ATV Overheating: What to Do If Your ATV Overheats

Imagine the stress level you would get when your vehicle overheats during the most adventurous time of your journey. It is rather disappointing and disturbing. It is the same with your ATV getting hot and shutting off. Here, we hope to discuss more facts in detail about ATV overheating. Here’s the deal:

Table of Contents

Why does the ATV overheat?

Before moving to all the solutions and ways of overcoming ATV battery overheating, it is always better to look into the root cause of the problem.

So, why does your ATV overheat?

One of the key reasons is that your ATV radiator might be clogged or blocked with dirt. So, it is essential to clean the parts often so that the processors are smooth and the ATV runs well. You should always ensure this matter as the radiator plays a vital role. It allows the supply of steady cool air and controls the level of heat and temperature well inside.

The following possible reason is that the thermostat must be in bad condition, and it can be stuck close together. This heat-sensitive part controls the heat and makes the temperature level stable inside.

The leaks in the cooling system may cause overheating. The temperature level cannot be maintained if there are any leaks in the system.

If you feel that your coolant is underperforming, you may have to replace it as soon as possible.

Another reason is that you might be using the wrong type of fuel mixture for the coolant, so it may not work correctly. So you must always ensure that the mixture is up to the standards.

Check your radiator fan as it might be faulty and not performing correctly.

The battery voltage should also be correct, making the fan inside work properly.

If the air is trapped inside, the inside temperature is appropriately controlled. It would help if you ensured that air was not trapped inside unnecessarily.

These are a few of the most common reasons that will cause the temperature imbalance and make the ATV overheat.

Here are the ATV overheating symptoms!

If you know the key symptoms of ATV overheating, that is always an advantage. That will help you to take the necessary precautions quickly. Let us see what the main signs that you can see are.

Below are some of the most common symptoms that you might come across.

Loss of power

ATV Fluid leaks liquid dripping from the engine

A sickly-sweet smell due to burning coolant

Ticking sound in the engine due to oil burning

Excessive steam coming out or white smoke

The engine becomes very hot.

If you see or come across any of these symptoms in your Atv, do not waste time! Make sure to be quick, check on the issue, and rectify them as soon as possible.

Here are the damages caused by overheating

Many spare parts can be damaged depending on the engine’s heat from overheating. For example, the piston rings shatter and crack. And sometimes, they can melt as well. The gaskets can get blown away, and the water pumps can break. Sometimes the spark plugs can melt. Consequently, detonation can happen. The damage is severe at this level when ATV exhaust overheating occurs.

ATV overheating Troubleshooting

How can you fix the issue of ATV overheating? We are here to give you some helpful insights so you can select the case at your earliest convenience. When you notice your engine is overheating, you should stop the vehicle immediately and turn off the engine.But make sure to turn on the key and allow the fan attached to the radiator to work.

Most tend to wait till the overheating warning lights shut off. By letting the fan cool the radiator, you automatically let the coolant mixture cool. But still, the rest of the engine is in boiling condition. There is an easy solution! after your radiator coos off, you can start your engine back and then allow the ATV coolant to circulate between the engine and the radiator. You let the engine run for a while, then shut it off again and start up the ATV radiator fans. You can get the coolant mixture to a proper temperature through this method.

And the vehicle can drive again s usual for some hours. Another method to cool off your engine is to keep running and spraying water on the radiator. This is a rapid method that you can use on the run. When the water runs through the coolant, it will automatically cool off. If you use it, please place it in the wind direction for faster results.

How to stop ATV overheating?

After finding the cause of the issue, you can think of how to overcome ATV overheating. We want to give a few solutions. Below are some of the simple methods that you can follow.

Checking your ATV radiator is one of the main points you can consider. The clogged radiator can cause lover heating as this part is the main component in the engine’s cooling. So if there are dirt particles stuck in the system, it disturbs the smooth process. It is advisable to check the radiator regularly before you get on with your routine work. Also, make sure to do a regular check the radiator cap pressure. Too much pressure on the cap causes overheating as well. A radiator cap with a sensor is always good for checking the pressure level. It helps to prevent the damage overheating may cause.

Checking your coolant regularly is one of the main ways to control overheating your ATV. For the coolant to work perfectly, mix the 50:50 with water. The batteries should be charged every two years, which is one of the key things to keeping your coolant and radiator healthy. Always keep to the recommended levels as mentioned in the manual of Atv. If you hold to these points, it is much easier to maintain the vehicle’s condition.

Check the mixture of your fuel. Using clean energy up to the recommended standards is one of the main things you must keep in mind. The lower quality fuel only increases the issues and makes the performance decrease.

The water pump and the head Gasket need to be checked regularly. If this creates leakages, there is a higher chance of overheating. So, you must ensure that these parts are well maintained and up to the required standards.

Once you find out about the overheating issues, you should avoid such issues in the future. If you ride in harsh conditions, problems like a defective radiator cap or a blown head gasket will always appear. I wrote an article about Why does ATV exhaust glow red? and Reasons Behind Overheated exhaust. you can read it by clicking here.

Solutions for overheating

As with many other issues with your ATV, overheating is one common problem. But there are several ways to overcome this issue.

You should do No:1

One fundamental way is to make sure that your radiator is always clean. You can Remove the detachable screen and wash it with a hose or pressure washer so that the dirt completely goes off. It is perfect if you can use a hose to clean the radiator fins. Be careful when you follow this process, as the fins need to stay in the same shape to work efficiently and cool the machine.

You should do No:2

Similarly, regular coolant maintenance needs to be a part of your schedule. Use that handy coolant tester to make your work easy. Your ATV manufacturer recommends how often to flush, clean, and change the coolant. With those complete changes, check and test the fluid at least every few months. Always remember using the mixture according to the proper standards is essential.

You should do No:3

You can also add a few aftermarket items to upgrade your ATV’s cooling abilities, such as an electric radiator fan that cools the machines inside correctly. An aftermarket water pump and impeller can constantly improve capacity. Make sure to use A high-pressure radiator cap that can help keep your engine cool. It greatly helps you, even if you’re low on coolant.

You should do No:4

You can run some tests at home for problems like a faulty thermostat. Hang it in a pan of boiling water and watch to ensure that the thermostat unveils totally at 10 to 15 degrees above its standard temperature.

You should do No:5

As with most ATV problems and their fixes, if you find the home remedy solution is not solving your overheating issue, it is time to consult a pro in the related field. An experienced ATV mechanic can help you find out why your machine is overheating and how you can prevent that issue in the future. A seized piston shows that your ATV is broken far beyond any home remedy fix, so make sure to deal with it long before you get to the worst point.

The Bottom Line

So we hope that we have shared some interesting and helpful tips on the overheating problem of your ATV. We strongly believe that the facts we shared are valuable and relevant to understanding which methods to follow when you have an issue with overheating. Make a note that proper maintenance is the key. If you do it correctly, you can avoid most of the above-mentioned issues.