Most auto stores I checked don't even have 0W-40 full synthetic oil. Even if they did it wouldn't be made to Polaris specs. I take mine to the dealer in the spring and fall and they check the whole machine when they change the oil. The only thing I do is change the air filter, and top off the radiator and oil if they need it. I'm not a mechanic and don't like getting dirty unless I'm playin' in a mud hole.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

They dont sell Amsoil in the states? It the favorite of performance street bikes guys and comes in 0w-40 and is sold at our Canadian Tire stores which are like a Walmart.

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2001 SP 500 H.O

Edited: 05/07/2008 at 05:23 PM by TLC

Yeah. They MAKE Amsoil here, and they've been selling it for over 35 years. They just don't have it in stores everywhere.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Polaris specs? What exactly does that mean? I'd bet that Amsoil and Mobil 1 are a better oil than Polaris. Being that Polaris doesn't make their own oil, one can't even say who actually makes it. Obviously it comes from somewhere and Polaris slaps their label on it.

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2007 Sporstman 800 Deluxe, w/ 14" SS108 rims, Terracross Radials, ADC on-off switch
2006 Sportsman 500 H.O. (wife's) w/ 800 rims & tires
2006 Sawtooth (daughter's)
2005 Predator 50 (son's)

A wife-beater is nothing more than a big CRY-BABY!!

Obviously, but Polaris decides what grade and rating, and how much of which additives they put in it. It's just like car oil has API service ratings like SL, CF, CG, CH, Energy Conserving, Energy Conserving II, etc. But it's a lot more than that too, because they have different degergents, dispersants, anti-foam, anti-corosive, viscosity improvers, and all the other good stuff in it. If a bottle of oil only had oil in it, then it wouldn't matter what you buy. But each manufacturer has their own specs and Polaris is different from Amsoil, is different from Yamaha, is different from...

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Now I'm going to have to replace my Rotella with:
Yamaha, Bombardier, Kawasaki, Briggs and Stratton, Dodge, Case, John Deere, Honda, Wisconsin, Oldmobile, Mazda, Nissan, Cadillac, Chevy diesel, Chevy small block turbo, Chevy small block supercharged (is there a difference? they sell turbo oil? must be a different spec.) Chevy big block.......Oil!!!!!
Because each has a different spec!!!! LMAO

I need a bigger oil storage place. LMAO

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N2O; better racing through chemistry<BR>If I was 21 and had good medical insurance, I would own a Banshee. I'm not and I don't, so I don't. <BR>Quads are cheaper than drugs but both are hard on our bodies.

Hardy har har. A lot of cars say "Energy Conserving 5W-30 API Service SL", but don't say Chevy, Dodge, Cadillac, whatever. I've never seen anywhere that says "USE ANY 0W-40" for quads. I have seen in my 2006 owners manual...

"CAUTION
Never substitute oils or mix brands."

And I've seen where it says that if you do use a different oil of the same weight and type, in this case 0W-40 API SH, and it HAS to be API service rating SH, it may not work as well, and you may have to change your oil more frequently. If you spend less money at a time, but more often, you're probably spending more money, not less. Even if it costs the same exact amount to change the oil five times with a cheaper brand, instead of four times with the recommended oil in the same time period, your just making 25% more work for yourself. I'd rather use the right oil and change it less often.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Edited: 05/08/2008 at 12:19 AM by jumbofrank

Here we go again. Not trying to sound like an oil expert, but I do know that the Amsoil Formula 4-stroke oil that I'm using is the same weight (0W-40) and API service rating (SH) that Polaris calls for, and even says in the manual that its okay to use it. Tests have been done that show Amsoil having the best rating in a 4-ball wear test (I think thats what its called), too bad they didn't include Polaris oil in the test, they just used all the other top names out there.

I think the only thing Polaris does is add tint to the oil so they know if you're using their oil or someone elses.

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2007 Sporstman 800 Deluxe, w/ 14" SS108 rims, Terracross Radials, ADC on-off switch
2006 Sportsman 500 H.O. (wife's) w/ 800 rims & tires
2006 Sawtooth (daughter's)
2005 Predator 50 (son's)

A wife-beater is nothing more than a big CRY-BABY!!

If it's SH it's good enough. How much is a quart of Amsoil? I know it was really expensive in the 80's when I used it in my Ski-Doo. But so are all the other synthetics now.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Its a gimmick to drive business back to the dealership. Every manufacturer does it. Reacuring sales make more money then the initial sale.

If you truly had to use it, the manual would not state that you can use 0-40w fully synthetic that is not energy conserving (which doesnt make any sense, speaking the only reason you wouldnt want the energy conserving is to keep from slipping a wet clutch).

Probally the vast majority of the fluids in the bike can be found at your local auto store. Even the dreaded front end fluid is most likely Type F transmission fluid (a lubricant that still allows friction between clutch surfaces aka the rollers in the cage).


Mind you Mobil 1 and a Napa Filter is still over $30. So my personal savings is Napa is 16 miles round trip ($2.36), the dealer is 64 miles round trip ($9.47).

At the rate I put hours on machines I'll end up doing between 4 and 5 changes this year. 4 years later I've saved enough in fuel cost to rebuild the entire motor....

My dealer isn't in the same city as me but is still less than 10 miles away so I don't burn much gas getting there. I let them do the work while I eat, sleep, and watch TV.

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2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Your the person that stated each manufacture has it's own spec oil. I just listed all the manufactures I have on my place and all the different oils I need if I followed your oil instructions.

Ching, ching, ching, we have a winner!!!!!

That pretty much says it all.

