Five ways to help prevent potential dirt bike engine problems

Engine failure is every rider's worst fear, and while it's not completely avoidable, there are several practices we can do to prevent costly and catastrophic damage.

In this guide, we share five tips to prevent engine problems and engine failure on your motocross bike.

Change your engine oil & filter regularly: One of the best ways to prevent an engine failure or problem is to change your engine oil and oil filters regularly. Oil plays an incredibly important role in lubrication and protecting your dirt bike engine, so when you have old and burnt oil, it puts your motocross or enduro bike at risk of failing. We recommend changing your oil after every ride if you're a regular racer and the budget permits, otherwise every 4-5 hours will be appropriate. You should also change your oil filter every 4-5 hours as well - this will also allow you to inspect the old filter for any metal shavings, which are a sign something isn't quite right. You can learn more about moto engine oil here: https://www.mxstore.com.au/blog/helpful-guides/the-ultimate-guide-to-dirt-bike-oil/

Clean your air filter: Ensuring your dirt bike air filter is clean plays a pivotal role in your MX bike's performance and reliability. Not only is it important to clean your air filter, but your airbox should also be clean. A dirty air filter can allow dirt or dust to get through to your engine, which could cause a catastrophic and expensive engine failure. Using a clean and air filter with fresh oil for every ride is a must for all two-stroke and four-stroke dirt bike riders. We share more tips in air filter maintenance here: https://www.mxstore.com.au/blog/helpful-guides/how-to-maintain-your-dirt-bike-air-filter/

Rebuild engine at the appropriate intervals: Dirt bikes need engine rebuilds at particular intervals - failure to do this is asking for engine damage. Engine rebuild timeframes are different for different types of bikes, but generally speaking, rebuilding the top end on a four-stroke, which includes a new piston, piston rings and head gasket, should be completed at 25-30 hours, while on a two-stroke engine, between 30-50 hours will be adequate. In terms of the bottom end, a four-stroke can be rebuilt at around the 80-hour mark to be safe, while a two-stroke can also be rebuilt in a similar timeframe. We dive into the details of engine rebuild intervals here: https://www.mxstore.com.au/blog/helpful-guides/when-should-i-rebuild-my-dirt-bike-engine/

Top up engine coolant: A sure-fire way to cook your engine is by not ensuring your old or new bike has been topped up with coolant. It's easy to overlook replacing coolant or checking to see if it's at the right level, however failure to do so could have severe consequences. Checking your coolant should be part of your regular dirt bike maintenance routine. Here are three signs you need to replace your dirt bike coolant: https://www.mxstore.com.au/blog/helpful-guides/3-signs-you-need-to-replace-your-coolant/

Ride smoothly: The final way to prevent engine failure or engine problems is to change your riding style and ride more smoothly. Riding on the limiter is a common riding style in motocross, however the high RPM can put the high-performance dirt bike engines at increased stress, meaning components are more likely to fail sooner than what they would with a more mellow, low RPM riding style.