared to earlier transportation devices but even though the technology is higher, one thing remains the same- The need for proper and routine maintenance to make sure your ride keeps going and going through the years.
As rugged as today’s ATVs, UTVs and Dirtbikes are they still need some tender loving care especially in regards to routine maintenance. Ever hear that routine oil changes are the life of a vehicle? Believe it. Many years ago, I worked at a Chevy dealership and a decrepit old care came in for a trade in. It was the same year as mine, but would hardly start. You had to sit there and pump it and pump it and pump it to get the gas to fire up and the engine to turn over. When I got it in the bay I changed all the fluids. Most of them were thick and sludgy like syrup. Some were actually gritty. After I changed the fluids the car started right up and I pulled it on into the repair section for the mechanic to go over it. I asked the owner when he last changed the oil, brake fluids and such….he could not remember…..I thought about that at the end of the day when I started my own car (same year model) right up and drove home. That car is STILL on the road by the way. Even though I sold it years ago. I know it had 300,000 miles on it when I sold it.

Some people will spend the winter riding. Others will put their quads and utes in storage.
Whether you like to ride in the white stuff or not, its still a good idea to change your oil. That way, when you are ready to ride, so is your machine!

Now some folks who have no plans to ride in the winter may get irate at the idea of changing fluids for a machine that will be sitting in the garage. What they have to remember is as the weather warms and cools condensation and moisture can find its way into your ride and can even possibly ruin your engine’s oil supply. Remember, water freezes at 32 degrees. How cold is it where your ride will be hiding? Do you really want unneeded moisture contaminating your precious vehicle’s oil supply? Change it.
Something else to keep in mind. ….Keep an eye on your belts valves and hoses. Cold weather can make rubber and metal contract. If you get ice built up, it could possibly cause pressure on the seals of those valves in your engine and around it.
When it comes to belts, valves and hoses that make your machine go, when in doubt, switch them out! And when you do change your oil do not forget to put in a fresh oil filter.
Speaking of filters, it is not a bad idea to switch out a machine’s air filter too, as they can dry rot over time and turn into a nasty, sludge filled sponge. Some riders like to put a little coating of oil into their air filter element to prevent dry rot.

Something else to keep in mind- Fuel. Today’s gasoline is not like the stuff grandad used. For one thing, it doesn’t have lead in it usually. For the other, because of the modern chemicals in it todays gasoline can actually break down in a few months and become useless. To make matters worse, moisture and condesnation can get into your fuel tank which in turn can freeze and cause damage to your fuel lines.
Instead of having to worry about the octane levels decreasing week by week, turning your tank of fuel into a tank of sludge, add some fuel stabilizer to your tank.
If you are gonna let your machine stay in storage through the winter an even better idea is to just drain the fuel out of it.

Also, if you are gonna put your machine in storage, keep your battery protected from cold. If you cannot start the machine up periodically or keep it inside, hook your battery up to a charging device. You can find them in many auto repair stores or even online at places like Cheaper Than Dirt. Some folks will unhook the battery and bring it indoors for the winter if they do not plan to ride, which is not a bad idea either.


Finally although many Extreme Riders love the Muddin’ the reality is that you should try to thoroughly clean your machine, especially in the winter. Caked on mud can lead to a rust problem later on your ride. If you love your “Heavy Metal” don’t let corrosion rob you of your pride and joy!
Put a little Vaseline or machine oil on the bolts of add on stuff so that they won’t rust and sieze up too.



A little bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way….ESPECIALLY in the dead of winter.