I received the following question in my inbox earlier this week after we posted last season’s segment on changing the oil in a Can-Am DS 450 to our You Tube page.
Maxomath asked, “Is it okay if I keep the oil filter a bit longer in my DS450, instead of always changing it after a complete oil change? How frequently should I change my oil in a given season?”
Great question. If this is your first oil change on your DS 450 you absolutely 100% need to change that filter. The break in period of the engine along with the possibility of leftover material remaining in the engine from production makes the initial filter change very important.
The thing about 4-stroke high performance motors is that they produce huge torque and truly require consistent oil and filter changes in order to stay healthy and avoid costly top-end rebuilds.
You may stretch your oil changes on your car a bit past the 5000 kilometer mark, but your DS will need to have the filter and oil changed regularly if you want it to perform at its peak efficiency. Keep in mind those few extra dollars you’ll shell out for a filter at each oil change will increase the life of your engine and deliver more hours of enjoyment out of the shop.
Refer to your owners manual for the manufacturer’s recommended frequency for changing the oil and filter and stick to that schedule. You’ll be happy you did and your ATV will thank you with many enjoyable hours on the track.