polaris sportsman 500 oil change

kdsberman · #1 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 09:54 AM

Hey guys, new here. Last year I bought an 08 Sportsman 500. I love it to death. Great machine.

I was told when I bought it to change the oil after the first 10 hours or so.

I talked to a guy at work who said he wouldnt put anything less than 5W. My owners manual said to use Pure Polaris 2W-50, or something similar. I told him that and he says he thinks thats too light, even though thats what POLARIS recommends.

So i went and bought a Pure Polaris oil change kit for the Sportsman 500, and that comes with 0W-40. Is this too light? I mean, if Polaris recommends it than apparently its fine, but it just seems light.

Can someone please explain to me a little about this, and why I shouldnt be worried that my engine will burn up.

On a side note, I use it a lot during ice fishing season here in Michigan, but also during turkey season and a little bit in the summer.

Thanks guys

**blueline15** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 11:13 AM

hi, okay i have some polaris parts experience here, and you are not the first person who has had these concerns. i have even had the chance to talk with our regional rep about this and this is what he told me.....

first off, polaris doesnt recommend the first oil change until you have 25hrs on the machine. it doesnt hurt to do it earlier, but not critical. the reason for the oil change is to get the metal shavings out of the oil from the engine "breaking in" on itself. the PS-4 plus is a 0w-40 i absolutly would not go any different from that, year round.

a 10w is just too thick, especially in winter. the rep told me "the most important thing the customer needs to know is the 0w. the machine can deal with a 0w-30 instead of a 0w-40, and even a 2w is okay for a emergency's (i.e. oil leak, low oil need to top off) a 5w is pushing it, and a 10w....*shudder*"

really try to stick with a 0w-40. all of the polaris 4strokes now use it, and have been for years. 0w-30 if you cant find a 0w-40 around. these machines have different needs then a car. polaris had the oil engineered for the machine, stick with that.

0w-40 full synthetic is what you want! all year, every oil change.

kdsberman · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 11:53 AM

Thanks Blueline!

Thats definetly the answer ive been looking all over for.

I appreciate the help.

Im at 10hrs right now, so maybe ill do it now or maybe wait a few even. Thanks a lot!

**blueline15** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 12:01 PM

yeah, you can wait a few.

the first oil change is recommended at 25 hours...

and then it goes to every 50 to 100 hours after that. i would always error to the side of 50 hours though.

your machine on the dash will have a wrench icon that will flash. that is just a dummy icon wired to a countdown clock. if you dealer u bought from prep it right they set that wrench to flash at 25 hours. you can set it yourself at any interval up to 100 hours to remind you when to do a service

and your very welcome, glad to help anytime

chuckraduenz · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 05:26 PM

mobile 0w-40 is what iv used for the last yr in my 08 500. and havent had an issue. yet.

i may add that polaris dont make the oil. from what i have seen its amsoil.

**blueline15** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 08:05 PM

^^thats anybody's guess. this summer i called the dealer support line for polaris and asked who makes the oil and they said they can not release it to even dealers. it was confidentail, so i bet the amsoil thing is more speculation and gossip then truth, but then again it could be.

chuckraduenz · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 08:15 PM

iv been told that by 3-5 people that its amsoil. also iv seen amsoil sold in the dealer ships here. and i kinda doubt that there gona sell a brand that isent approved by polairs. its just like there oil filters. there in a polairs box but yet the have suzuki or nissan or something like that writen on them..............

**blueline15** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 08:26 PM

i believe the oil filters are made by subaru...but that is easier to figure out a crossover oil filter then it is oil to oil. a dealer doesnt actually need offbrand oils to be approved by polaris. our dealership doesnt carry amsoil, we do not have a rep that stocks it. we could order it, but never stock it. we sold motorex, silkolene, bel-ray, spectro, and a few others. thats what we stocked. all polaris cares is that you stock pure polaris oil, after that, they could care less what you order or dont.

again, polaris wouldnt tell me when i called from the dealership who produces the oil, so i have to question what proof or facts people have about it being amsoil. i think its more of the rumor got so big a lot of people believe it. the reason i doubt it is i dont see polaris paying a big company like amsoil to make their oil when they could hire a smaller company to make their oil for them and a much cheaper cost and have higher profit margins

chuckraduenz · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 08:49 PM

thats what it was...... subaru. but reguarless polaris dont make there own oil. and if you used the recommended oil reguardless of brand i cant see how they would know if it there "polaris brand" oil or not. i personaly dont think it matters on brand aslong as you do the regular oil changes and what not.

i did about a yr ago just figured out that the 2000 polaris i had the owners gud had a typo in it fro what oil to use. it said 10w-30 but was supose to be 0w-40. but i changed the oil 2 times a yr plus a filter. put 7000miles and 600hrs on it with not and engine issue. not one. had the same spark plug. didnt burn no oil, and always started right up. so no one can tell me that a certain brand is better than another. again i say do regular checks and oil changes on it will go along way.

i did hear one guy say that the oil is good for like 10 or so thousand miles. and all he did was change the filter. i laughed and thought to my self "ill see him on here asking why his engine blew up or something like that and dont know why it did that..."

**blueline15** · #10 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 09:05 PM

i agree with everything you said, polaris doesnt make their own oil. i really wish i knew who did. as long as you get a 0w-40 full syn oil it really doesnt what brand you use IMO. its not in there long enough to breakdown. and the only way polaris could tell what oil it is if they did a chemical brakedown to see if matched the PS4, which they havent nor ever will do....too expensive. i know guys who constantly run a 10w in their sportsman, but i personally wouldnt do it on purpose. over time you never know what that might do to a motor.

and i really wouldnt trust oil in an ATV for 10k mile, thats just insane. if your too cheap to buy new oil at the intervals, then maybe you shouldnt be riding. haha!