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N2O; better racing through chemistry<BR>If I was 21 and had good medical insurance, I would own a Banshee. I'm not and I don't, so I don't. <BR>Quads are cheaper than drugs but both are hard on our bodies.

Here's where you order Amsoil.http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/default.aspx

I run the motorcycle 10-40,https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mcf.aspx
others swear by the 0-40 https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/aff.aspx

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2006 Honda 450ERRRRRRRRRRRRRR<BR>2005 Yamaha KodiaK 450...crashed/Totaled<BR>2005 Honda 250EX (sold but never forgotten)<BR>2003 Yamaha Raptor 80<BR>2006 Sukuki ZZZZZZ400
GRIZZLY 700 FI........nothing compares!

Edited: 05/08/2008 at 12:49 PM by CamoKodiak450

jumbofrank, I fully agree with you as well. At the high price of your machine (6000-9000) it is not worth guessing it will work. Penny wise dollar dumb. I read that polaris changed up the formulation about 100 times before they got the right mix of additives.

Edited: 05/08/2008 at 03:23 PM by 02magnum500

I said every QUAD manufacturer had their own specs. There's a difference between cars and quads Doc. Surely you must have noticed by now. CAR manufacturers say to use a certain grade of oil, but don't specify a brand. Quad manufacturers do recommend their own brand. Is everyone following me now. Quads and cars are different in many ways including what oil is SUPPOSED to be used in them. I thought it was easy enough to understand without any further explanation.

And as I already stated, it does say in the manual you can use other oil of the same weight and service grade, but may have to change it more often. It's right there in the manual that I read it cover to cover before my first ride. I use Polaris oil because it has the blend of additives that Polaris thinks works best for Polaris quads, and they reccomend it. If Amsoil starts making quads and I buy one, I'll follow the instructions that come with it. If it says to use Amsoil 0W-40 SH for the best performance I will. The same goes for Rotella.

If you're trying to make a point I don't know what it is. I guess it must be that I'd rather kick back and do nothing while someone else does all the work. Guilty as charged, Doc. I have enough money to pay for oil changes and would rather not do it myself.

If you're willing to risk an $8,000 investment on a different oil go ahead. If you save any money in the process, it may or may not be worth it in the long run. I'll stick with the manufacturers reccomended oil. I know Amsoil is good because I've used it before, but not in a quad. I've never even seen or heard of Rotella oil so I wouldn't use it. I doubt anyone will change your mind or mine, and that's okay. Everyone makes their own choice and I respect yours. It's just not the same as mine.

-------------------------
2006 Sportsman 500 EFI with winch, Glacier Plow, Lock & Ride backrest, front brushguard, rear bumper, 8" rear rack extension, thumb-warmer, 3-headlight kit, RAM mount for Garmin GPS 12.

Evo 2X 50cc 2-speed powerboard (scooter) with Power Pipe, velocity stack, ADA Racing air filter, bigger drive gear. Only 55 pounds with 6 HP.

2001 Chevy Siverado half-ton 4x4, regular cab, long bed, Leer fiberglass cap, an old mutt in the passenger seat.

Edited: 05/08/2008 at 08:19 PM by jumbofrank

You would be wrong. JD "recomends" their oil. GM "recomends" their oil. Olds "recomends" their oil................................. But says you can use spec oil.........just like your quad. Nice try.

Like I said above.


Ha ha ha ha..................This REALLY explaines it all.


Nothing wrong with that at all. I agree.

But I would not go to a doctor that took 100 time to get the operation right either!!!
Have a good one, got to go racing for the weekend.

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N2O; better racing through chemistry<BR>If I was 21 and had good medical insurance, I would own a Banshee. I'm not and I don't, so I don't. <BR>Quads are cheaper than drugs but both are hard on our bodies.

If you go to the nationals , and watch the TOP pro's run , 90% or more run Rotella in the 4 strokes .

carry on~

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I ain't as good as I once was , but I'm as good once as I ever was .

Haven't heard of Shell Rotella T? It's been one of the best oils out there for high performance applications.

And its nice that you have the money to pay someone to work on your quad, others like me actually like to do the work on our own. Besides, who says the dealer is doing it correctly? Most of us can tell you stories about how the dealer screwed up our stuff, and give you many examples of how they really don't know squat about what they're doing.

There's no risk in using a better oil. As soon as you can show me actual specs on Polaris oil, I might then be able to compare it to the known top oils out there and maybe I'll change my mind and buy the factory stuff. Until then, I'll use what I know is and has been proven to be a quality oil.

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2007 Sporstman 800 Deluxe, w/ 14" SS108 rims, Terracross Radials, ADC on-off switch
2006 Sportsman 500 H.O. (wife's) w/ 800 rims & tires
2006 Sawtooth (daughter's)
2005 Predator 50 (son's)

A wife-beater is nothing more than a big CRY-BABY!!

Oil is CHEAP engine insurance Ive always been taught, change it often and buy the best you can afford. That being said, oils differ from brand to brand because of the additives but as long as the specs conform to what your machine calls for the rest is all personal preference.

You guys should listen to SheepDog.
He's right on with the oil comments.

Amsoil, Rotella, and Mobil 1 are all really good oils.
As good or better than Polaris Brand anyways.
The Polaris Oil seems pretty good, as well, just pricey.
Also, the others are more readily availiable.
Nobody actually thinks that Polaris makes Oil or Oil Filters, do they?
Of course they don't.
As long as you run a good 0w40 Synthetic and a decent Oil Filter,
and change them out as specified by Polaris, you'll be good to go.

Now the Front differential fluid and Transmission fluid is a different story.
For proper operation you pretty much have to use the Polaris branded lubes.