Why is it that we pay A LOT extra for a special snowmobile coolant? Can’t we just use regular automotive coolant and save a bunch of money with the same results? I’ve wondered about this for a while, and decided to ask some expert snowmobilers for answers. Here’s what I found:
No, you should not use regular automotive coolant in your snowmobile. Auto antifreeze is designed for large volume water jackets and big radiators found in larger vehicles. The antifreeze recommended for snowmobiles is also glycol-based, but more refined for small power sport engines such as snowmobiles, ATV, and motorcycles. If you use regular automotive antifreeze, it can become abrasive like sand and eat out the pump and seals of the snowmobile.
Also, regular automotive antifreeze does not have enough anti-foaming agents to prevent foaming action. If you use regular antifreeze in a small engine (such as your snowmobile), it will create foams.
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These foams shorten the life of antifreeze, causing hotspots in your cylinder head. That’s why manufacturers have developed a special antifreeze for snowmobiles to get rid of the foaming action and all the problems caused by it.
If you want to change the coolant of your snowmobile, check out my article on how to do it by yourself at home. It does not require any special tools, and it will save you expensive labor costs.
Here’s a good universal coolant specially designed for snowmobiles.
How is a snowmobile engine cooling different from a regular car?
The cooling system of a car and a snowmobile works in the same way. As the coolant warms up, the thermostat opens to allow coolant to circulate through the system. In cars, there is a big radiator with fans at the front. In snowmobiles, the heat exchanger is installed adjacent to the track and under the tunnel. This way, the snow carried by the tracks is thrown at the heat exchanger. This snow melts on the heat exchanger and reduces the temperature of the coolant which is flowing through the inside of it. So, instead of fans, the heat exchanger in a snowmobile exchanges the heat with snow and air.
In a car’s engine head, the water jackets are large, whereas, in a snowmobile’s engine head, the water jackets are small. That is why an automotive coolant will not perform at its best and can actually do harm.
The optimal temperature for a snowmobile’s engine is 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for opening and about 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit when running. Any temperature above 200 to 210 degrees is a clear sign of a malfunctioning cooling system.
What is the best coolant for snowmobiles?
When it comes to choosing the “best” coolant for your snowmobile, it is usually the one that the manufacturers recommend. For my Polaris rush 600, the company recommends a 60/40 premix antifreeze from Polaris itself. Similarly, you can look in the manual of your snowmobile and find out what is the best coolant for your snowmobile.
There are different types of antifreeze available for snowmobiles and other power sport engines such as ATVs and motorcycles. You can also use those, but always keep the same ratio of coolant and the water. This ratio should be spelled out clearly in the user manual of your snowmobile. Usually, the ratio of antifreeze and distilled water is 50/50 or 60/40. As an example, for my Polaris Rush 600, the company recommends a 60/40 ratio of antifreeze and water. Always stick with the user manual to keep your snowmobile’s cooling system functioning properly.
Please keep in mind that if you have a newer snowmobile that’s still under warranty, using a third-party or any other coolant that the snowmobile manufacturer did not recommend may void your warranty.
Examples of manufacturer approved snowmobile coolants
Below are some of the coolants recommended by snowmobile manufacturers. Although these are all very similar and would work fine with any snowmobile, it’s sometimes best to stick with your machine’s recommended coolant, particularly if it’s a new machine still under warranty.
What to look for when buying antifreeze for a snowmobile
For snowmobiles, there are two types of antifreeze: glycol-based and dex-cool based. Choosing a glycol-based one is always going to benefit your snowmobile, and unlike dex-cool based antifreeze, it will not cause any acid buildup or rust inside your cooling system. Glycol-based antifreeze has all the required properties such as high boiling point, low freezing point, good thermal and heat conductivity, and low viscosity and stability. All of these properties make it ideal to use in power sport engine vehicles.
The antifreeze you buy from Amazon or auto parts store is a concentrated glycol-based fluid, and the coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water. The most recommended ratio of antifreeze is 50/50 of antifreeze and distilled water, respectively. The antifreeze works at its best when diluted with distilled water for inhibiting high temperatures.
This ratio may vary depending upon the performance of your snowmobile. Just look in the service manual of your snowmobile, to find the recommended antifreeze type and its ratio with distilled water.
Do you need any extra additives for your snowmobile?
For regular vehicles, special additives are sold that will increase the cooling ability of the system and improve the performance of your coolant by increasing the wetting ability of water and increasing its heat transfer ability. These are usually not necessary when operating a snowmobile in winter.
Additives are not suitable for long term use and might even damage your engine. I do not recommend you use any extra additives in your coolant because they can shorten the lifespan of the coolant and cause buildups and rust inside the cooling system. This could restrict the flow of coolant through the engine and put more pressure on the pump, causing the pump to break.
Snowmobiles have the advantage of having all that snow to keep the engine cool. There is no need for any extravagant cooling system or special additives. If your snowmobile does happen to be running to hot, it might be because of other factors such as a dirty radiator, low coolant, or a faulty pump. Do not start adding additives in the hope of fixing the overheating issues. In most cases, additives are only going to make it worse rather than fixing it.
After how long do you need to change the coolant in your snowmobile?
The coolant for your snowmobile will not expire if it is kept in an airtight container. Once it is in the snowmobile, however, coolant does break down. How often you should change your coolant depends on three factors: 1) length of time, 2) amount of use, and 3) severity of use. The easiest answer for when to replace coolant would be to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on coolant service intervals, but use those three factors to further inform this decision.
For my snowmobile, Polaris recommends to drain the system completely every two years and add a fresh mixture of antifreeze and distilled water. However, if I only take my snowmobile out a couple of times a winter, it can easily go 3-5 years without a coolant change, as long as coolant level stays topped off. If I ride often and work the machine hard in extreme conditions, annual replacement of the cooling is probably more appropriate.
Why should you change snowmobile antifreeze at regular intervals? Over time coolant starts to break down, which reduces its efficiency and ability to cool the engine. In older snowmobile engines, it is a good idea to check the coolant every 6-months. You can check the coolant yourself, all you need is a coolant tester and 10 minutes of your time. If you do not have a coolant tester, then use a syringe and collect a sample of coolant from your snowmobile’s radiator or coolant reservoir and visually inspect it. Even a little trace of rust is a clear indication that the coolant is eating out the engine from inside. If your coolant doesn’t pass the test you should immediately flush out the system and refill with a fresh mixture of antifreeze and distilled water.
Check out this post to see how to check the coolant visually or by using a coolant tester.
In Conclusion….
Regardless of your choice of coolant, it must be a type that is designed for use in snowmobiles. You might get by using automotive antifreeze for a while, but long term this is likely to cause damage to your snowmobile. Why take a chance with your snowmobile’s health over a few bucks?