Diamond Drive Oil

offtrail · Dec 19, 2007

What weight is the oil that Arctic Cat uses in the diamond drive. Is it like regular chain case oil or is it thicker? Is there a cheaper alternative than what the dealer gets for the oem oil? I have a couple a bottles of amsoil synthetic gear box oil but I'm afraid it's too thick for what the diamond drive uses. What do you guys think or know?

mtnkrazy · Dec 19, 2007

I would stay with the AC oil

TheOnlyBFC · Dec 19, 2007

Your best to stay with the AC oil, or you can run the Black Diamond oil, but there is more expensive than AC's.

Carbon Dreams · Dec 19, 2007

If I remember right it is simply 10W hydraulic oil, but stay with AC oil. One can never be sure of he said/she said. 5 bucks once a season isn't all that bad.

SaberKitty · Dec 19, 2007

It appears to be similar/same as 10W hydraulic oil from the tests I've read about on the forum (think it may have been the old version).

JayO · Dec 19, 2007

The Red Line "Super lightweight shock proof" gear oil is the answer. It's the yellow colored stuff. A quart is 12.00, the results are priceless.

jasn179 · Dec 19, 2007

dont buy ac lies there are other oils that meets there specs it is against the law for them to tell you you have to use there oil Amsoil series 2000 oil exceeds ac requirements visit this page http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/tcc.aspx

oldcrow · Dec 19, 2007

jasn179 said:
dont buy ac lies there are other oils that meets there specs it is against the law for them to tell you you have to use there oil Amsoil series 2000 oil exceeds ac requirements visit this page http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/tcc.aspx

This is what I have in my DD.
$4.55 for a 12 oz bottle
20w with a -46C pour point

and it got rid of the DD whine.

BD-Xtreme · Dec 19, 2007

The oil post keeps coming up...

The only approved oils (by AC) are the AC and BD oils. They have additives for the high pressure/speed of the planetary. (Please do not as I do not know what they are, I am sure I can find out though)

Again I am not trying to sell anything just an FYI.

I am sure there are oils that meet or exceed the OEM specs, I am not sure which ones. Is it worth it though?

$5.95 for a DD without reverse for an oils change once a season or every 1500 miles? $12.95 with reverse?

Mike
BDX

killerrf · Dec 19, 2007

i ran Case mastertran hy oil for 2500+ miles. gears looked like new. found the cat oil leaves the case very black looking. never had water in the housing but with the Case stuff it worked great. case was clean and never had problems in -25C weather. killed the DD whine. my m8 sound like it has a small turbo under the hood.

SaberKitty · Dec 19, 2007

To think AC or BD have a proprietary oil formulation is preposterous.

BD-Xtreme · Dec 19, 2007

SaberKitty said:
To think AC or BD have a proprietary oil formulation is preposterous.

Again not trying to start anything, it was what was developed with the DD.

Would you like to find out exactly what the oil and aditives are? I will do that if you would like, as I stated I am sure there are many that meet or exceed OEM.

Mike
BDX

jasn179 · Dec 20, 2007

BD-Xtreme said:
Again not trying to start anything, it was what was developed with the DD.

Would you like to find out exactly what the oil and aditives are? I will do that if you would like, as I stated I am sure there are many that meet or exceed OEM.

Mike
BDX

Bottom line is that there are other oils that have been tested to meet ac specs for the diamond drive. If there is a warranty issue they have to cover it because the oil meets the specs they set forth. Ac only cares how a product lasts untill the end of warranty coverage and that they can take sombodys oil bottle it with there name and make more money off the customer by telling them they have to run there oil. It is against the law!! I am not trying to sell a product I am just raising awarness that there are better products and you have the right to chose what type of oil you can run. Alot of times it comes down to avalibilty. I cant drive 90 miles everytime i need oil.

offtrail · Dec 21, 2007

Thanks for the reply's. I just wanted to know since I have amsoil series 2000 on hand. Plus it's cheaper. Just curious what everybody else is doing.

skimike · Sep 4, 2010

it definitely is not hydraulic oil, it is a gear oil the smell is unmistakable as to the weight Im sure its lighter than 75w also I would imagine its a multi viscosity gear oil, it needs to operate over a fairly wide range of temperature. so when you guys pull it and it is very dark in color and smells bad that is normal, im not sure if a chain lube is the same stuff, a dd is actually a planetary system with all gears, hydraulic oil Im sure could lead to premature damage. as long as the oil doesnt get contaminated it should last for years since its in a non pressure closed type system, its the same oil that is in the rearend of your truck just the viscosity is different, now I dont think you would change that every 2-300 miles, most people never change their rearend oil.

killerrf · Sep 5, 2010

skimike said:
it definitely is not hydraulic oil, it is a gear oil the smell is unmistakable as to the weight Im sure its lighter than 75w also I would imagine its a multi viscosity gear oil, it needs to operate over a fairly wide range of temperature. so when you guys pull it and it is very dark in color and smells bad that is normal, im not sure if a chain lube is the same stuff, a dd is actually a planetary system with all gears, hydraulic oil Im sure could lead to premature damage. as long as the oil doesnt get contaminated it should last for years since its in a non pressure closed type system, its the same oil that is in the rearend of your truck just the viscosity is different, now I dont think you would change that every 2-300 miles, most people never change their rearend oil.

most people also dont have bearing issues or durability issues with rear ends unlike the DD's.

sunbather1969 · Sep 7, 2010

yes i would like to know so would everyone else, thanks

BD-Xtreme said:
Again not trying to start anything, it was what was developed with the DD.

Would you like to find out exactly what the oil and aditives are? I will do that if you would like, as I stated I am sure there are many that meet or exceed OEM.

Mike
BDX

please tell us, i've asked at purchase on cat oil and got nowhere and you should be able to get msds when buying

sunbather1969 · Sep 7, 2010

bd-extreme

give us some info

lasse · Sep 19, 2010

Red Line oils !

JayO said:
The Red Line "Super lightweight shock proof" gear oil is the answer.
It's the yellow colored stuff.

BD-Xtreme said:
The only approved oils by Arctic Cat for the DD-system are the OEM oil and Black Diamond oil.
They have additives for the high pressure/speed of the planetary.

Use Red Line shock proof gear oil and never look back !

oldcrow said:
and it got rid of the DD whine.

skimike said:
The OEM Diamond Drive oil definitely is a gear oil !
The smell is unmistakable.
As to the weight Im sure its lighter than 75w also I would imagine its a multi viscosity gear oil.
It needs to operate over a fairly wide range of temperature.
So when you guys pull it and it is very dark in color and smells bad that is normal, im not sure if a chain lube is the same stuff,
The DD is actually a planetary system with all gears.
As long as the oil doesnt get contaminated it should last for years since its in a non pressure closed type system.
It's the same oil that is in the rearend of your truck just the viscosity is different, now I dont think you would change that every 2-300 miles,
most people never change their rearend oil.

Well spoken !

Use Red Line shock proof gear oil and also get rid of the Dimond Drive whine !

:tea:

mmsports · Sep 19, 2010

amazing

The guy that designs the DD get on and tells you what he recommends and you ignore him wow. Cat spends millions in R&D and they know nothing you know use what you want I know what I will use..

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