Picking the Right Oil for a 2021 Can-Am Outlander Max 570 DPS
Shop parts for a 2021 Can-Am Outlander MAX 570 DPS ATV.
Start With the Engine, Not the Jug
The 2021 Outlander Max 570 DPS is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke Rotax single. There is no premix to measure, no injection reservoir to top off, and no two-stroke oil anywhere in the picture. That one fact narrows the entire conversation down to a single product category: a four-stroke engine oil built for a powersports drivetrain, not a passenger-car formula pulled off a big-box shelf. Everything below is about choosing that oil intelligently and understanding the handful of other lubricants on the machine that owners routinely overlook.
Viscosity: What This Class of Quad Typically Wants
Four-stroke utility quads in the 500cc to 600cc range are most commonly specified in the 5W-40 or 10W-40 range, and Rotax-powered Can-Am models in this era are widely cited with a 5W-40 synthetic as the factory fill. A 10W-40 is a sound, widely available alternative in mild to warm conditions, and it is the weight most riders picture when they think of a utility ATV oil change.
The two numbers in a multigrade tell you two different things. The first number describes cold-flow behavior — how easily the oil circulates on a frosty morning before the engine has warmed. The second describes viscosity once the engine is at operating temperature. That is why a 0W-40 or 5W-40 makes sense for anyone plowing snow or hunting in late-season cold, while a 20W-50 is sometimes listed for extreme heat, sustained heavy loads, or long hours in high ambient temperatures. For most owners running a mix of trail riding and seasonal work, a 5W-40 or 10W-40 covers the year comfortably. Your owner's manual will list the exact grade and any temperature chart that applies to your machine, and that is the number worth matching precisely.
Why Powersports Oil Beats Automotive Oil Here
The Outlander Max 570 DPS uses a belt-driven CVT, so the belt itself runs dry and never touches engine oil. That does not mean any oil will do. The gearbox the belt drives still needs proper lubrication, and on many CVT utility quads that gearbox shares the engine's oil supply rather than running its own sump. Beyond that, this engine spins far higher and runs far hotter than a car engine, and it works its oil harder in a smaller volume.
The practical takeaway is to look for a JASO MA or MA2 rated oil. That rating exists specifically for wet-clutch, shared-sump powersports engines, and it guarantees the friction characteristics a motorcycle-style clutch needs. Many automotive oils carry friction modifiers designed to reduce drag in car engines, and those same additives can cause a wet clutch to slip or grab. A powersports-specific 5W-40 or 10W-40 with a JASO MA/MA2 rating sidesteps the problem entirely. Where the manufacturer publishes its own branded formulation for this engine family, following that recommendation is a sensible default.
The Other Fluids on a 4x4 Outlander
Engine oil is only part of the lubrication picture on a four-wheel-drive utility quad. The Outlander Max 570 DPS has a front differential and a rear gearcase or final drive, and each of those is serviced separately from the engine with its own fluid and its own interval.
- Front differential: This machine uses an auto-locking front drive system, and units like this typically call for a specific front-drive fluid rather than a generic gear oil. Using the wrong fluid in a differential with an engagement mechanism can change how — or whether — the front wheels lock in, so this is one place to match the specification exactly.
- Rear gearcase / final drive: Commonly filled with a hypoid gear oil in the 80W-90 range, though the exact grade and capacity vary.
- Transmission or gearbox: Depending on configuration, this may share the engine sump or use its own lubricant. Worth confirming rather than assuming.
None of these are topped off with engine oil, and mixing them up is a common and avoidable mistake.
How Work Duty Changes the Oil Story
A quad that plows driveways, tows a loaded trailer, drags logs, or spends weekends in mud and standing water asks far more of its oil than one that cruises groomed trails. Slow-speed heavy loads and long idle periods keep oil temperatures high without much airflow, and repeated heat cycles accelerate the breakdown of the additive package.
Water and mud intrusion is the other concern. If the oil on the dipstick looks milky or frothy, that is a strong sign moisture has found its way in, and the oil should be changed rather than run. Cold-weather operation is the main reason to favor the lower first number in a multigrade. Owners who work their machine hard, or ride in dust and deep water, generally shorten their change intervals well below what a casual trail rider would use.
Synthetic or Conventional?
Synthetic oils generally flow better on cold starts, resist thermal breakdown more effectively, and hold their viscosity longer under hard use — all qualities that suit a working quad. Conventional oil costs less and remains perfectly serviceable for many owners, particularly those who change it on a disciplined schedule and ride in moderate conditions. A semi-synthetic sits between the two and is a reasonable compromise for mixed use.
Confirming the Exact Numbers for Your Machine
General guidance gets you into the right aisle; the owner's manual gets you the exact figure. It will list the precise engine oil viscosity, the fill quantity, and the specified fluids for the front differential and rear gearcase. A quick look at that page, or a call to a dealer, takes a couple of minutes and removes any doubt about what goes where on your specific machine.
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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.