Does ATV Insurance Cover a Blown Engine?

Riding an ATV can be thrilling, but also risky. One danger is overworking your ATV’s engine, potentially causing severe mechanical damage. This raises the important question – will your ATV insurance policy cover a blown or damaged engine?

Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward. Certain ATV insurance plans may provide coverage for blown engines, while others exclude mechanical breakdowns entirely.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll look at:

• What causes an ATV engine to blow
• Typical engine damage from a blown motor
• Whether standard ATV insurance covers blown engines
• Adding extended coverage for mechanical breakdowns
• Steps to prevent blowing your ATV engine
• Submitting and supporting an ATV engine damage claim

What Causes an ATV Engine to Blow?

ATV engines can blow or become severely damaged due to:

• Overheating – Running the engine too hard for too long can overheat the motor and warp cylinder heads.

• Overloading – Carrying or towing overly heavy loads strains the engine and can blow the motor.

• Improper maintenance – Lack of routine maintenance like oil changes increases the risk of engine failure.

• Improper use – Revving the throttle excessively or riding too fast for conditions overworks the engine.

• Mechanical defects – Sometimes a manufacturing or mechanical defect leads to premature engine failure.

• Lack of cooling – Clogged air intakes or cooling systems prevent proper engine cooling.

• Dust/debris ingestion – Riding in excessively dusty conditions can clog the air filter and damage the engine.

Any of these issues can stress the ATV’s engine to the point that it sustains severe internal damage, blows the motor or seizes up entirely. The engine may need to be fully rebuilt or replaced depending on the extent of damage.

Typical Engine Damage from a Blown ATV Motor

Some common engine components damaged when an ATV motor blows include:

• Pistons – Excess heat and pressure can melt, warp or crack pistons and piston rings.

• Cylinder walls – Overheated and warped pistons scrape and gouge the cylinder walls.

• Cylinder heads – Blown head gaskets lead to overheating that cracks or warps the cylinder heads.

• Crankshaft – Excess heat causes crankshaft bearings to fail or seizures that bend the crankshaft.

• Valves – Over-revving can bend valves, damage valve seats, or cause valve components to melt.

• Gaskets – Extreme pressures blow out or destroy engine gaskets leading to further damage.

• Oil pump – Without proper lubrication, engine components seize up and destroy the oil pump.

• Timing chain – Damage to internal components throws off engine timing damaging the timing chain and gears.

• Filters/cooling system – Clogged filters or cooling systems lead to rapid overheating and engine failure.

Repairing this type of extensive internal damage often exceeds the value of an older ATV. That’s why understanding your insurance coverage is critical before suffering major engine damage.

Does Standard ATV Insurance Cover Blown Engines?

Most standard ATV insurance policies do NOT cover damage to the engine as a result of it blowing or suffering mechanical breakdown. Here are the key reasons standard ATV insurance excludes blown engines:

• Considered preventable – Routine maintenance and proper riding can prevent most engine blowouts, so insurers see this as under the owner’s control.

• Not a covered peril – Standard policies only cover external damages from accidents, weather, fire, theft – not internal mechanical failures.

• High repair costs – Rebuilding or replacing blown engines is very expensive, so insurers exclude this exposure.

• Considered wear and tear – Gradual wear and tear is not covered, and blown motors can be deemed a result of wear over time.

Unless there is clear external damage or accident that directly caused the engine failure, insurers will likely deny engine repair claims under a standard ATV policy.

However, additional mechanical breakdown or extended coverage can be purchased to protect against blown motors. Let’s look at how this works.

Adding Mechanical Breakdown Coverage

To cover a blown or damaged ATV engine, you’ll need to add mechanical breakdown coverage to your policy. Here’s an overview:

• Also called extended coverage – This goes by names like mechanical breakdown, extended coverage, or component coverage.

• Provides repair coverage – Mechanical breakdown insurance helps pay for repair or replacement of internally damaged engine components.

• Covers labor costs – In addition to parts, it covers expensive shop labor needed for major engine repairs.

• Various coverage terms – Policies may cover only certain years/miles, or offer lifetime coverage. Read details carefully.

• Carries a deductible – You’ll need to pay a deductible, often $500 or more, before coverage kicks in.

• Adds to premium – Expect to pay more in premiums for policies with mechanical breakdown coverage.

While adding this protection costs more upfront, it provides peace of mind that major engine repairs will be covered. Just be aware of limitations like year/mileage restrictions or high deductibles.

Steps to Help Prevent Blowing Your ATV Engine

To avoid damaging your ATV engine in the first place:

• Perform routine maintenance like oil changes, air filter cleaning and spark plug replacement

• Follow the manufacturer’s break-in procedure for new engines

• Keep speeds and workload appropriate for conditions to avoid overheating

• Clean out debris and mud that may clog air and oil cooling systems

• Avoid excessive throttle revving which overworks internal components

• Carry reasonable loads that won’t overly stress the engine

• Shut off the engine right away if you notice any loss of power or odd noises

• Replace worn components like belts, hoses and seals before they lead to failure

• Re-jet the carburetor if adding significant aftermarket parts or running at high elevations

With proper preventive care and careful riding, you can minimize the likelihood of catastrophically damaging your ATV’s motor. But mechanical breakdown coverage provides an important backup plan in case something goes wrong.

Filing and Supporting a Claim for ATV Engine Damage

If your engine does sustain severe damage, here are tips for filing an ATV insurance claim:

• Gather all documentation showing regular maintenance and proper care – this supports that the damage was sudden and accidental.

• Note any external evidence of damage like oil leaks, smoke, noises indicating internal failure.

• Provide all repair estimates and documentation from mechanics detailing recommended repairs.

• Highlight any manufacturer defects that may have contributed – check for recalls or known issues.

• If possible, identify the specific failure point – melted piston, thrown rod, etc. Documentation from mechanics can help with this.

• Note any conditions or situations outside your control that may have contributed – trail conditions, weather, etc.

• Be prepared to show receipts for recent maintenance items like oil changes that were performed regularly.

• If covered by mechanical breakdown insurance, read the policy details closely to ensure your situation meets eligibility requirements.

With solid documentation indicating the engine failure was sudden, accidental, and not due to negligence, you’ll have the best chance of getting repair costs covered. Having mechanical breakdown coverage in place also provides the most comprehensive protection in case of a major engine failure.

Key Takeaways

Protecting your ATV investment includes understanding how your insurance policy covers major mechanical damage:

• Routine ATV policies exclude blown or mechanically damaged engines in most cases.

• Adding mechanical breakdown coverage provides specific protection for engine repairs.

• Preventive maintenance and safe riding are still the best ways to avoid engine damage.

• If your engine does blow, provide documentation on maintenance and note any external damage as evidence for your claim.