If you have an ATV, you’re going to have to change the oil at some point so you can keep it running properly. But what if you’re not adept at ATV maintenance? Luckily, this task is pretty simple. It’s much like a car oil change, but even easier, so you should be able to do it yourself. Just consider these ATV oil change steps before you get started.
The first question you might have is how often you need to change the oil. The answer is that it depends on your ATV. In general, you’re supposed to perform an ATV oil change about every 100 hours of use, or at least once per year. But be sure to check your owner’s manual to find out what it says about your specific ATV. While you’re reading the manual, take note of which type of oil and filter to use, and buy those. It’s important to use the correct ATV oil change supplies if you want to keep your vehicle running properly, so don’t simply make assumptions on what you should buy. Let your owner’s manual guide you on this decision.
Now that you have the supplies you need, start your ATV’s engine up and let it run for about ten minutes. This warms up the oil so it comes out of the drain easier. Then check your owner’s manual to find out which panels you need to remove so you can access the oil filter. You’ll likely find you have to remove the seat of the ATV first, and then you might have to pull a latch to unfasten the tabs nearby. For most ATVs, you’ll also have to snap off the panel on the right side of the vehicle, which will reveal a cover that has bolts you’ll also need to remove. After you remove the cover, you’ll see the oil filter and dipstick. Take out the dipstick and clean around it to reduce the chance that grit and dirt will end up in the engine. Then check your owner’s manual to find out where the drain plug is.
Once you find the drain plug—which should be at the bottom of the ATV’s engine—check the skid plate to ensure the hole is clear before you start draining the old oil.
Then put a drain pan under it. Your next step in the ATV oil change should be to loosen the drain plug with a socket, and then allow the old oil to drip into the pan underneath. After all the old oil is gone, you can remove the filter.
Now you can put the drain plug back into place, making sure not to tighten it too much during this step. Take the new oil filter and put some oil on the O-ring, and then screw it in by hand, using a wrench to fully tighten it—but not too tight. At that point, you’re ready to add two quarts of new oil, which you can do by placing a funnel on top of the new filter and pouring the oil through that. Once this is done, turn on the ATV’s engine and let it run for about ten seconds. This will help the fresh oil begin flowing through the engine. Then check the oil level using the dipstick to determine if you have to add even more oil before the job is done. If the level is right, you’re ready to put the cover, panel, and seat back on.
The ATV oil change is just one part of keeping your vehicle maintained before you ride.
For more tips on taking care of your ATV, check out our guide here: Getting Your ATV Ready for Springtime Fun.
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When you change your oil depends on how often you use your ATV and the quality of the oil that you have inside it.
Owners who ride every day and use $1.00 per quart "big box" oil will be changing oil once a week. Others who ride less frequently and use high-grade petroleum or synthetic oil may go an entire season before needing a change.
The best way to determine if you need a change is to pull the dipstick at the end of every trail riding session and check out the color of the oil.
An oil change is a great opportunity to take a few minutes and get rid of the dirt, weeds and other debris from beneath your ride. The oil is actually going to drain through a hole in the skid plate and if that hole is clogged you're going to have your very own BP spill to deal with.
In some ATV models, access to the drain and filter are pretty easy but in some models you will need every mm of clearance to reach a plug or a filter. If those spaces are clogged with debris your oil change can become a level 5 out of 10 pretty quickly.
The process we list here is specifically for a Yamaha Grizzly 660 but the steps are the same for just about any model. What will be different is the location of the drain plug and oil tank as well as the oil filter. Refer to your owner's manual for the specific location of those items.
Because it's horizontal and somewhat recessed you want to use a screwdriver to stuff rags under the filter to catch the oil. Wrench the old filer out.
That's it. Remember to recycle/dispose of the old oil responsibly.
- End of Procedure -
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ATV oil change is one of the most important factors in the proper operation of an ATV, its durability. The engine and other components of an ATV consist of moving and rubbing parts, gears, gears rotating at high speed, and experiencing very high loads and temperatures. A good, properly selected oil allows you to avoid the rapid wear of mechanisms, their destruction.
Synthetic oil is prepared by synthesis from organic substances. Synthetic molecules are the same size. Synthetic oil has the best chemical and thermal stability.
But it is the most expensive, so it is recommended to use it in new engines.
Mineral oil is made from petroleum products, it is cheap, but it does the job, although its performance is worse than that of synthetic oils. Accordingly, the cost of mineral oils is lower than synthetic ones. Therefore, if the engine mileage is high, and in the region the winter temperatures do not exceed 15 degrees below zero, then it is even preferable to use mineral oil. nine0003
Semi-synthetic consists of mineral and synthetic oils, where the proportion of mineral is 30-50%, and is intended for modern engines with high mileage. The characteristics of this oil lie between fully synthetic and mineral oils.
One of the main characteristics of engine oil is viscosity, the ability to remain on friction parts and maintain fluidity under given temperature conditions. Referred to by SAE abbreviation, e.g. 75W90. Subtract 40 from the first digit and the result will show the temperature at which the engine can be started and its cranking, since the oil thickens with decreasing temperature and it is more difficult for the starter to crank the engine.
