It won’t be a surprise if someone thinks the “A” in ATV stands for adventure. That might be an honest mistake considering quads are primarily 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 bare minimum 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 on 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 nasty stuff like mud 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 engines 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’re one of those owners who often pushes the quad to the limit, you should change the oil a few more times. Regular oil draining and replacement is necessary to keep your vehicle in excellent condition. Keep in mind that every time the vehicle’s oil is changed, an oil filter change is also required.
If you have no idea how to replace the oil, here are some simple steps you can take:
- 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. Pat yourself on the back for successfully changing your ATV’s oil.
curb condensation
As part of maintaining the quality of the oil circulating inside your quad, you need to check for condensation, especially if you’re riding through wet and muddy terrain. If the gearbox is hot and the front differential is splashed with cold water, you can expect condensation to occur. The 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 clean flange into the plug hole. Milky oil means condensation has occurred, and to prevent damage to your quad, you should follow the steps above to replace the adulterated oil.
