Changing the oil in your Kawasaki Teryx 800 is vital to keeping your side x side vehicle healthy and performing its best. If you want to traverse backcountry trails, speed through an open field, or go up and down your favorite hills in the woods, then you need to perform maintenance sometimes, too. So how do you check the oil in a Kawasaki Teryx 800?
You can check the oil in a Kawasaki Teryx 800 by accessing the dipstick underneath your seat. Unscrew the oil filler plug and test the oil level before screwing it back in. Simply read the bottom portion of the dipstick for the results.
This article describes how to check the oil in a Kawasaki Teryx 800 in just 9 easy steps. Read along to figure out how you can perform this necessary task in only a few minutes!
1. Pick an Area That Is Clean and Dry
You should always find a protected area when checking the oil in your Kawasaki Teryx 800. Even though the vehicle is meant for the harshest elements, once you start working on the mechanics inside, you don’t want your UTV to make any contact with rain or snow.
Find a garage or another area that isn’t exposed to poor weather if you aren’t checking the oil on a mild day. Finding cover will help ensure you don’t get any unwanted moisture inside the oil reservoir that could affect your engine and overall vehicle’s performance.
2. Choose Level Ground
Just like when you change the oil in a car, one of the first steps that Esquire Magazine experts recommend is to ensure you are on level ground. You want to choose a nice level spot to get an accurate reading from your dipstick.
Some areas you’ll want to avoid when you’re changing your oil include:
- Driveways
- Hills
- Ramps
Keep your Kawasaki Teryx 800 in a garage or on a flat street, and you’ll be on your way to a more accurate reading when you check your oil.
3. Allow the Vehicle To Cool Down
Most experts recommend running your Kawasaki Teryx 800 before changing the oil. Allowing it to cool down helps your UTV have a more desirable consistency for examining. However, you don’t want the oil to be hot when checking it.
Before you check your oil, you’ll want to give it a few minutes to cool down. Most experts recommend about 10 minutes between turning the engine on and checking the oil in your vehicle.
4. Open Your Seat To Access the Dipstick
You’ll find the oil plug and dipstick underneath the driver seat on the Kawasaki Teryx 800. So simply take the seat off and pull the flap back to access the dipstick. You can take the seat off by pulling gently on the middle and front of the driver seat cushion.
Once you remove the seat, you will find a rubber flap protecting the oil reservoir. Just lightly pull on this flap to take it off, and you’ll have full access to the oil plug underneath it.
5. Remove the Oil Plug
Next, you will want to take the oil plug and dipstick out of the reservoir. You can do this by simply unscrewing it. Once you unscrew it to the left, you will have access to checking the oil in your side x side vehicle.
Here’s a video from Randomly Tracy doing a great job describing how to remove the oil plug to check your oil safely:
There have been some incidents of the oil dipstick falling off the oil plug, as noted in this video. Be extra cautious when unscrewing the oil plug, and follow some tips from Randomly Tracy on how to prevent this potential nightmare from occurring.
6. Gently Remove Oil or Debris
Before you get an accurate reading on your dipstick, you’ll need to remove any excess oil and debris. The best way to do this is by using a rag or towel and wiping away the visible oil from the filler plug stick.
Find a good cloth that will remove the oil without damaging the dipstick. I like the Standard Towel Roll (link to Amazon) because they can hold up to the most challenging jobs and are less bulky than larger rags.
7. Insert the Oil Filler Plug Back Completely
Now that you have a clean dipstick, it’s time to check your oil! Dip your oil filler plug in and allow the dipstick to contact the oil. After a couple of seconds, remove the oil filler plug. Once you do this, you’ll be able to get an accurate reading of your oil level.
8. Check the Level of the Oil
Now it’s time to check the oil. As described in Kawasaki’s user manual, you’ll want to look at the mesh portion of the oil plug, which you’ll find on the bottom of the dipstick (source). Read the oil level to determine whether your machine has the correct amount of oil. Now you’ll be ready to take the next step of adding or changing your oil, or if it’s at an ideal level, it’s time to ride!
9. Put Everything Back How You Found It
Once you’ve checked the oil in your Kawasaki Teryx 800, it’s time to put things back the way you found them. Just do everything you did earlier in reverse! Here is a quick walk-through on how to wrap up after you check the oil on your UTV:
- Screw the oil plug back in.
- Put the flap back on.
- Attach your seat over the oil reservoir area.
Now that you’ve followed these steps, you have officially completed checking your oil.
Have you ever experienced exhaust temperature issues with your Kawasaki Teryx? If so, read my guide to learn more about why the exhaust might heat up and how to fix it.
Final Thoughts
Checking your oil in a Kawasaki Teryx 800 is relatively straightforward. After reading this article, you have all the tools you need to do this on your own. Check your oil frequently, and you’ll keep your side x side in peak condition to enjoy it year-round.