The second digit shows the viscosity at high temperature engine operation 100‒150 degrees. The higher this number, the higher the viscosity. But this does not mean that the higher the viscosity, the better it is for a particular engine. If this is good for a powerful and sporty engine, then for a conventional engine it threatens to lose power and threaten to quickly “screw it up”. Therefore, the best choice here is to pour the oil indicated by the manufacturer of the ATV. nine0003
The next node, where it is necessary to change the oil from time to time and monitor its level, is the gearbox. Gearboxes in ATVs are mechanical, automatic and semi-automatic. Automatic transmissions are installed on low-power and children's ATVs, mechanical ones are used mainly in sports models, and semi-automatic in utility ATVs, where it is possible to connect all-wheel drive under certain road conditions.
Viscosity grade
There are different opinions about what kind of oil and what viscosity is needed for the gearbox.
If for mechanical gearboxes it is recommended, without further ado, to pour engine oil, then for automatic gearboxes, transmission oil is required. In addition, there are different opinions about what viscosity the oil should be. Here it is necessary to build on the specific gearbox model and remember the principle that more thermally loaded elements require a more viscous oil. nine0003
ATV oil must be changed within the time specified in the instruction manual. It is permissible to roll up to 500 km, this is the so-called break-in period. This is if you purchased a completely new ATV, and if it is used, then it is advisable to do this as in the case of buying a used car, right away.
The subsequent regulations must be made every 1000 km, of course, with the change of oil, filter elements, inspection and maintenance of other components of the ATV. But there are situations when it is necessary to do unscheduled maintenance, for example, if the ATV has been in the water.
Accordingly, it must be disassembled, removed and dried moisture, drained oil from all nodes. After bringing the ATV back to normal, it is necessary to fill in new oil. nine0003
To change ATV oil, you must first drain the used oil, as described in the corresponding article. Then it is necessary to tightly close the drain hole, pour new oil in the required volume, while it is desirable and even necessary to replace the oil filters. For a more complete guide, see the instruction manual for a specific model, which describes in detail the procedure for changing the oil in an ATV. Or see this article. nine0003
Summing up the above, it should be remembered that changing the oil in an ATV on time is the main procedure that affects the durability of components and mechanisms. And besides this, it is necessary to use the right brand, otherwise the effect of its use will be negative.
Other related materials:
Children's ATVs: types, characteristics, safety, disadvantages
Tips for choosing an ATV
Do I need to install a snorkel on an ATV? nine0005 Choosing protection for the ATV
How to adjust the valves on the ATV?
All ATVs have their own "term" of life.
This applies even to expensive branded devices that cost tens of thousands of dollars. There is nothing to be done about the fact that key components of equipment gradually wear out and fail. But you can increase the life of the components by using quality oil. Even if you decide to buy an inexpensive ATV, you need to find the right lubricants for it. Therefore, let's figure out which oil is better to choose for an ATV. nine0003
It should be noted right away that a special oil is used for each of the units of the apparatus. The lubricant composition is poured into:
It is not recommended to save on oil, as it not only reduces friction, but also removes excess heat. Due to this, the mechanisms work correctly, do not overheat and “live” an order of magnitude longer. nine0003
Refer to your ATV documentation for information on lubricant formulations.
Each device has its own requirements, so be sure to study them.
Although it is worth following the manufacturer's recommendations, this does not mean that you need to buy the first suitable composition. All oils consist of a base and special additives. And it is on the basis that their operational features depend. There are 3 types of oil:
nine0011 It is up to the rider to decide which oil to put in the ATV. However, experienced motorists are advised not to save on lubricants, since repairing an engine or gearbox will cost many times more.
There are several oil characteristics that a rider should pay attention to. The first step is to determine the viscosity of the liquid. To do this, look at the label. If it has the letter W (winter), then the liquid is designed for low temperatures. The following numbers show what weather conditions the composition is intended for (0 - mild winter, 25 - severe frost). nine0003
The situation is similar with summer liquids. There are 5 classes of compositions (by viscosity) from 20 to 60. There are also universal oils that are used both in winter and in summer.
You can recognize them by special markings, for example: "20W40"
You also need to pay attention to:
The API system is used to classify oil by quality. The marking looks like this: S (common name) + A, B, C, D, etc. The lowest quality is marked with the letters "SA", and the highest quality is marked with "SL".
When deciding which oil to fill in an ATV engine, you need to take into account the characteristics of the vehicle itself. Because the ATV is subjected to considerable stress, the engine becomes very hot. This means that the oil must be resistant to high temperatures and conduct heat well. nine0003
Plays the role and basis of the composition.
Ideally, you should use only synthetic or semi-synthetic fluid. You need to pay attention to the labeling: the country of origin, season, quality standard.
Important: For gearboxes and gearboxes, you need to use special compounds that differ from engine oil in a set of additives.
The first thing a rider needs to figure out is how often to change the oil in an ATV. Each manufacturer has its own recommendations, but experienced motorists advise filling in new fluid every 160 hours. In this case, the first replacement is performed during the break-in, after the device has worked for 20 hours. nine0003
To change the oil you need:
