It’s that time again—routine maintenance. Most riders know to change the oil, spark plugs, and air filters, but there’s one overlooked part that can make or break your engine’s future: the intake boots.

At Rev6, we’ve seen countless engine failures caused by one simple issue—dust ingestion. And more often than not, it all traces back to old or deteriorated intake boots.

🏁 What Are Intake Boots and Why Do They Matter?

Intake boots are flexible rubber connectors that sit between your air box and throttle body (or carburetor), helping funnel clean, filtered air into your engine. Over time, factory rubber boots can dry out, crack, or warp, leading to air leaks that let unfiltered dirt and debris bypass your filter system.

This dust gets pulled directly into your engine’s combustion chamber, wearing out pistons, scoring cylinder walls, and destroying your top end.

🛠 When Should You Replace Your Intake Boots?

We don’t recommend replacing them every year, but if your machine is 2–3 years old, or you just bought a used ATV, UTV, or snowmobile, replacing the intake boots is a smart move for long-term reliability.

At Rev6, we always recommend new intake boots with every engine rebuild. When we see warranty claims come back due to dust ingestion, the root cause is often that the customer reused their old intake boots.

🔍 Common Dust Ingestion Causes:

• ❌ Cracked or dry-rotted intake boots
• ❌ Poorly sealed air boxes
• ❌ Low-quality or incorrect air filters

These issues allow dust and grit to bypass your filtration system and cause premature engine wear—sometimes within just a few rides.

✅ REV6 Recommendation: Replace Intake Boots on New or Rebuilt Engines

If you’re installing a REV6 remanufactured engine, we highly recommend replacing the intake boots to protect your investment. They’re an inexpensive upgrade compared to a full engine rebuild or replacement cost.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—especially when that cure is a seized engine.”

🔧 Final Tip: Make It Part of Your Maintenance Routine

Whether you’re prepping for the season or just picked up a new-to-you ride, add intake boots to your maintenance checklist. It’s a small detail with a big impact.

Need help sourcing the right intake boots or air filtration parts? Contact our team or explore our engine components for quality upgrades.