It won’t be a surprise if someone thinks that the “A” in ATV stands for adventure. That might be an honest mistake considering quads are mostly used for adrenaline-pumping rides. Unfortunately, owners who like to keep it quick and dirty are sometimes guilty of keeping the vehicle dirty for a long period of time. If you’re one of those owners and want a list of the minimal things you can do to make sure your ATV keeps running, you’re in luck because you can learn all about them here.
Clean the air filter
Whenever you take your quad for a long ride in muddy or dusty terrain, you should spend a few minutes of your time after the ride to clean the air filter. Your engine is bound to suck in nasties like sludge and debris if your air filter is dirty. When that happens, your quad’s engine could fail.
Cleaning the air filter is easy. All you need to do is remove the air filter and give it a good wash with filter cleaner. After that, dry the filter component and then apply filter oil before putting it back inside the ATV. It is recommended that you also follow this procedure once a month.
Check Engine Oil
Quad motors are high RPM machines that require synthetic oil for lubrication. Whenever you buy quality synthetic oil, be sure to buy the type recommended by the factory. The charging frequency depends on how you use your vehicle.
Many ATV riders think that changing the oil once or twice a season is enough, but if you are one of those owners who often pushes the quad to its limits, you should change the oil a few more times. Regular oil draining and replacement are necessary to keep your vehicle in excellent condition. Keep in mind that every time you change the vehicle’s oil, an oil filter change is also required.
If you have no idea how to replace the oil, here are some simple steps you can follow:
- Start the engine to warm up the oil.
- Once the oil is warm, turn off the engine and remove the drain plug. Be sure to wear gloves before touching the plug.
- Drain the oil and remove the oil filter.
- Apply fresh synthetic oil to the seal of a new oil filter.
- Install the new oil filter and screw the drain plug back on.
- Add new synthetic oil to the recommended level.
After following these instructions, restart the engine and watch for leaks. Give yourself a pat on the back for successfully changing the oil in your ATV.
curb condensation
As part of maintaining the quality of the oil that circulates inside your quad, you must control the condensation, especially if you travel through wet and muddy terrain. If the gearbox is hot and the front diff is splashed with cold water, you can expect condensation to form. Wet condition can affect the quality of your ATV’s oil, which could lead to engine failure.
To prevent this situation from occurring, check the consistency of the oil. Insert a blank flange into the plug hole. Milky oil means that condensation has occurred, and to prevent damage to your quad, you should follow the steps above to replace adulterated oil.