year end maintenance and sea foam

[smurf]

I hate to talk about it with hopefully a little more riding to come, but can I get some opinions on what maintenance you "should not do" before you put the sled away for the season. For example, is it alright to do your oil change now instead of spring?

A secondary question is what is the opinion on using sea foam vs stabil vs other brands. I have been told various things about the compatibility of sea foam on yamaha 4 stokes.

I like to get as much out of the way as possible at the end of the season and not chase it during hunting season.

Smurf

 

[APEX 06]

I hate to talk about it with hopefully a little more riding to come, but can I get some opinions on what maintenance you "should not do" before you put the sled away for the season. For example, is it alright to do your oil change now instead of spring?

A secondary question is what is the opinion on using sea foam vs stabil vs other brands. I have been told various things about the compatibility of sea foam on yamaha 4 stokes.

I like to get as much out of the way as possible at the end of the season and not chase it during hunting season.

Smurf

Do the oil now. And I use seafoam in every sled.

 

[black knight]

x2 oil should be fresh as it sits all summer. old oil has little protection specialty in an engine just sitting.
Sea foam, i put it on my cereal in the morning.
Seriously its what everyone on here uses.
also spray your skid down with wd 40 or fluid film i have yet to see one that doesn't rust.
and some moth balls in and around the engine and trunk if you think rodents might be a problem.

cheers

 

[Mooseman]

If you can, fill it with fuel that doesn't have ethanol. Nothing except Mechanic in a Bottle (supposedly) works against phase separation. At least here we can still get pure gas from premium pumps.

I've heard good things about Yamaha's Ring Free fuel additive. Run it through during your last ride and apparently it will turn your oil black, cleaning up the rings and pistons. I just put it in my tank and will see how it goes.

I've used Seafoam in the past. Seems to work well as a fuel preservative but won't do anything for phase separation.

 

[kviper]

I have been using Sea Foam for year's. It's a very good cleaner so I would run a tank full before storage so it doesn't loosen up all the crap in your fuel system and just sit there waiting till the first run to plug every thing up. This is a big problem for carbed unit's as it usually turns to a snot like mess that plugs the pilot jet's. Then add more for storage. I also run all my sled's once a month or so till I can't hold my hand on the exchanger's to burn all condensation out. Never had a problem doing storage this way.

 

[Mighty]

Add seafoam, run engine to get it through the system while getting the oil hot then change it and the filter.
Lube all grease zerks until no water comes out.
WD-40 the engine, all aluminum to prevent oxidation (that nasty white powdery crap) and the rear skid
Use 303 protectant on the seat and body panels. Only protectant that actually protects what it's applied to. No petroleum distillates.
Get weight off the suspension if you have a sled lift
some guys loosen tension on the track (I never do)
Battery tender
cover her
put her to bed

 

[RxThunder]

I run seafoam at the start of the year and end of the year, I run ring free all year long. When I bought my jetski the dealer said yamaha recommends running it in every tank now. I grease all the zerks, WD-40 almost everything. If possible I take the weight off of the shocks, and it might sound crazy but I've done it for 2 summers now. A buddy who builds race sleds for a living recommended draining the fuel tank down to the last gallon and dumping ATF in the tank and running it until the sled smokes and shut her down. Leave it sit and fire it up in the fall. He has done it for years and claims the ATF helps clean Carbs, injectors, etc. So far I have had good luck doing it..

 

[steiner]

I hate to talk about it with hopefully a little more riding to come, but can I get some opinions on what maintenance you "should not do" before you put the sled away for the season. For example, is it alright to do your oil change now instead of spring?



Smurf

Lots of good info on end of season maintianence.
Did I read this wrong. Thot smurf was asking what you would not do

 

[black knight]

should not do

you are right steiner that was the question.
I have hurt my brain trying to think of what NOT to do to it that i leave till late fall..
I start the weekend after the trails close and try and get all maintenance issues done within a month. if $$$ allows.
just the way i'm built.
you could leave the donuts- slides -carbides -clutches. i guess no harm there if that stuff sits till fall.

cheers

 

[monte1214]

Just my 2cents...

I fill 'er up...run Stabil thru 'er...soak it all down with Fluid Film...wax up the plastic...shine up the seat...then cover 'er up.

Once a month, I rip the cover off...sit on 'er and fire 'er up...get 'er warm...add a bit more Stabil...shut 'er off...cover 'er up again.

Repeat it monthly until December.

 

[black knight]

mighty,
when you wd 40 the engine dose it just burn off after first ride and also dose everything get covered in dust due to sticky surface and look like an old 2 stroke engine.

sorry if i'm Hy-jacking here.

 

[smurf]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I was really just wondering if it mattered about changing the engine oil now vs. later. I'm with you black knight - want everything done now. Will definitely use the sea foam. May not get a chance to run a tank so will probably have to put it in, warm up sled, and change oil and suggested. Haven't sprayed the skid with WD 40 before and will do that also.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Hope everyone gets a little more riding in.

Smurf

 

[Mooseman]

And you want to go over the whole sled. Don't do like me and find a destroyed rear skid just when the snow starts to fly.

 

[09nytro]

You should not wait till July to do this....

 

[Irv]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I was really just wondering if it mattered about changing the engine oil now vs. later. I'm with you black knight - want everything done now. Will definitely use the sea foam. May not get a chance to run a tank so will probably have to put it in, warm up sled, and change oil and suggested. Haven't sprayed the skid with WD 40 before and will do that also.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Hope everyone gets a little more riding in.

Smurf

Definitely change the oil at the end of the season rather than the start.
You don't want that used, acidic, carboned up oil sitting in your engine for 8-10 months as it will do more harm than good.

With your skid anything is better than nothing but I prefer something silicone based as I find WD-40 wears off/evaporates too quickly, especially if the sled is stored outdoors in a trailer or not.

Not sure if you can get it State side or not but I recommend Rust Check or Krown Rust spray in an aerosol. If not then something like PB Blaster, LPS-2, Fluid film or any other good quality lube will work just fine too