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Winterizing a 4 Stroke What's Needed?

5.6K views 14 replies 15 participants last post by  motohd66  
#1 ·
I'm asking for a friend and I'm just looking for the quick procedure. Treating the gas is a given. After that I have no idea being I don't own a 4 stroke. Any help would be great!!
 
#3 ·
All I Ever do is treat the fuel and run the sled to circulate it through the fuel system. Plug the exhaust to keep mice out and remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger. That's it. Then in the Fall I will change oil and filter along with chain case oil. That is all it takes to insure a gas and go season.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Change the oil and grease the skid now you want to force any water out of the greasable items and you don't want that dirty acid oil sitting in the motor all summer. Batteryminder maintainers are on both my 1200 year round my 09 still has its original battery
 
#5 ·
I was going to ask why you change oil in the fall instead of now, but I have heard that brand new oil can also be slightly corrosive and when you change it then you should run it briefly prior to storage. That was from back in my Banderlog Jet Boat forum days though and stuck with me after all these years. I honestly don't know how much if any truth there is to that, just hearsay I picked up along the journey of life :)
 
#6 ·
X2. After changing the the oil and filter at seasons end, run engine up to temp and slight fog for shut down. Let sit until next season.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
Winterize? Ride it.

Summerize; fresh oil and filter to get the acidy oil out. Stabilize a full tank of fuel. Grease all the fittings to force out the water. Get some penetrating oil into the ball joints, Loosen the track, put the sled on a lift to unspring the suspension, plug exhaust, charge the battery about every 60 days.
 
#12 ·
Trade it in April. Pick up new sled in November. Simple. You could read the manual if you really need to know
 
#14 · (Edited by Moderator)
Opinions vary widely but I usually just follow the recommendations according to the engineers at BRP.

From the owners manual to be done for summer or when a snowmobile is not in use for more than 3 months:

STORAGE:

1. Clean the vehicle

2. Add fuel stabilizer to fuel following the product manufacturer recommendations.

3. Run the engine after adding the product to the fuel

4. Lubricate engine (Etec summarization procedure does not apply to Ace or 4-Tec)

5. Lubricate brake lever pivot

6. Lubricate rear suspension

7. Charge battery monthly to keep it fully charged during storage (on models with electric starter)

8. Block muffler outlet with rags

9. Lift rear of vehicle until track is clear of the ground. Do NOT release track tension