Engine Mantainance

[theMAGICMAN10111]

Hi  im new to the quad scene and i am pickin up my new quad this weekend. Just had a couple question about general mantainance.
<Timberwolf 250 yamaha>

-How often should one change the oil?
-What type of oil do you reccomend?
-how often should one clean the air filter?

Any other general mantainance info?

Thanks a bunch any ifo is helpful

[qt314nfla]

I'd say it depends on who you talk to first of all.  The sport quad riders clean their air filters and change oil after every ride or every other ride.  They also only use motorcycle oil due to the high performance of their machines.

Utility riders clean the filter when the quad starts acting sluggish or when it looks absolutely filthy.  I would suggest going w/ a K&N filter.  They are reusable and last the lifetime of the quad if you clean them properly.  Sport quads also use this filter. 

Utility riders change the oil after a.) they sink their quad and the oil looks like chocolate milk.  b.) when they remember to change it.  Don't follow option b.  Most utility riders use 10w40 regular grade oil that you'd use in your car.  This option is very highly debated.  Yamaha recommends using ONLY Yamalube this is absolutely unnecessary and very expensive!

Most other utility maintenance is done based on quad performance.  Best bet take a look at your manual and follow it's schedule of maintenance.

[Dr.Dirt]

The oil reccomendations and changing times should be in the manual. I know I change my gearbox oil every 20 hours which is more often than the manual says it needs to be changed. As for cleaning the air filter, every time you go out for a long ride or if your in really dusty conditions you should clean it. I would by some air filter tacky spray, it helps the air filter do its job. For matainance info I would have to say check your oil often (espicially after riding in water and mud) Clean your air filter often, check your spark plug occasonally and most important of all have fun  
I'm sure the other members will have a few more tips to give you.

[Nocturnal]

I clean my air filter about every 200 - 300 miles. And I change my oil and filter every 500 - 600 miles. I'm running a K & N air filter w/ a outfitters prefilter. And I only use Honda oil. Hope this helps.

[Honda250ex]

If you get a new quad look in the Operator's Manual that' what I look at to be right what to use.  You should buy a K&N Air filter the stock airfilters just dont do well.

[Shotgun]

With the cost of ATV's these days, using so called "expensive oil" oil like Yamalube is a necessity in my opinion. Spending a couple of extra bucks on good oil is not a waste of money. You cannot run regular automobile oil in your wetclutch ATV. It will ruin it. (I don't know if yours has a wetclutch or not).

[Chillinthemost]

Here is the real deal, anyone that would argue will eventually be enlightened.
  Use any good name brand oil and how often you change it depends on if your machine has an hour meter or a odometer. My sport bike has neither so I change it every couple of rides. Dont forget most quads these days have oil filters that you must also change. Some synthetic oils have friction modifiers that can cause wet clutches to slip.
 In my opinion K/N air filters are for racing, they flow the most air but dont offer the protection against fine dust that a foam filter provides. On my sport bike I have 2 completely different air filter setups that I run depending on where I'm riding. K/N filters are easy for someone that doesn't know better to really screw up leaving your machine sucking dirt. Foam filters must be cleaned with cleaner( I use gas, dont smoke while doing this, then washed with dish soap ) and then OILED with AIR FILTER OIL. I stress the oil because on more than one occassion I have worked on peoples bikes and found that they didn't know that you had to oil their filters. How often to do this just depends on your riding, if you ride with your kids and always lead, then you may only have to clean it once a year. If you ride in a big group in dusty conditions and you are in the back, well then clean it every ride.
 Clean oil and clean filtered air and any  name brand non hi performance bike will last literaly forever. One the other hand, one day with the wrong filter would destroy a motor.

[Chillinthemost]

Someone PMed me for more details so I will also post it here


I use a small bucket or a big butter bowl and put a little gas in it. wash the filter in it untill you get all the old oil off of it. Then I was it with dish soap and rinse it thoroughly. Shake it out and let it dry in the sun. When its dry pour the air filter oil all over it( I use Bel Ray foam filter oil) and work it in. The idea is to COMPLETELY cover the foam in oil, but not have it dripping wet. You can squeeze the extra oil off of it, dont wringe it, you can tear the foam.

[xtremeraptor]

20 50 AND I CHANGE MINE EVERY 20 HRS AND THAT WORKS FOR ME

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Someone PMed me for more details so I will also post it here


I use a small bucket or a big butter bowl and put a little gas in it. wash the filter in it untill you get all the old oil off of it. Then I was it with dish soap and rinse it thoroughly. Shake it out and let it dry in the sun. When its dry pour the air filter oil all over it( I use Bel Ray foam filter oil) and work it in. The idea is to COMPLETELY cover the foam in oil, but not have it dripping wet. You can squeeze the extra oil off of it, dont wringe it, you can tear the foam.

I prefer degreaser over gasoline, especially Citrus based for cleaning off the oil.

[apkkfx400]

[

I prefer degreaser over gasoline, especially Citrus based for cleaning off the oil.
[/quote]

Have to agree with ya TRX-the degreaser type cleanser is enviromentally friendly-you can get rid used cleanser and dump in your yard if you want-I always think EPA's looking over my shoulder from working at an automotive repair shop.  The other comment about not wringing the filter is also correct-it will tear.  I have a sport quad and change the oil and filter every 20hrs and check the oil level and condition of air filter before and after every ride.  I clean the air filter, of course, when it gets dirty.

[Kris]

In my utilities i run amsoil 0w40. It's the same weight as atv brand oils, and I've always liked and trusted amsoil.

[96 warrior]

maybe this can help kind of hard to read

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/service/manuals/1999/Lit-11626-12-45_339.pdf