2018 ATV and UTV Cleaning and Maintenance Guide

With April showers behind us, the trails are starting to dry out and your machine needs a bath. Our ATV and UTV cleaning and maintenance guide is here to help.

Now that the wettest muddiest month of the year is behind us, it’s time to clean up your machine and take care of some general maintenance so you are ready for months of great riding ahead. We are here to help with our ATV and UTV Cleaning and Maintenance Guide.

ATV Wash

Hopefully you were able to hit the trails and get a little muddy in April. While mud looks good on an ATV or UTV, it’s a good idea to wash it off now and again. Alco Dirt Bike and ATV Wash is an all natural cleaning product that is designed to clean your filthy machine without tarnishing aluminum parts or damaging seats. Prices start at about $10.

Mud Axe

If you’ve got so much mud on your ATV or UTV that a power washer can’t handle it, you may need the Risk Racing Mud Axe. The head allows you to easily clear mud off fenders and wheels, while the pick the other side is perfect for getting between shock springs and other hard to reach areas. You can pick up a Mud Axe for about $20.

Air Filter Care

While replacing a damaged air filter is a smart idea, you don’t necessarily have to throw a dirty air filter away. The Twin Air Filter Care Kit comes with everything you need to clean your filter without making a big mess. You’ll be surprised how much more performance you’ll get out of your engine with a clean air filter. Prices start at $88.50. We tested this same kit a few years back, which you can read about here.

Hand Wash

Spend enough time cleaning or working on your ATV or UTV and your hands will look like a hot mess. Motul M4 Hands Clean will clean your hands without water and dissolves grease without drying out your hands. Carrying around a 3.3 oz tube in your UTV glove box is a no brainer. Prices start at $5.36.

Jack Stand

The easiest way to lift up the front or rear end of your ATV or UTV is with a jack stand. The Smartxchoises 1500 LB Lift Stand is built of tubular steel and finished with lead-free paint.  Two locking rear casters allow for easy movement when you need it and welded tie-down brackets help keep your machine secure. Prices start at about $105.

Tire Repair

Whether you’ve got a slow leak on the ATV in your garage or you do some tire damage out on the trail, the Kolpin  Flat Pack can come in awfully handy. It includes everything you need to fix up to 10 flats. The tools all fit inside a pump, making the kit small enough to throw in a glove box or in the bottom of a back pack. Prices start at about $35.

Bead Breaker Tool

Not every flat tire can be repaired. Instead of running to your local dealer to put on a new tire (or four), you may want to look into the BeadBuster XB-450. We reviewed this product a few years ago and it truly makes changing ATV or UTV tires a simple process. At just $109, it’s an affordable bit of peace of mind to keep in your garage.

Grease Gun

It’s a good idea to periodically check your ATV or UTV grease fittings and top them up with a grease gun. The Star Brite Lever Action Grease Gun retails for just $20 and fits standard zerk fittings. The lever action delivers maximum pressure per stroke to make light work of any greasing job.

Coolant

Most of us know to check and replace our oil, but don’t forget about coolant. When the temperatures rise and the miles pile up, ATV and UTV engines get hot. Maxima Cool-Aide is designed to reduce engine termperatures to allow for improved heat transfer. It comes ready to use with no mixing or blending.  You can pick up a 64 oz. container for just $10.

Clymer Manual

If you’ve got a problem with your ATV or UTV, we’d have no trouble recommending the Clymer repair manuals. We recently used one to solve a wiring issue in a UTV, which was made easier by the color wiring diagrams. You can pick one up for about $35.