What Type of Oil Does a 2016 Can-Am Outlander MAX 570 DPS Take?

What Type of Oil Does a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS Take?

Owners of the 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS are usually asking a practical question: what do I pour in, and how do I know it is right? The short answer is that this machine is a four-stroke, liquid-cooled utility quad with a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a selectable four-wheel-drive system, and it wants a powersports-specific four-stroke engine oil in a viscosity that matches your climate and riding conditions. The longer answer involves understanding why that oil is different from what you would put in a car, what other fluids live in the drivetrain, and how hard work changes the picture.

The Powertrain Under the Plastic

The Outlander Max 570 DPS runs a single-cylinder Rotax four-stroke engine, and like nearly every utility ATV in this displacement class, it is not a car engine in a different wrapper. It is tuned for low-end torque, it runs hot in slow, loaded conditions, and it shares its lubrication demands with a drivetrain that includes a belt-driven CVT and a geared sub-transmission. That combination is why the oil recommendation for this machine is a powersports formulation rather than a generic automotive oil off the shelf at a big-box store.

Because the transmission is a CVT, the belt itself runs dry and does not sit in engine oil. That is a meaningful distinction from a manual or semi-automatic quad with a wet clutch, where the clutch plates are bathed in the same oil as the engine. Even so, the engine in this machine still benefits from an oil engineered for the heat cycles, shear forces, and clutch-material contamination typical of ATV use.

Viscosity: The Range That Fits This Class

For four-stroke utility ATVs in the 500cc to 600cc range, the most commonly cited viscosity is 10W-40, with 5W-40 appearing frequently as an approved alternative. Both are sensible defaults for a machine like this one. The first number describes cold-weather behavior, and the second describes how the oil holds up once the engine is at operating temperature.

Where owners sometimes deviate is at the extremes. In genuinely cold climates, a 0W-40 can make cold starts noticeably easier because it flows more readily when the engine is stone cold. In consistently hot climates, or on machines that spend their lives working hard in low gear, a 20W-50 is sometimes listed as acceptable. Neither extreme is a universal recommendation — they are climate-specific choices, and the right one depends on where and how you ride.

What matters more than splitting hairs between 10W-40 and 5W-40 is choosing an oil that carries a JASO MA or MA2 rating. That rating tells you the oil was formulated for powersports engines and will not cause clutch slippage or premature wear in machines that share oil between the engine and a wet clutch. Even on a CVT-equipped quad, it is the safest and most widely recommended category to shop within.

Drivetrain Fluids Beyond the Engine

Engine oil is only part of the lubrication story on a four-wheel-drive utility quad. This machine has a front differential, a rear gearcase or final drive, and a transmission gearcase, each of which is serviced separately from the engine. Filling the engine and calling it done leaves three other components running on whatever is already inside them.

The rear gearcase and the transmission gearcase typically call for a hypoid gear oil in the 80W-90 range. The front differential is the one to be careful with. On machines that use a specialized front engagement system, the differential may require a model-specific fluid rather than a generic gear oil, and using the wrong one can affect how — or whether — four-wheel drive engages. That is not a place to improvise.

These fluids have their own service intervals and their own fill and check points. Treat them as a separate maintenance item from the engine oil change, and check them whenever you are already under the machine.

How Hard Work Changes the Oil Equation

A quad used for plowing, towing a trailer, hauling firewood, or crawling through mud is asking far more of its oil than one that sees casual trail miles. Slow-speed heavy loads and long idle periods keep oil temperatures high without much airflow, and repeated water crossings or deep mud can introduce moisture into the crankcase and drivetrain. A milky, frothy appearance on the dipstick is the classic sign that water has gotten in.

Dust and grit are the other enemy. If you ride in dry, dusty conditions, contaminants find their way into the oil faster than the calendar would suggest. The practical takeaway is that severe service — mud, water, dust, towing, plowing — generally justifies changing oil more often than a light-use schedule would indicate. Cold-weather operation is another reason to favor the lower first number in a multigrade, since thick oil at startup is where most engine wear happens.

Conventional or Synthetic?

Both will work, and the choice comes down to priorities. Synthetic oils generally flow better at cold startup and resist thermal breakdown better under sustained heat, which suits a hard-working utility quad. Conventional oil costs less and remains perfectly serviceable for many owners who change it on a reasonable schedule. Semi-synthetic blends sit in the middle and are a common compromise. Whichever you pick, make sure it carries the right powersports rating rather than assuming any quality oil will do.

Confirming the Exact Spec for Your Machine

The guidance above reflects what is typical and widely recommended for four-stroke utility ATVs in this class, and it will get you into the right aisle with confidence. For the precise viscosity, the exact fill quantity, and the specific drivetrain fluid types for your 2016 Outlander Max 570 DPS, a quick look at your owner's manual or a call to your dealer settles it in a minute. That confirmation step is worth doing once, and then you will know exactly what your machine wants for every change after that.

Related Shopping Categories

Shop Oils and Fluids for a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS ATV.

Shop Oil for a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS ATV.

Shop Air Filters and Oil for a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS ATV.

Shop Transmission for a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS ATV.

Shop Oil Filters for a 2016 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS ATV.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your ATV's official owner's manual. Always refer to your manufacturer's documentation for model-specific instructions, torque specifications, safety procedures, and maintenance requirements. If you are unsure or inexperienced, consider seeking assistance from a qualified mechanic or technician.