Winterizing Motorsports Gear: End of Summer Doesn't Mean End of Fun!

 

As the last bit of summer weather fades over the next month, it’s time to start thinking of winterizing your vehicles.  That doesn’t just mean your car or truck, but your boat, jet ski, and any other equipment that uses gasoline and oil.  A little prep now means a much easier time next spring and getting back to the fun quickly.  While the southern regions have another solid two months of motorcycle riding, boating, and summer-like weather, the summer fun is coming to a quick close for areas like Sturgis, SD and North Branch, MN.  But the fun doesn’t have to stop!

Winterizing your gear isn’t a matter of just washing and waxing the body and then covering the vehicle up for the next several months.  It’s also ensuring that the motors and seals will stay clean and free from the residue, dirt, and sludge in the existing oil that often can lead to expensive, time consuming repairs next spring.  For proper winterizing you need a complete oil and filter change just before storing your vehicles for the long winter.  It also means using a gas stabilizer, as well.  It’s important that you use a high-quality oil, not just the “cheapo store brand” or generic superstore substitute.  That’s a "NO-NO".  The summer heat and humidity can make old oil and gas left in the engine sticky and gummy.  As a result, it potentially robs your engine of performance, making it problematic for an easy start next year. 

After you have put away your summer toys, don’t fret.  Just because winter is coming, you can still have toys. It’s time to break out the snowmobile and get ready for whatever snows Mother Nature will throw at you.  If you didn’t quite get the chance to store the snowmobile away the proper way last season, uncovering the beast now will give you plenty of time to wax the skis, check the linkage, and (you guessed it) drain that stale oil ASAP to replace it with fresh.  If you aren’t a snowmobiling type, there’s always fun on an ATV which is good all-year-round. 

Any time a vehicle is left to sit for an extended period of time, it’s easy to forget about it.  For some, taking care of the stale gas can be as simple as using dry gas and putting in a gallon or two of super unleaded to help burn off any residue.  A better option is to use a gas additive to prevent fuel varnishing.  But when it comes to oil, there aren’t any shortcuts.  A complete oil and filter change is the only safe bet.  Don’t cut corners.  Do it right the first time, and you’ll be happier for it.  We recommend synthetic oils over conventional oil due to better performance, engine protection, and durability.

If you’re a bit rusty on the general maintenance and information aspects for your vehicles, don’t worry about that.  LifeTimeOil has the right high-grade synthetic oil for your engines and the expertise to help you ensure your engine’s maximum longevity.  Give LifeTimeOil a call at (612) 810-8835, or visit our web page for additional tips and guidance, or to determine the right type of gas additives and oil products that you need.