A 2-stroke snowmobile engine will last around 5,000 to 10,000 miles, while with proper maintenance, a 4-stroke engine will last longer, approximately 10,000 to 20,000 miles. The lifespan of a 4-stroke snowmobile engine ranges from 32,000 to 80,000 kilometers. If converted to miles, it ranges from 20,000 miles to 50,000 miles. Worn carbides can cause your snowmobile to lose performance, so if you notice that they look a little rough, you should change it.
However, obtaining this high mileage is only possible if the snowmobile is new and well maintained. If possible, when you store your snowmobile, keep it up and away from the ground to prevent the slides and carbides from rusting and being damaged. In the same way that the resale of a 2-stroke sled is negatively affected as the odometer rises and falls, just like the resale of a 4-stroke sled with the odometer, considering that the 2-stroke sled will fall even more. With proper maintenance, a 4-stroke snowmobile engine will last between 10,000 and 20,000 miles (16,000 to 32,000 kilometers) before the sled engine needs to operate.
However, naturally, the lifespan of a 4-stroke snowmobile engine comes down to factors such as the type of engine, the way it is maintained and used. A used snowmobile could only travel about 2,500 miles, but if it was neglected and the owner didn't perform regular, seasonal maintenance, you could get into a lot of trouble. However, another thing to keep in mind is that buying a used snowmobile involves the understanding that you may have to perform a high-end upgrade or a complete rebuild in the near future. The tracks on your snowmobile are a bit like the tires on your car and you'll need to check them for wear and replace them when they start to wear out or degrade.
There are many reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the reality that much longer 4-stroke trips are required to generate energy comparable to that of a 2-stroke engine has something to do with the “less stressed” lives that these engines live. There's nothing worse than planning the first sleigh trip of the year only to discover that your snowmobile simply won't start on the day you're planning to leave and you can't understand why. And a 4-stroke snowmobile engine will last approximately 20,000 to 50,000 miles, or you can say between 32,000 and 80,000 kilometers. Any snowmobile that has more than 10,000 to 15,000 miles (16,000 to 24,000 km) is considered the highest mileage for a snowmobile.
Proper maintenance and storage are important factors that influence determining the number of miles a snowmobile lasts.