One of the key parts of a snowmobile engine is the snowmobile coolant. In today’s article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about it!
Using this guide, you’ll be able to check the level of the coolant in the reservoir, drain the old one, and replace it with a new coolant. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
What Is a Snowmobile Coolant?
A snowmobile coolant is a chemical liquid that’s used to protect the snowmobile engine from overheating.
The coolant liquid decreases the freezing point of the liquids that flow in the engine and also raises the boiling point of the water cooling system. This way it prevents the liquid from freezing or evaporating for maximum engine efficiency.
The snowmobile coolant is usually made of a mix of antifreeze and water. The coolant is usually prepared by mixing 1 part water with 1 part antifreeze. There are also some pre-mixed versions available on the market.
However, due to their expensive price and the ease of mixing the two liquids together, a lot of people buy antifreeze separately and make homemade coolants for their snowmobiles.
There are two types of antifreeze on the market, which are both eligible for being used to make a snowmobile coolant.
The first one is the ethylene glycol antifreeze, which is characterized by being green in color.
The other one is the propylene glycol, which is usually orange in color.
Although both types of antifreeze can be used for coolants, you should never mix the two types together and only mix one of them with water.
When they’re mixed, they form a gel-like substance that stops the flow of the liquids in the engine, which actually causes the engine to overheat rather than cool down.
What is a Snowmobile Coolant Used for?
From the name of the solution, you might think that the snowmobile coolant only works by cooling down the engine.
However, snowmobile coolants are better described as liquid solutions that are used to keep the temperature of the engine balanced.
In relatively warm weather, the engine is subjected to high-temperature. However, due to the presence of snowmobile coolant in the engine, the boiling point of the liquids is raised significantly.
This prevents the liquids from evaporating, which causes the engine to overheat and even crash.
On the other hand, snowmobile coolants also reduce the freezing point of the water used for cooling down the engine.
So, in the extremely cold conditions, the water won’t freeze in the pipes and will maintain decent flow.
Without the snowmobile coolant, the frozen water won’t reach the engine system to cool it down, which also causes the engine to overheat internally and crash.
How to Check the Snowmobile Coolant Level
As you can see, the snowmobile coolant is critical for the functionality of the engine in the extreme weather that snowmobiles operate at.
So, it’s always critical to make sure that the coolant level is adequate in the snowmobile. Luckily, you can easily check the system and see if you need to adjust the level of the coolant.
Each snowmobile model will hold a specific amount of coolant according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
However, most snowmobiles will require an average of about 5 to 6 liters of the coolant-water mixture to function properly.
The amount is also influenced by the cooling system used, so using a special system might also increase the amount of coolant mixture needed.
To check the coolant level, you need to take off the screws, hold the hood, and remove it. Always make sure that the engine has cooled down completely before removing the hood to avoid accidents.
Not that you’ve removed the hood, you’ll be able to see the coolant reservoir, which is often marked to let you know the ideal amount of coolant needed in the system.
In case that your coolant reservoir doesn’t come with specific markings, you should refer to the manual to find the method they recommended to measure the coolant level.
Start the engine again to recirculate the coolant in the engine and check its level. You’ll need to add more coolant if the level of the solution you have is below the marking lines.
How to Fill in Your Snowmobile with Coolant
While it’s a fairly easy process, filling your snowmobile with coolant can easily get quite messier than you think, so you have to be careful and follow the steps below with care.
1. Buy and Prepare the Right Coolant Solution / Antifreeze for your Snowmobile
Before filling the snowmobile with coolant, you need to buy one first. This can be either by getting a pre-mixed one or by mixing the antifreeze with water yourself.
You’ll find in the snowmobile’s manual the type of recommended antifreeze as well as the water-antifreeze ratio that you need to mix to prepare the coolant solution.
2. Drain the Existing Coolant Solution
Before adding the new coolant solution, a good measure here is to drain the existing solution first.
The easiest way to do that is by turning off the engine and lift the snowmobile’s front or rear end a little higher using a jack stand while leaving the tracks on the ground.
Pull off the lowest hose of the cooling system to all the coolant to drain using gravity.
Some people might also use a liquid vacuum cleaner to completely get rid of the remains inside the cooling system.
3. Pour the New Coolant Mixture into the Cooling System Reservoir
Now that the reservoir is empty, it’s time to pour in the new coolant mix. Make sure that you pour it slowly, so you don’t allow air to get inside the reservoir and form bubbles. You can use the help of a funnel or a hose to get this step done without making a mess.
4. Make Sure the Reservoir is Full
The air inside the reservoir might give you a false sign that the coolant reservoir is already full. However, you can easily check that by watching the head vent.
Once the steady stream of liquid starts back through it, this means that the reservoir is full and you’re done. Now close the lid on the reservoir and you’re all set!
Wrap Up
A snowmobile coolant is one of the integral parts of snowmobile engine health. You should always make sure that it’s working properly and check its level to avoid overheating and engine crashes.