How to Maintain Your ATV/UTV
A four wheeler is designed to rip through rough terrain at incredible speeds. Whether you own an ATV or UTV, the amount of intense riding and useful applications you can get done with these things is astonishing. Their dominant torque and horsepower paired with stability and maneuverability makes them workhorses both on the trail and at the jobsite, which means you need to make sure all the important components are kept in check. At Rallye Motoplex, we want you to get the most out of your side by side or quad, so we put together this guide to walk you through the basic inspections and DIY maintenance that you should be performing on a regular basis. Once you get in a routine, you’ll have no problem identifying issues and keeping your four wheeler in better shape, but when you need more serious repairs, stop by our service department in Moncton, New Brunswick, where we serve the areas of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, and Bathurst, NB.
Battery Maintenance
One easy component that many ATV and UTV riders tend to ignore is the battery. This is unfortunate, because you can save yourself a lot of heartache—and battery life—by using appropriate methods to keep your battery in better shape. For one thing, you should be inspecting the battery posts at least once a month. If they’re corroded or covered with ugly crusting, it’s time to buy a new battery. However, if there’s just a little bit of debris and dust, you can easily wipe it off to keep it from getting damaged. Also, when you store it during the winter, make sure to hook up your battery to a tender. This will keep a charge running through it, which prevents it from draining during the off season.
Tire Pressure
You need a good set of tires to handle tough terrain on an ATV or UTV. If you don’t keep an eye on them, the tread could wear out, a small puncture could turn into serious damage, or low tire pressure might cause a blowout. That’s why you need to inspect the tire pressure and look at the tread and sidewall before every ride. It’s a good idea to get a tire pressure gauge. They’re cheap, easy to use, and they’ll let you know exactly when you need to stop by a pump to get your tires filled up again.
Oil and Coolant
The oil is one of the most important features of an engine. This fluid keeps your motor’s parts lubricated, so they can keep pumping out all that torque and horsepower you enjoy so much on a four wheeler. ATVs and UTVs shouldn’t lose oil too quickly, but you still need to check on a regular basis to make sure there’s enough oil and that it’s not too muddy. Once it starts deteriorating, be sure to bring it into our service department for an oil change. As for the coolant, you’ll probably never need to flush it entirely, but you will need to look at it frequently to make sure you have the right amount.
Air, Fuel, and Oil Filters
Finally, the air, fuel, and oil filters are essential for keeping your engine healthy. The air filter blocks harmful particles from getting into your motor during combustion, while the fuel and oil filters keep your fluids in better condition. Every time you bring in your ATV or UTV for an oil change or tune up, you should have our mechanics look at these two filters to make sure everything looks good. Fuel filters last a pretty long time, but you’ll want to change the oil filter during every oil change, and swap out the air filter once or twice a year.
Keeping on top of inspections and maintenance is pretty easy with an ATV and UTV. You just need to set up a schedule to follow, and make sure you bring your vehicle in for regular service. At Rallye Motoplex, we’d be happy to help you out with any parts and repairs you might need. You can visit us in Moncton, New Brunswick, serving Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, and Bathurst, NB.