Arctic Cat Alterra 500 Oil Change
Changing the motor oil on your Arctic Cat Alterra regularly helps prevent wear-and-tear on engine parts and prolongs the life of the engine itself.
Watch the video above and follow the steps below to learn how to change the oil in an Arctic Cat Alterra 500.
Tools and Supplies – Arctic Cat Alterra 500 Oil Change
- Ratchet and 19mm socket
- Torque wrench
- Drain pan
How to Change Arctic Cat Alterra 500 Oil
Step 1. Run the engine for a minute to warm the engine oil. This makes the oil less viscous and helps it drain faster.
Step 2. Remove the left side cover to access the dipstick, followed by the dipstick itself to allow the crankcase to vent.
Step 3. Position a drain pan beneath the motor, and remove the 19mm drain bolt and crush washer from the underside of the engine.
Step 4. Let the oil drain out completely, and inspect the crush washer on the drain bolt while you’re waiting. Replace the crush washer if it’s worn, or if hasn’t been changed for the last 3-4 oil changes.
Step 5. Reinstall the crush washer and drain bolt, and torque it to 21 foot-pounds.
Step 6. Remove the oil filter using a 65mm oil filter wrench. The oil filter is located at the lower front of the crankcase, and can be accessed through the front left wheel arch.
Step 7. Apply a film of oil to the rubber O-ring on the new oil filter, then install the new filter and torque it to 12 foot-pounds.
Step 8. Fill the engine with 10W-40 ATV oil.
NOTE: If your Arctic Cat Alterra 500 has an automatic transmission, fill the engine with 2.6 quarts of oil. For an Arctic Cat Alterra 500 with a manual transmission, fill the engine with 3.5 quarts of oil.
Step 9. Reinstall the dipstick, and run the engine for about 15 seconds to circulate the oil within the engine. Shut off the engine, and wait a minute for the oil to settle.
Step 10. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, then reinstall it and remove it again to read the oil level. Top off the oil if necessary, then reinstall the dipstick and you’re done.
The steps for changing the oil in an Arctic Cat ATV are the same or similar across all models. However, if you want to see it done on a different model, watch the video below to learn how to change the oil on an Arctic Cat Mud Pro 700.
