UTV Maintenance

Shredding trails and getting work done in the field is pretty hard to do if your UTV is out of service, collecting dust in the garage. Your side-by-side is an incredible piece of equipment, but like a car, motorcycle, or anything else with an engine, proper maintenance is necessary if you want to get the most out of your UTV. Richmond Equipment put together this brief guide because we want you to know what to look out for on your four wheeler. Most of the maintenance projects can be done on your own, but if you’re uncomfortable with them, or have a more serious issue, don’t hesitate to come into our service department in Richmond, Texas.

Take Care of the Oil

You know that oil gets old and thickens in a car, and you usually have a good guess of how long an automobile’s oil will last. An UTV’s engine, though, is much different. Four wheeler’s go through all sorts of bumpy trails, dunes, and hills, and with all the branches and other debris you run into out there, it’s easy to spring an oil leak in your engine. Because of this, you should check your oil much more frequently in a side-by-side than in a car. After every other ride isn’t a bad time to check for oil levels, as well as the oil’s color and quality. If the oil’s dark or metallic looking, change it, or take it into the dealership for us to fix the problem.

Air Filter

Every time you change the oil, you should probably also check the air filter. The air filter prevents dirt and other particles from getting into your engine, but as the air filter gets dirtier, it’s not able to trap as much debris. When you notice your filter starts looking darker and dustier, change it out immediately with a clean one to avoid damaging your engine.

Change the Coolant

Your high-powered UTV engine can’t function if the engine gets too hot, so you’ll also need to check your coolant regularly. Every time you change your oil, take a look at the coolant level, and replace it if it’s low. Also, look at the radiator for corrosion, cracks, or other damage. If you notice that you have radiator damage, or if your coolant seems to run out too quickly, you probably have a leak, so bring it into our service department and we’ll get it fixed before it becomes a bigger problem.

Replacing Spark Plugs

Your spark plug is responsible for igniting the fuel-air combination in an internal combustion engine, which means you want the best spark plugs possible to get your UTV performing at optimum ability. Check your spark plugs every couple months to see if they’re wet or corroded. If they aren’t in great shape, replace them right away to continue getting great performance.

Electrical problems

Your UTV’s electrical system lets you start the engine and power the lights, so it’s impossible to drive if it’s damaged. If there is damage to your system more complicated than just a dead battery, we recommend bringing it into the shop. Doing electrical repairs is tricky, and unless you’re an experienced mechanic, you should have a professional fix problems like these.

Tire Maintenance

Every side-by-side needs good, quality tires to fly down those bumpy trails with control, so be sure you’re checking the tire pressure and quality every time you ride. If the pressure’s low, you could do serious damage to your UTV’s tires, so check them every time you ride, and fill up that air if it’s low.

Inspect Your Battery

We’ve all had this happen before in a car: you put the key in the ignition, and there’s no turnover. Well, the same thing can happen in a UTV if your battery dies, so be sure you’re checking it frequently. You don’t want to get stuck out in the middle of a forest trail or hunting site with a dead four wheeler, so inspect your batteries posts for corrosion and any other damage. If you find your battery just won’t hold a charge, consider buying a new one, or bringing it in for service.

UTVs are tough vehicles, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own share of mechanical difficulties. Fortunately, they’re extremely easy to maintain, and if you follow everything in this guide, you should be able to keep your UTV functioning smoothly for many years to come. Sometimes though, you have more difficult issues, and if those arise at any time, don’t hesitate to bring it into Richmond Equipment near Houston, Beaumont, Victoria, and San Antonio, Texas.