How To

These are some of the most common questions we are asked.

How often should I clean my air filter?

First off, you have to know which style of filter you have for your vehicle. Most ATVs have foam air filters but some have paper elements. UTVs usually have paper elements but may have foam. Paper elements will need to be replaced after they get dirty and foam elements will need to be cleaned and re-serviced. If you are the lead rider in your group your air filter will obviously not get dirty as fast as someone riding dead last in your group. You can’t always go by hours of run time or miles traveled. Visual inspection is the easiest way to tell, due to riding conditions.

What type of oil do I run on my foam air filter?

The type of air filter will determine what oil you will run on the filter. With a paper element you do not use any type of oil. You can use a pre-filter or a wrap to help extend filter service intervals. With a gauze type filter like a K&N filter it is recommended to us the K&N filter oil or another oil that will work with a gauze type of element. Also, a pre-filter or wrap will help lengthen the service interval. With foam filters we recommend the stickiest foam filter oil. The oil holds the dirt to the element and continues to pull dirt out of the air as it passes thru the filter. Dual stage foam filters work better than a single stage element. With foam filters it is not recommended to use a prefilter that can come in contact with the foam filter. If this happens the oil on the filter will wick onto the wrap and will eventually restrict air going to the engine. This will decrease performance and could cause a spark plug to foul.

How often do I change my oil?

Manufacturers will often recommend oil change intervals either by hours of run time or miles traveled. This isn’t always applicable in an off-road vehicle due to conditions and situations. For example, an air or oil cooled motor will break oil down faster than a water-cooled motor. Certain machines hold less oil than others. A motor that only holds 800cc of oil will break the oil down faster than a motor that holds 3 quarts. Miles traveled can drastically affect how fast oil gets contaminated or broken down. For example, a recreational rider will not be as hard on oil as someone that is racing for the same amount of time. Another example is someone that is using their vehicle to maybe check a fence line or maybe work cattle, it will have more run time vs a lot of miles. So, we don’t recommend going by either or you can just use them as a reference. Everyone should know the color of oil. When the color of oil darkens it’s time to get the oil changed.

What air pressure do I need to run in my tires?

This is always a very tough question due to different types of tires and terrain and riding styles. With ATVs the air pressure isn’t as high as vehicles that weigh more. Sport ATVs will run air pressures in the 3 to 8 psi range. Lower air pressures for mud and sand and higher air pressures for hard packed conditions and rocky terrain. UTVs will usually run higher air pressures due to the heavier weight but as with ATVs in sand and mud, lower air pressures will work better. Ranges from 10 to 16 psi is a common air pressure setting. Higher air pressures if you are traveling on roads. There are always exceptions to any condition. Rock crawlers tend to drop air pressures to help with traction. Slower speeds allow this to help but beware higher speeds with lower air pressure will increase the chance of pinching or cutting sidewalls or tires. Tires can also be cut at the edge of the sidewall where it meets the wheel rim edge.