ATV oil change question

[Dusty Britches]

I have a Polaris Sportsman 400 (year 2004) and I'm getting ready to change the oil on it. Should I buy that high dollar Polaris oil or is there something else that I can use?

[focushunter]

You will be fine with anything. Just make sure it is the same weight as what polaris calls for. I think most polaris take 0w-40. Well all the 500 plus does.

[SaltwaterSlick]

The standard oil for the Polaris ATV's is a synthetic oil.. If you do change, flush it if you go with a petroleum based oil. You can buy an oil change kit from your dealer for the Polaris model you have that is pretty economical that includes the oil and filter in one box. That's what I do.

[raiderelkhunter]

Honestly, I would go with the Polaris stuff.

I have a Honda and use Honda oil in it.

The claim is the branded oils are better for the clutch......who knows, the branded stuff could be the same as the kmart special oil.

I never noticed it being that much more expensive that it kept me from feeding the family.....plus it is once or twice a year......

[bwssr]

use only oil WITHOUT a friction modifier.....motorcycle oil....or you will trash the clutch...or rather make it slick so it wont engage

[focushunter]

I will agree with these guys as it could be cheaper to buy the polaris kit. I run mobile one in everything i own even my polaris. And cross refereanced the oil filter to a wixs filter. It dont save a whole lot but keeps me from a 30 min drive to the stealership.

[focushunter]

use only oil WITHOUT a friction modifier.....motorcycle oil....or you will trash the clutch...or rather make it slick so it wont engage

Bruce it doesnt have a internal clutch.

[91cavgt]

Honestly, I would go with the Polaris stuff.

I have a Honda and use Honda oil in it.

The claim is the branded oils are better for the clutch......who knows, the branded stuff could be the same as the kmart special oil.

I never noticed it being that much more expensive that it kept me from feeding the family.....plus it is once or twice a year......

On your Honda, if it is a 5 speed transmission then you need to use an oil designed for a wet clutch, which the stock Honda oil is designed for this.


His Polaris does not use a wet clutch. It has the same setup as a scooter or a snow mobile, so it can use whatever other oil and be ok.

[bwssr]

ok....never owned one of "those"

[flyin7]

I use the Mobile 0W-40 oil and a Wal-Mart brand oil filter on both of my Polaris 700's (2005 & 2006). I've never had a problem with the engine. The Wal-Mart brand oil filters I think are made by Wix. I read a comparison that was done on another site and when the filters were cut in half, the Wal-Mart filters were one of the better built filters. I use the filter that fits a 1999 Nissan Altima.

[focushunter]

Yeah Honda and Yamaha are the only ones with a wet clutch.

[focushunter]

It's 51357 for wix

[91cavgt]

Yeah Honda and Yamaha are the only ones with a wet clutch.

Pretty much any ATV that has a manual shift auto clutch transmission. This means that older models from Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Arctic Cat, Honda, and Yamaha need the proper oil or the clutch will start to slip in the future.

[Tony Pic]

I run Castrol GTX in my off road vehicles. Dinosaur oil. Change oil every 50 hours and oil and filter every 100. My 03 Kodiak still has lots of torque and runs like a raped ape. Use the proper weight oil and clean/change the air filter also.

[focushunter]

I never disagreed with that as you can read in my prior post. I said if it doesn't have a wet clutch you will be on with most oils.