The Best Oil for a UTV

Published June 3, 2024, by SearchForParts.com 

A UTV is like an off-road golf cart that offers tough capacities and fun outdoor adventure. Compared to the more compact and agile nature of ATVs, UTVs are larger and more spacious. They feature side-by-side seating, much like a regular car, and provide the driver and passengers with a steering wheel and pedals for acceleration and braking. They are rugged, off-road cars for outdoor adventures, utility tasks, and passenger and cargo duties.

Whether for work or play, the UTV enthusiast pushes the vehicle to the limit in punishing off-road conditions. This kind of extreme use puts a tremendous toll on the engine and other components. Proper maintenance with high-quality lubricants is crucial.

UTVs are versatile machines that can take on plowing snow, hauling cargo, pulling stumps, and even moving firewood. They’re also popular for off-road adventures like trail riding in mud, sand dunes, or snow.

However, this kind of use subjects the engine to intense heat and stress, which has a tendency to break the oil down and cause wear, deposits, and reduced performance. That is why the best engine oil for powerful off-road UTVs is necessary. With the best synthetic oil, the UTV owner can achieve maximum protection, extended service intervals, and reliable operation with complete peace of mind—be it hard at work or harder at play on the trails.

To prove protection in a high-stress UTV primarily used for utility work, we filled a 2018 Polaris Ranger with AMSOIL Synthetic UTV Engine Oil and put it through some serious abuse. We pushed this UTV to its limits, running wide-open throttle at 45 mph (72 km/h), and staying above 6,000 rpm. See the right column for results

The torture test pushed temperatures to extremes:

Transaxle temperature: 280°F (138°C)

Engine oil temperature: 280°F (138°C)

CVT belt temperature: 270°F (132°C)

After 100 hours and 4,000 miles (6,437 km) of this grueling test, the engine and transaxle were torn down and inspected. Even under intense heat far beyond normal operating conditions, AMSOIL’s synthetic base oils and fortified additives maintained the oil’s viscosity, delivering perfect protection. Pistons, cylinders, cams, and transaxle gears looked like new.

This extreme torture test showed AMSOIL Synthetic UTV Engine Oil delivering the goods, excellent performance that gives you outstanding protection, even under the toughest utility applications.

What type of oil should I use in my UTV?

AMSOIL offers purpose-built synthetic UTV motor oils that deliver high-performance alternatives to most OEM-branded fluids, available in the following viscosities: 

10W-30 Synthetic UTV Motor Oil for UTVs including Honda models.

10W-40 Synthetic UTV Motor Oil for UTVs from Kawasaki, Suzuki, Can-Am, Honda, Yamaha, Kubota, and John Deere. 

5W-40 Synthetic UTV Motor Oil for Can-Am and Kawasaki UTVs. 

5W-50 Synthetic UTV Motor Oil for Polaris Ranger, RZR, General, and Sportsman, replacing Polaris PS-4 and PS-4 Extreme oils.

– 0W-50 Synthetic UTV Motor Oil for 1000cc and Turbo Polaris Ranger, RZR, and General models, replacing Polaris PS-4 and PS-4 Extreme oils. AMSOIL also offers 0W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Powersports Synthetic Motor Oil suitable for UTVs from Polaris, Honda, Yamaha, BRP, Can-Am, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.

The best way to find out what kind of oil your UTV takes is by looking up your specific make/model using the button below.