ATV Coolant Tips

If you own an all-terrain vehicle, you probably already know how important it is to keep tabs on the fluids. When it comes to the coolant in your ATV, it can be easier to overlook than something like the oil, but it is still crucial to the life and performance of your machine. Here are a few helpful ATV coolant tips to help your ride stay in top condition.

1. Check the coolant levels: When it comes to ATV coolant tips, the most obvious tip is still worth reiterating because it is just that important. If you aren’t routinely checking your coolant levels on your ATV, you are putting your vehicle at risk for premature damage, wear, and even a locked up system which is costly to fix. Ideally every time you add fuel, you should check the coolant. You can also check it before every ride for even more assurance. The key is to have a routine of when you check it and make sure the routine makes regular checks of coolant levels like second nature as an ATV owner.

2. Check the coolant more often during summer/winter riding: The two most extreme times of the year weather-wise can take a toll on your ATV, especially the coolant levels. The heat of summer can quickly become an issue without enough coolant while the chill of a harsh winter can lead to a frozen system. It is important to check the coolant levels even more during these two seasons to ensure proper levels for the machine.

3. Use the right coolant and ratio: Another one of the more important ATV coolant tips is to make sure you use the right coolant and ratio for your ride. While most coolants are interchangeable, you should typically avoid coolants with silicates to safeguard your ATV from damages. There is also the matter of mixing it with water. While most ATV owners recommend a 50/50 ratio of water to coolant, you should check the owner’s manual to make sure before doing the ratio. Some owners also claim you should never mix coolants. For example, if you are running low on one brand, you shouldn’t add a different brand to the reservoir, but this isn’t a big concern. As long as the coolants are approved for your ATV and don’t have silicates, you should be good to go.

4. More isn’t always better: When it comes to ATV coolant tips, the idea of more isn’t always better is a hard one to learn. A lot of riders think they should just top off their coolant even if it goes over the fill line as an extra measure. This doesn’t actually help your ride and in fact, may lead to issues. You could end up wasting coolant as it leaks from the cap. It is also a waste of your time. You shouldn’t top off your fluids. Just fill them to the fill line regularly and you are good to go.

5. Routinely check the cap and reservoir for damage: A lot of owners will wait until they see a problem to check out their ride. A proactive owner can save some time and money by routinely checking the important parts related to the coolant before a problem even arises. You should regularly check the cap and reservoir for any cracking or leaks. It is a good idea to check these once a month so you can address any minor issues before they turn into a major problem for your ride.

6. Check water pump and hoses for wear: In addition to checking the reservoir and cap, you also want to make it a point to routinely check the hoses and water pump. These items are essential to regulating and distributing the coolant so your ride can run at optimal levels. You should check these areas every few months for any obvious signs of wear and tear. When you find any signs of damage to any part of the system, whether cap, reservoir, water pump, or hoses, you should take the time to replace it right away. This promptness will help prevent the problem from becoming bigger and damaging other areas of the all-terrain vehicle.

7. Flush coolant at least every two years: If you have never flushed your coolant, chances are you are limiting the performance of your ATV without even realizing it. The coolant system should be flushed at least every two years. If you ride it less frequently, you could skate by with every three years. Flushing the system is relatively easy and can be explained in the owner’s manual. Aside from removing a few frame parts to access everything, it is a simple matter of running water through the lines to flush out any old coolant, and then replacing it with new coolant. This ensures you aren’t just constantly adding new coolant on top of old coolant for years and years.