Side by Side Maintenance
If you’ve got a UTV, also known as a side-by-side, you know how useful it is when you’re out there where the paved road ends. Side-by-sides are workhorses designed to tackle rough terrain and take you and your tools along for the ride - or take you and your buddies out for a hunt, or any number of the many other things that a UTV is best suited for.
But just as your trusty UTV does its best for you in the wilds, you need to do your best to take care of your machine. At SoCal Honda Powersports in Carson, California, we’ve put together this brief guide to help you understand what you need to know to keep your side-by-side in tip top shape, so it’ll keep doing the dirty jobs for you year after year.
Basics
Like any vehicle, your side-by-side has fluids, hoses, belts, and mechanical parts that need to be maintained on a regular basis. Performing a few simple checks before you go out for a ride will help you save money and avoid the hassle of something breaking when you’re in the wilds. Nothing’s worse than being out in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal and your side-by-side with a flat tire, a blown engine component, or worse. Here are some easy things you can do before each ride:
- Check your oil. Just like almost any other kind of vehicle, your side-by-side uses oil. And that oil level can get low, or the oil can be discolored or sludgy. Check your owner’s manual for regular oil change intervals, and make sure you follow those intervals. In between, check your oil before every ride and make sure it’s in good condition. If you see flecks of metal or other debris in your oil, that could be a sign of big problems with your engine, so make sure you take it into a maintenance shop to have it checked out.
- Check your tires. This list is sounding a lot like the kind of list you might see for a lot of other vehicles, like your car or your motorcycle, right? Well, there’s a good reason for that - these basic common-sense tips will help maintain almost any internal-combustion engine vehicle with wheels that exists. Your UTV has tires, and those tires need to be inflated to the proper pressure - as stated in your owner’s manual. You need to be sure your tires have proper tread depth. You need to check for damage and deterioration, especially if you’re taking your UTV into rough terrain very often. Know the signs of when your tires have had it and need to be replaced, and when they do need to be replaced, do so promptly.
- Check your wiring. This is a basic step that will save you a world of hurt down the line. If your wires have any wear and tear, or cracks, or you see exposed wires, you have to take your vehicle in to a dealer as soon as possible. Damaged or cracked electrical wires can really do some major damage to your vehicle, so it’s critical to get those checked out immediately upon discovery.
- Check your coolant. Coolant is there to extend your engine’s life by keeping the seals cool and lubricated. Like any other fluid in your UTV, coolant can get old, and it can get debris in it, so it’s critical to be sure your coolant is full and clean at all times.
Other Important Maintenance
Like any other vehicle, your UTV has a lot of parts and components that can get cracked, damaged, or just wear out. It’s crucial that you perform regular maintenance and inspections on your vehicle to catch any little cracks or damage before they become major problems. Take your UTV for service as recommended by your owner’s manual - and stick with the schedule. Keep your UTV stored in a cool, dry location and keep it away from direct sunlight when stored for a long period. Make sure you’re always using the correct fuel. Make sure your radiator cap is in good shape - no cracks or breaks that’ll hamper its ability to regulate coolant pressure.
We hope this brief guide has helped you understand what you need to know about keeping your UTV in top condition. And when you’re ready to shop for a new UTV, or you need parts or accessories for your current machine, come see us at SoCal Honda Powersports, serving LA and Long Beach. We look forward to seeing you!