Winter is a season of holidays and enjoyment for many people around the world. While some people enjoy it for the rest, others enjoy it for the snow and winter sports like skiing or snowmobiling.
Snowmobiling out for long hours can sometimes pose a problem. Even if you’re out in the cold weather, it’s possible that your snowmobile gets overheated.
If you’re thinking about just ignoring the overheating issue, and just enjoying the ride, then you should think again. It can be a common problem but it should never be ignored. Overheating can cause many problems.
So, let’s take a look at the possible causes of snowmobile overheating, the problems it can cause, and how to deal with them.
Also, it’ll be very helpful for you if you watch this video:
If you want to know more about ice scratchers, then you should read this article.
This is another very helpful video that you should not miss.
Can Snowmobile Overheat In Cold Weather?
Yes, the snowmobile can overheat while you ride in the cold weather. In this case, there are multiple reasons why the machine would behave that way. Before checking into the technical details, it is good to do a checklist of all the things you might have missed—for example, Engine Oil.
If there is an insufficient amount of fuel running down the motor, oil would be the cause of the overheating problem. The rider should also make sure that the sled has enough coolant and also has to verify if there are some leaks, etc.
If you have checked all of them and if the snowmobile is still overheating, you should start digging a little deeper and check the snowmobile’s engine. To run correctly, the snowmobile should have these three things perfect.
- Air Mixture/Fuel
- A Spark
- Compression
Any of the above can also encounter problems when you turn on your sled, these can cause your machine to overheat, stop running, and also underperform.
Can you Ride an Overheating Snowmobile?
If you are sure that you are using the snowmobile correctly in the right environment and found it to overheat during regular use too, take your time and revisit all the points.
Do not use it further as it can be dangerous for both the sled and for your safety as well!
Overheating an engine can be a normal behavior up to a certain point. If the snowmobile overheats during the long ride, you may have to sit for thirty to forty minutes so that it has enough time to cool down and adjust to the correct temperature.
This will usually allow you to return to riding and also get more kilometers, but if you notice it heating again, you may have to stop again and let it cool down.
Is Overheating Dangerous for Your Snowmobile?
However, just like any other machine, this can be dangerous if it is not working correctly. The rider has to take into account all the other variables that may lead to overheating of your snowmobile.
Having the engine overheat is never a satisfying or usual behavior; it can surely be unsafe and dangerous. You can find yourself far from a specialized service to have a look at it.
You should also double-check if the engine has anti-freeze, enough oil and if there is a possibility of a leak that disrupts the engine.
Common Causes of Snowmobile Overheating
Overheating Stator
The snowmobile stators fail due to overheating. A snowmobile stator is mounted inside the motor, which is a scorching environment to be working hard in. The high-quality snowmobile stators are built with extremely effective insulation on their wire windings to withstand the heat, while the cheaper parts generally sacrifice the quality of the wire.
Voltage Regulator-Rectifier Failure
The Voltage Regulator-Rectifier on your snowmobile also fails due to the high amount of heat. This may be caused by using a low or cheap quality regulator with subpar electronics, or fatigue due to the age of the part. This may fail by causing short-circuit, which draws a high current from the snowmobile sector. This, in turn, increases its heat and causes it to crash.
Corroded, Shorted, or Damaged Wiring Harness/Electrical Connectors
Snowmobiles are constantly subjected to the melting snow that turns quickly into steam around a hot snowmobile engine. This steam may leak into even weather-sealed electrical connectors on the sled.
It then quickly gets to work corroding the metal terminals and also inside the wire insulation which can cause high resistance in your electrical system.
The increased resistance in your connectors and the wiring harness may cause your voltage regulator-rectifier to increase the output and eventually overload the stator that may fail from the increased heat.
How to Solve Overheating Issue in Snowmobile
If you notice your snowmobile overheating, there are multiple things that you need to check. At first, check if there is a sufficient amount of fuel running down the motor. Check the coolant, compressor, etc.
If there is still mild overheating while riding, you may also want to add an extra fan and the radiator on the backside of the motor sled. This will keep the temperature level regular in case you have to ride it for a long time. Another remedy to overheating is to buy scratchers. The scratchers are the main element that keeps the engine cooler.
If the snowmobile overheats during a long ride, then you need to let it sit for at least thirty minutes to have enough time for it to cool down and also to adjust to the correct temperature.
If you find that your vehicle still overheats more than usual and that you have already followed all the steps mentioned above and have found there are no damages or leaks, it is then necessary to contact a mechanic to take a look at it. Waiting passively for the same to pass might do further damage for the same and you may end up losing more than a few hundred bucks for the concern.
Final Words
I hope that by reading this article, now you can better deal with the overheating issue of your snowmobile.
However, keep in mind that overheating can be common as your drive your snowmobile for long hours, but if your snowmobile overheats after a few miles again and again, then you know, you should take a look.
