So my buddies and myself rode in cooke city over the weekend and all of us had oil tank issues on 2- 09 M8's and 1 - 10 M8. I purchased a ski doo oil tank insert which I was told would fix my oval tank, which it did. The heat problem is still there though, my threads are all messed up now. I cant get my cap on straight so it leaks oil out. My buddy with his 10 M8 which has a big U shaped heat sheild mounted under the hood which is suppose to solve the heat issue is all out of round and has messed up threads now too. I plan on adding venting to my hood to try to get the heat out, but do you have any other suggestions? We're striking out here, any advice would help!
M8 oil tank problems. Help!
- Thread starter adamkoch@myclearwave.net
- Start date
I took out my tank and completely wrapped it in heat tape, including the threads.
You can do all the vital areas with it on your sled, just a little easier with the tank out. I have the oil tank thread insert also, got it as a precaution, but I have had no problems with my tank. My sled is a twenty10 M8 SP.
On the other had, the local AC shop has melted down 3 so far on their sleds, but no heat tape on their tanks. FYI, I also have lots of venting now, but ran most of the season with stock venting. Hope that helps
You can do all the vital areas with it on your sled, just a little easier with the tank out. I have the oil tank thread insert also, got it as a precaution, but I have had no problems with my tank. My sled is a twenty10 M8 SP.
On the other had, the local AC shop has melted down 3 so far on their sleds, but no heat tape on their tanks. FYI, I also have lots of venting now, but ran most of the season with stock venting. Hope that helps
What is Rkt?
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Powder Buster
Active member
2strokeheads.com
Here's a link to the RKT site. http://www.2strokeheads.com/ You won't find anything there about the hood lift, but apparently he does have it. I've seen the hood lift mentioned before in other threads, but I've yet to see a picture. Anybody have one to share?
I've got the same problem with my tank. Got the insert but the threads are so mangled already that I haven't been able to get a good seal. I've tried reshaping the filler neck with no success. Probably going to get a new tank and do as suggested above... wrap the whole thing in heat tape and put the insert in with a new o-ring.
Here's a link to the RKT site. http://www.2strokeheads.com/ You won't find anything there about the hood lift, but apparently he does have it. I've seen the hood lift mentioned before in other threads, but I've yet to see a picture. Anybody have one to share?
I've got the same problem with my tank. Got the insert but the threads are so mangled already that I haven't been able to get a good seal. I've tried reshaping the filler neck with no success. Probably going to get a new tank and do as suggested above... wrap the whole thing in heat tape and put the insert in with a new o-ring.
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RKT
Well-known member
We have a fix for the oil tank issues that we will be offering for next season and through this Summer.. Sorry, I can not offer more information on it at this time.. Too many copiers out there... But, rest assured, it will fix the tank issues..
I have never seen a tank completely melt though.. We are not fixing a complete melt problem. Of course, we do run the above mentioned hood lift ( I need to add that to the product list on the site) that RADICALLY reduces under hood temps..
Kelsey
I have never seen a tank completely melt though.. We are not fixing a complete melt problem. Of course, we do run the above mentioned hood lift ( I need to add that to the product list on the site) that RADICALLY reduces under hood temps..
Kelsey
For the money, time & results, the RKT lift is the best thing you can do to fix underhood heat. That's the first thing I would do, because it gives the heat somewhere to go.
If you want to go further than that, the venting that 73 goliath mentioned works very well also, & will work even better with the RKT product installed as the vents let cold air in, and the hood lift lets the hot air out.
If you want to go further than that, the venting that 73 goliath mentioned works very well also, & will work even better with the RKT product installed as the vents let cold air in, and the hood lift lets the hot air out.
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Powder Buster
Active member
Thanks!
Thanks for the link. The lift looks like it would do a great job. Simple but effective! Thanks for help!
Can't wait to see what Kelsey's got in store for us as the ultimate fix to our oil tank problem... was hoping to get his clutch kit this summer, might have to add this to my list of summer mods too. First have to replace the a-arms I toasted on my last trip of the year
Thanks for the link. The lift looks like it would do a great job. Simple but effective! Thanks for help!
Can't wait to see what Kelsey's got in store for us as the ultimate fix to our oil tank problem... was hoping to get his clutch kit this summer, might have to add this to my list of summer mods too. First have to replace the a-arms I toasted on my last trip of the year
S
samiams2
Well-known member
clarification???
I had a 06 M7 and never had any issue with the oil tank. But I just bought a 2010 m8 and wnat to know what I'm getting into.
So let me see if I got this straight...the tank melts the threads the neck or the whole bottle...is that it? What is the "insert" he was talking about? I have seen the heat shield that's on the newer M's but I don't get how a insert could prevent melting?
Now the RKT hood lift...does this sacrifice any hood stability, being held up at only 1 point? What about the "gauge cage"? They say they aid in cooling, so same principle as the hood lift right? Is one more effective than the other?
Sorry for going on and on and on and on....
I had a 06 M7 and never had any issue with the oil tank. But I just bought a 2010 m8 and wnat to know what I'm getting into.
So let me see if I got this straight...the tank melts the threads the neck or the whole bottle...is that it? What is the "insert" he was talking about? I have seen the heat shield that's on the newer M's but I don't get how a insert could prevent melting?
