Extending The Life of Your UTV

Your utility task/terrain vehicle (UTV) provides you with hours of enjoyment when you go off-roading and hours shaved off your workload when you’re out on the farm or at the construction site. UTVs are enjoyable recreational vehicles in addition to being real workhorses that help you with hauling, towing and transportation needs.

However, your UTV is only going to work well if you keep it adequately maintained. Prairieland Partners is your Kansas UTV dealer, so here are some tips on ways you can extend the life of your UTV and get the most use out of it possible.

1. Read Your Owner’s Manual

While the information we provide below is broadly applicable to most UTVs, it’s smart to know exactly what your model needs. Refer to the owner’s manual whenever you have a question about how to maintain your vehicle. The manufacturer will have provided a great deal of useful information inside, such as the recommended psi levels for your tires, the types of oil and fuel to use and when to service your vehicle. 

Keep the manual handy and make notes in it of what repairs are performed in case you sell the UTV and want to provide a thorough vehicle history. The best way to extend the life of your UTV is to follow the guidelines in the owner’s manual.

2. Air Filters

The air filters on your UTV help to keep the engine free of dirt, dust and other debris by filtering out these particles. Change these as often as you change your vehicle’s oil. If you ride in especially sandy or dusty conditions, you may find that your air filters merit changing more often. Try to check the air filters after any such rides and after your UTV has sat in storage for a bit.

3. Oil

Oil helps to lubricate engine parts so that they run smoothly, and a well-maintained engine will last much longer than one that’s neglected. Make sure to check your oil often, even before each ride. The color and consistency of your oil should be translucent and runny; if you find that it’s sludgy and opaque, this merits an oil change. Change out the oil filter at the same time as you change the oil. Check the owner’s manual for your UTV to see what types of oil are recommended for use in your particular vehicle.

4. Tires

Your tires take a real beating whether you’re hauling heavy payloads or coasting over rocky paths. Use a tire-pressure gauge to check each tire before every ride and air them up accordingly. A small air compressor is a very convenient device to have when you own a UTV since you don’t want to suffer a flat on the trail. You can also keep a tire patch kit and even a spare tire in your cargo bay to be prepared for any eventuality.

5. Fuel

You don’t want to put the wrong type of fuel in your UTV because this could shorten its lifespan. High-quality fuel is recommended and it should be high-octane as well. Try to avoid using gasoline with ethanol in it as this isn’t as good for your UTV. If you’re going to store your UTV for a while, add a fuel stabilizer to prevent water separation.

We hope this guide will help you extend your UTV’s life with proper maintenance techniques. If you do require some professional assistance when it comes to UTV maintenance, get in touch with the Prairieland Partners service department. We can schedule you a maintenance appointment so that you and your UTV can get back to work and play as soon as possible. Prairieland Partners, LLC, proudly serves all of our Kansas customers.