Used UTV Maintenance

Owning a used UTV or used side x side gives you a great form of transport for both work and recreational purposes. You can use your UTV around the farm, ranch or job site to haul heavy payloads, carry workers with their gear and tow equipment around. Then at the weekend, you can take the whole family on a fun-filled, adrenaline-pumping, off-roading adventure!

In order for your vehicle to fulfill all these uses for you, though, you’ll have to keep it in good running condition. This means performing regular maintenance on its various parts and systems to ensure that everything functions correctly. Here at Family Powersports San Angelo, we know how important your side x side is to you, so we’ve provided this guide to used UTV maintenance to help you out.

Protecting the Battery

Your UTV’s battery is a pretty basic component, but an essential one. If your battery isn’t charged up, then your engine can’t spark from the plugs, your lights and gauges won’t work and the ignition won’t turn over. So look at your battery posts for signs of buildup or corrosion at least once a month and replace your battery if you see a great deal of crust on the posts. When storing your side by side during the winter, remove your battery and place it on a tender to prevent it from discharging completely. Allowing your battery to drain in the off season can result in it ceasing to hold a charge, so save yourself the money and keep your battery charged up.

Tire Pressure Checks

Riding on worn or low pressure tires is a recipe for disaster, particularly on a UTV. You don’t want to suffer a blowout when you’re riding over the slopes, so make sure to check your tire pressure before every ride and air up your tires accordingly. Look for objects embedded in the treads, bald spots and uneven wear on your tires while you’re down there.

Fluids

The engine of your side x side uses several fluids to function correctly, so you’ll want to see that they are clean and topped up. Check your oil as you would in your passenger car: remove the dipstick, wipe it, insert it again and remove it to compare the color to the chart provided by the tank. If your oil is gritty, this could mean that parts of your engine are grinding together, necessitating immediate professional maintenance. If the oil is thick and dark, it needs to be changed.

Coolant keeps your engine from overheating, so make sure that it’s topped up before each ride. Check that there are no fluids pooling under your parked UTV which could mean that your radiator is cracked. Make sure the cap of your radiator is tightly sealed when filling the coolant, too.

Spark Plugs

Changing your UTV’s spark plugs is an onerous task best left to the pros, but you can check them yourself without much trouble. Remove the cover to your engine and use a spark plug wrench to remove a plug. Check that the ceramic casing is in one whole piece and make sure the metal gaps are clean and dry. If anything seems remiss, contact the Family Powersports San Angelo service department to have our mechanics take a look at it.

Fuel

Many UTVs work best when operated on high-octane fuel. Ethanol fuels can stretch your fuel supply, but they lead to more buildup and corrosion in your engine, so using the right type of gas can help to keep your engine working well. Drain your carburetor after every ride if you use normal ethanol gas. Make sure to fill up your tank before each trip so you’re not caught without gas in your side by side in the middle of nowhere. If you’re storing your UTV for a while, use a fuel stabilizer to prevent your gasoline from breaking down.

Looking to buy your first UTV and want to save money by buying used? To see our full inventory of used side by sides and UTVs for sale, come down to our San Angelo dealership. Our friendly staff can help you find the used side by side of your dreams! Family Powersports San Angelo serves the cities of Abilene, Big Spring, Big Lake and Sonora, Texas.