Now the RKT hood lift...does this sacrifice any hood stability, being held up at only 1 point? What about the "gauge cage"? They say they aid in cooling, so same principle as the hood lift right? Is one more effective than the other?
Sorry for going on and on and on and on....
The cap cross threaded on my 2010 also. Couldn't even tighten it. I was to the point of using tape to hold it on and not topping the tank off.
All I did was trim the inside plastic at the seem. The cap is now allowed to seal on the top rim of the tank like it is supposed to.
Like I said all I did was trim some plastic. Took 5 minutes and no $$$
Now I snug the cap and it mysteriously tightens itself while riding because I now when taking it back off I didn't tighten it that much (and it don't leak)
All I did was trim the inside plastic at the seem. The cap is now allowed to seal on the top rim of the tank like it is supposed to.
Like I said all I did was trim some plastic. Took 5 minutes and no $$$
Now I snug the cap and it mysteriously tightens itself while riding because I now when taking it back off I didn't tighten it that much (and it don't leak)
oil tank
I have the side vents from xxx mod rods, I am looking into a vent that goes on the top of the hood and maybe one on each side of my speedo. I also have my speedo tipped up, so there is an opening there for air to get out, still too hot. Not very inpressed with the hood lift. Looks like it puts alot of stress on that small area, especially when rolling over in the mountains.
I have the side vents from xxx mod rods, I am looking into a vent that goes on the top of the hood and maybe one on each side of my speedo. I also have my speedo tipped up, so there is an opening there for air to get out, still too hot. Not very inpressed with the hood lift. Looks like it puts alot of stress on that small area, especially when rolling over in the mountains.
P
Powder Buster
Active member
Samiams2
samiams2-
The tank does not completely melt, just gets really warm and SOFT... at least I haven't heard of one completely melting on a stock sled. Anyway, if your not careful, it's really easy to crossthread the cap when you put it back on if its warm, and the neck tends to get into an egg-shape... not good. I bought my '09 used with 800 miles and the tank had already cross-threaded and had the egg-shape to it, so I'm playing catch-up with the problem. The insert that we are talking about is just a thin aluminum insert that fits inside the neck of the tank so it keeps its shape no matter what. Nothing cosmic, you could make one yourself if you have the time, but for the price I think it's worth it. For those like me, I had to heat the neck with a heat gun just to get the thing to fit back in and mold it back to shape. I would definitely put one in BEFORE I had any problems in the first place and you'd avoid that problem completely. Better to have the insurance before you have a problem if you ask me. Here's a link to a thread where you can see a little more about it. http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205205&highlight=oil+tank+insert
The guy that makes them goes by DANO3REV on here, I got mine in about 2 days when I ordered mine. Can't remember how much mine was, but it wasn't much.
samiams2-
The tank does not completely melt, just gets really warm and SOFT... at least I haven't heard of one completely melting on a stock sled. Anyway, if your not careful, it's really easy to crossthread the cap when you put it back on if its warm, and the neck tends to get into an egg-shape... not good. I bought my '09 used with 800 miles and the tank had already cross-threaded and had the egg-shape to it, so I'm playing catch-up with the problem. The insert that we are talking about is just a thin aluminum insert that fits inside the neck of the tank so it keeps its shape no matter what. Nothing cosmic, you could make one yourself if you have the time, but for the price I think it's worth it. For those like me, I had to heat the neck with a heat gun just to get the thing to fit back in and mold it back to shape. I would definitely put one in BEFORE I had any problems in the first place and you'd avoid that problem completely. Better to have the insurance before you have a problem if you ask me. Here's a link to a thread where you can see a little more about it. http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205205&highlight=oil+tank+insert
The guy that makes them goes by DANO3REV on here, I got mine in about 2 days when I ordered mine. Can't remember how much mine was, but it wasn't much.
I am currently running an insert, threads still got messed up and leaks.
P
Powder Buster
Active member
catlover-
not what I wanted to hear. I thought the insert would keep the problem from happening if you got it before you had any issues. Guess that's out the window.
Frostbite-
I used a heat gun to soften up the plastic and then trimmed the inside of the neck with a utility knife. I just went slowly to keep the shavings large enough to handle without having them drop in the oil. Take that for what it's worth though, remember I still have my problem. My first ride was O.K. and I thought the problem was solved but the next ride it started right up again. I was going to try squaring up the top so the lid fit better maybe, but I think my problem is that the threads are so messed up that the lid doesn't sit flat anymore. Now that Kelsy is talking about a different fix, i might just wait to see what he's got before I do any more to it.
Old Crow-
I did experiment with just snugging the cap up, but it didn't work for me.
not what I wanted to hear. I thought the insert would keep the problem from happening if you got it before you had any issues. Guess that's out the window.
Frostbite-
I used a heat gun to soften up the plastic and then trimmed the inside of the neck with a utility knife. I just went slowly to keep the shavings large enough to handle without having them drop in the oil. Take that for what it's worth though, remember I still have my problem. My first ride was O.K. and I thought the problem was solved but the next ride it started right up again. I was going to try squaring up the top so the lid fit better maybe, but I think my problem is that the threads are so messed up that the lid doesn't sit flat anymore. Now that Kelsy is talking about a different fix, i might just wait to see what he's got before I do any more to it.
Old Crow-
I did experiment with just snugging the cap up, but it didn't work for me.
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