What Kind of Oil Does a 2018 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 XT Take?
Shop parts for a 2018 Can-Am Outlander MAX 570 XT ATV.
The 2018 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 XT is a two-up utility quad built around a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke engine, a belt-driven continuously variable transmission, and a selectable four-wheel-drive system with an auto-locking front differential. That combination places it firmly in the mainstream of the utility ATV class, and it means the oil question has a fairly predictable answer. A four-stroke powersports oil in the 10W-40 or 5W-40 range, rated JASO MA or MA2, is the industry-typical choice for a machine of this type. Viscosity and exact specification do shift a little with climate and workload, so treat what follows as a well-grounded starting point and confirm the final number in your own owner's manual.
Start With the Engine Architecture
Because this quad runs a four-stroke engine, there is no two-stroke premix to mix and no injection reservoir to keep topped off. Lubrication happens in a single crankcase with one oil sump and one replaceable filter, which keeps the engine-oil side of ownership pleasantly simple. The engine is liquid-cooled, which is worth noting because liquid-cooled four-strokes generally hold viscosity more consistently under load than air-cooled designs do, giving you a bit more latitude in the weight you choose.
What complicates the picture is everything downstream of the crankshaft. This ATV carries several separate lubricant systems, and each one takes a different fluid on its own service schedule. Understanding that separation is the real key to answering the oil question properly.
Picking a Viscosity: 10W-40, 5W-40, and When the Numbers Move
Across the four-stroke utility ATV world, 10W-40 is the most commonly cited viscosity for engines in this displacement class, and 5W-40 shows up almost as often on machines that see cold starts. The first number describes cold-flow behavior and the second describes how the oil behaves once the engine is at operating temperature. A lower first number, such as 0W-40 or 5W-40, pumps more readily on a frigid morning and gets lubrication to the top end faster. A heavier second number, such as 20W-50, is sometimes listed for very hot climates or for engines that run hot by design.
For most owners riding in moderate temperatures, a 10W-40 or 5W-40 powersports oil covers the year comfortably. If you plow snow at dawn in January, lean toward the lower cold rating. If you spend July hauling loads in the desert, a heavier hot rating may be the sensible call. Your owner's manual will list the temperature bands the manufacturer had in mind, and that is the fastest way to settle on one weight rather than guessing.
The CVT Factor: Does a Belt Drive Change What You Buy?
This Outlander uses a belt-driven CVT automatic, and on a layout like this the belt typically runs dry in its own housing, separate from the engine oil. That matters because it means the transmission does not share the crankcase the way a wet-clutch manual gearbox does, so you are not selecting an oil to satisfy clutch friction characteristics.
Even so, reaching for a generic automotive oil is a mistake. Powersports oils are formulated for engines that spin higher, run hotter, and live in a shared-lubrication environment, and they avoid the friction-modifier and energy-conserving additive packages built for passenger cars. A JASO MA or MA2 rated four-stroke oil is the safe, conventional pick, and Can-Am's own branded formulation is an entirely reasonable default if you prefer to follow the manufacturer's recommendation directly.
Front Differential and Rear Gearcase: The Other Fluids
Engine oil is only part of the answer. This four-wheel-drive quad also has a rear gearcase or final drive and a front differential, and each one uses its own lubricant, serviced separately from the engine.
- Rear gearcase: typically a hypoid gear oil in the 80W-90 range, filled to its own level plug.
- Front differential: on models with an auto-locking engagement system, this unit often calls for a specific front-drive fluid rather than a plain gear oil.
That second point deserves emphasis. Using the wrong fluid in a front differential that relies on an engagement mechanism can change how and when four-wheel drive locks in, which is exactly the kind of thing you notice halfway up a muddy grade. These fluids are not interchangeable with engine oil and they follow their own change intervals.
Conventional or Synthetic?
Both work, and the tradeoff is straightforward. Synthetic oils hold their viscosity better in extreme heat, resist breakdown during long hard pulls, and flow more freely on cold starts. Conventional oils cost less per quart and remain perfectly serviceable for an owner who rides casually and changes oil on schedule. A semi-synthetic sits between the two and is a common compromise for utility quads that work hard on weekends and sit during the week.
How Hard Labor Shortens Oil Life
How you use the machine shapes how often the oil needs to go. Towing a loaded trailer, pushing a plow, crawling through deep mud, fording water, and idling for long stretches all stress oil harder than a leisurely trail ride does. Heat and shear break down the additive package, and slow-speed heavy work keeps the engine hot without much airflow.
Water and mud intrusion are the other concern on a work machine. If engine oil or gearcase fluid comes out milky or coffee-colored, moisture has found its way in, and that fluid needs to be replaced regardless of mileage. Dusty conditions do the same thing in a different way by loading the oil with abrasive particles. Severe service simply means shorter intervals.
Confirming the Exact Spec for Your Machine
Everything above describes what is typical and safe for a utility ATV configured like this one. For the precise factory figures, check the owner's manual or ask a dealer, since the manual states the recommended viscosity, the fill quantity, and the exact drivetrain fluid types in one place. It takes two minutes to look up, and it removes any doubt about what goes in your 2018 Outlander Max 570 XT.
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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.