Every Farmer should know these easy maintenance practices to keep your utility vehicle running smooth, season after season. If you have any questions, come see the pros at Everglades Equipment Group and let us take a look at your UTV.
Check Your Oil
The simplest of all maintenance chores: Checking your oil. Check your oil EVERY time you ride, older side by sides will burn off oil like no one's business, so if you're not vigilant about regularly checking and topping off your oil you may be behind the wheel of a piece of scrap in no time.
Change the Oil
So you've checked, the oil, now you need to make sure it's getting changed. This is about as simple as it gets, just make sure you're changing the oil at regular intervals and using the right weight of oil.
Check the Coolant
Coolant shouldn't burn off the way oil does, and in a perfect world your coolant system should be able to run for a long time without needing to be topped off, however it's in your best interests to keep an eye on your side by side's coolant level to ensure you don't wind up overheating miles from the trailhead.
Check the Radiator Cap
The radiator cap isn't just there to keep coolant in your engine. A radiator cap is a critical part of your cooling system, providing a vacuum of negative pressure that pulls new coolant into the radiator. Make sure the seals on your radiator cap are in good condition or it won't be able to function effectively.
Change Your Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are cheap, easy to swap out, and they build up grime at an alarming rate, so check your side by side's spark plugs regularly and look for signs of buildup that indicate it's time for a new set.
Electrical Wiring
One reaching branch or stubborn tangle of brush is all it takes to knock wiring loose from a harness, and when that happens it's only a matter of time before your wires and electrical system get torn up on the trail. Inspect, repair, and remount your wiring as needed.
Use the Best Fuel
Using standard fuel is pretty hard on your side by side. While ethanol is great when you're trying to stretch gas reserves, it's pretty miserable if you're trying to keep your carburetor clean. Using a high octane gas will help keep gunk from building up in your engine.
Check Tire Pressure
The simplest of all maintenance chores: Checking your oil. Check your oil EVERY time you ride, older side by sides will burn off oil like no one's business, so if you're not vigilant about regularly checking and topping off your oil you may be behind the wheel of a piece of scrap in no time.
Service Your Driveline
This one isn't usually a DIY piece of maintenance, but once in a while, you should bring your UTV into the shop for a little TLC from the experts. Here at Everglades Equipment Group, we'd be happy to give your driveline a tune-up to make sure your side by side is running smooth!
Don't Neglect Your Battery
Batteries are easy to care for so long as you remember to top them off. Whenever your UTV is going into extended storage, make sure you pull your battery and hook it up to a tender to ensure a full charge when you set out to ride again, just don't leave it in the garage when you head out from home!