ATVs with sparkling chrome and flashy paint jobs always look awesome, but what's under the hood? Just because an ATV looks high performance doesn't mean that it is. Also, you could have the latest and greatest ATV, but if you don't take care of it properly, it won't win you any races.

One way of guaranteeing that you can win a race is by maximizing the horsepower on your ATV. There are several fluids that you must have to maintain shocks, steering and engine performance. Choosing the right oil for your engine could be very detrimental to your engine life. You need to choose oil that has maximum cleaning capability and lubrication. Another item that helps increase power to your engine is air filters. You have to choose one that allows enough clean air to pass through. If there are any exposed metals that are constantly being worn, you must keep them lubricated with the proper protective sprays. In order to shift efficiently, your gears must be lubed, too. If you use your ATV for jumps and stunts, you must make sure that you have a good shock therapy suspension fluid. Once you have all of the fluids for pre-maintenance, you must make sure that the engine will remain at an optimal temperature range during operation. Choosing the best radiator to keep your engine cool is almost as important as choosing breaks. Some newer style radiators offer an oil-cooled system instead of the usual radiator fluid. The newer styles also offer a higher-powered fan to maximize the cooling effect. If you can add these items to your ATV, it is sure to achieve high performance results.

If you don't know where to find these items or need a starting point, the ATVPT (www.atvpt.com) is an organization that rates all ATV products by putting them through rigorous testing