UTV Maintenance
You want your UTV to work as hard as you do, but it can only do that if you keep it in good working order. Fortunately, UTV maintenance is not as challenging as it may seem. In fact, there are many tasks you can easily do at home in your garage with the right tools and knowledge! Keeping up with regular maintenance tasks will help you to keep your UTV hard at work rather than languishing in a repair shop.
Arizona Honda in Snowflake, AZ, is your Grand Canyon State UTV dealer. We’ve rounded up some simple UTV maintenance recommendations that you can attend to at home.
Peruse Your Owner’s Manual
Our tips will be broadly applicable to most UTVs on the market. However, it’s always good to understand how your particular model functions so that you can keep it maintained properly. Flip through your owner’s manual to make sure you understand where all the parts are, what types of products are recommended for use on your UTV and how to safely operate your vehicle. You can also keep track of maintenance performed and parts replaced on your UTV in your owner’s manual for future reference.
Check Tires
The four rugged tires on your UTV maintain constant contact with uneven and rough terrain and bear the full weight of your passengers and cargo. That’s why you need to check your tire pressure and condition regularly to make sure that you aren’t riding on bad tires. Always change a worn-out tire before riding your UTV so you can avoid a blowout.
Use a tire-pressure gauge to check the pressure of all four tires and air them up to the psi levels recommended in your owner’s manual. While you’re there, inspect the treads to make sure they’re wearing evenly and that there are no embedded objects like nails in them. You should be concerned about cracks in the sidewall and bald patches in particular.
Change Oil
Oil is a vital fluid in any gasoline-powered engine. It lubricates the engine parts to ensure they work together smoothly. Check your oil by removing the dipstick, wiping it on a soft cloth, reinserting it and removing it again to check the color and consistency of your oil. Clear and runny oil only needs to be topped off, but sludgy, opaque oil merits a change. If you notice any metal shavings in your oil, contact a mechanic right away, as this indicates that parts of your UTV’s engine may be grinding together.
Replace Filters
The air, oil and fuel filters on your UTV help to ensure that particles don’t get into your engine and gum it up. You probably won’t need to change out your fuel filter too often, but have it looked at when you take your UTV into the shop for general repairs. The oil filter needs to be changed out every time you change your oil, and the air filter should be replaced every three or four oil changes. You may need to change your air filter more frequently if you ride in especially dusty conditions like the desert.
Examine Spark Plugs
The spark plugs on your UTV help to provide the ignition to the internal combustion engine and they need to be inspected, particularly if you’ve noticed that your engine is struggling to turn over when you start the ignition. Unhook the battery and take off the engine cover, using a spark plug wrench to remove a plug carefully. The ceramic casing should be whole and the metal gaps should be clean and dry. If you know how to replace spark plugs, you can do this yourself; otherwise, get in touch with a mechanic.
In general, if you need some professional maintenance assistance, you can always get in touch with our service department to schedule an appointment with our team of mechanics. It’s always smart to have a pro look at your vehicle every so often to make sure that nothing is in serious disrepair.
Searching for a UTV? Contact us about visiting our Snowflake dealership or view our inventory of new and used UTVs for sale on our website. We even offer financing options to help you fund your purchase. Arizona Honda proudly serves the cities of Show Low and Holbrook, AZ.