Off-Road Vehicle Maintenance Tips
Regular maintenance is key to prolonging the life of any machine, and that includes your off-road vehicle. Learn how to maintain your quad or side by side for optimum safety and long-lasting performance with this guide from Car Corral Polaris®.
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Consult Your Owner’s Manual
These general tips apply to most off-road vehicles, but keep in mind that your model may have additional maintenance requirements. Check your owner’s manual for more specific recommendations before you proceed with any maintenance task. The manufacturer’s website may also provide some good up-to-date information.
Stay on Schedule
The following tasks need to be performed on a regular basis to keep your vehicle from sliding into disrepair. Make maintenance a part of your routine by setting reminders and keeping a service log. Once you get in the habit, maintaining your off-road vehicle becomes second nature.
Check Your Fluids
Just like any automobile, your off-road vehicle relies on several fluids to function properly. Your motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and demand drive fluid all require special attention, so let’s look at each of these fluids individually.
Motor Oil
Off-road vehicles use a different type of motor oil from the kind found in your car’s engine, but checking and changing the oil will feel like a familiar procedure. Make sure to check the oil level before every ride and top off the tank as necessary.
Watch out for any suspicious changes: if the level seems to be falling faster than it should, you may have an oil leak on your hands. Meanwhile, a rising oil level might indicate a buildup of contaminants. Both of these conditions warrant immediate investigation.
Your owner’s manual should specify how often to change the oil, with the average recommendation being every six months or every 100 driving hours. Your oil filter should also be replaced on the same schedule.
Transmission Fluid
While not as important as motor oil, it’s also a good idea to check your transmission fluid before each ride. You’re looking for a clear liquid: dark or cloudy transmission fluid is likely to be contaminated with metal flakes. This can occur due to normal wear and tear on your transmission. Replace your transmission fluid when it shows signs of contamination, or every 100 driving hours, or at least once a year. Many riders install a meter to more easily track their transmission fluid levels.
Coolant
A pre-ride coolant check is essential. The antifreeze or coolant in your off-road vehicle does more than just cool the engine: it also helps lubricate some of the internal components. Make sure the engine has cooled completely first, then add coolant to the overflow bottle on your radiator as necessary. There should be no need to open up the radiator itself unless the overflow bottle is empty, in which case you’ve probably got a leak somewhere.
Your coolant will need changing about every 60 months. While you’re in there, take a look at the condition of your radiator cap. A poor seal can throw off the pressurization of the cooling system, so a damaged radiator cap will need replacement.
Demand Drive Fluid
Polaris® off-road vehicles use Demand Drive fluid as a specialized lubricant for the front gearcase. The schedule for replacing this fluid is generally the same as motor oil: every 100 driving hours, or once per year. In the meantime, be sure to check the fluid level periodically and watch out for leaks and contamination.
Protect the Battery
Give your battery a thorough visual inspection about once a month, and clean the battery posts as needed. If you see signs of corrosion, it’s time for a new battery. When putting your off-road vehicle in long-term storage, such as during the winter months, remove the battery and put it on a tender.
Lubricate the Driveline
The driveline is a chain or belt that distributes engine power to the wheels of your off-road vehicle. Apply chain lubricant to your driveline regularly, and check the tension while you’re at it. If the driveline is too tight or too loose, it will need to be adjusted by a qualified technician.
Adjust the Tire Pressure
Check your tire pressure before every ride, and adjust to the recommended psi found in your owner’s manual. A tire pressure gauge is a smart investment that makes quick work of this essential maintenance task.
Check the Spark Plugs
Whether or not you’re having engine trouble, your spark plugs will need some regular attention. Disconnect the battery, remove the engine cover, then use a spark plug wrench to remove a plug. Check that the metal gaps are clean and dry and the ceramic casing is intact. You can replace spark plugs yourself, but unless you’re well-versed in engine maintenance, you’re probably going to want the help of a professional.
When your off-road vehicle needs servicing, you can count on the factory-trained technicians at Car Corral Polaris® to take good care of it. We have locations in Carmi and Flora, IL.