Polaris oil explained...?

[sledhed]

If I remember right the 2010 800 CFI update bulletin says to run one OIL tank full of Polaris Blue semi-synth through the sled after the update too. In addition to premixing the first tank. My dealer said that is a good idea if you pull out the "gold" oil in the oil tank and fill it with blue (about .7 gal), then refill with gold when that is mostly gone. Since I had the tool to do it, I replaced the gold with blue. Still running it. About 100 miles on the update, no worries so far, runs great (but snow conditions here being what they are, no real load testing yet).

 

[R44guy]

Gold ves plus oil?

My local dealer said one of the Polaris engineers explained the new gold plus was designed to make the newer two strokes meet epa emissions and that is the main reason. I also understand the oil is now thinner for better cold weather delivery. I have always believed you get what you pay for so it is hard to believe that the cheaper oils work as good or better than the more expiensive synthetic oils. I realize some of the hardcore ams oil guys will tell you that they have the best oil but it doesnt always test the best! I guess we all have our own thoughts and opinions about oil and you get what you pay for but Polaris's oil mixer contractor is located in Roseville & Golden Valley Minnesota called Lube Tech which is short for Lubrication Technologies. They produces, mix, and resell oil through out the country. They carry the cheapest oils right on up to the most expensive oils and they are a very solid company.

 

[Ron]

Along with cleaner burning oils the leaner running sleds need an oil with better tolerance to high temperature before it quits lubricating-called lubricity. That's why the the higher quality synthetics may save your engine. They can't dump excess oil into your cyclinders and meet the EPA standards and leaner fuel mixtures raise internal temps.

 

[R44guy]

Ves Gold Oil Replacments?

Ron, thanks for the great info on the oil lubricating-called lubricity. From what I understand it is safe to run the old synthetic gold ves oil? It just wont meet epa emissions and is thicker?

The local Polaris dealer states the older gold ves oil should not void any warranties and that many of the dealers do not even carry the ves gold plus to date?

I just wonder if running any other oils like the redline could possibly hurt your warranty coverage? On the 08/09 sleds it just calls for gold but the 10's call for plus? It could just be another available option to have your warranty repairs voided?

 

[800poodragon]

I am sure a bunch of the dealers had bought a stock of the gold oil, then Polaris comes out with the new plus. The dealers are naturally going to want to sell all the gold they have first before wanting to start putting the plus out on the shelf...

 

[ditchrider]

I was just at a dealer the other day and they still don't list anything on the bottles. My guess is that Polaris just doesn't submit their oils for testing and rating. I'm sure it would meet some requirements and specifications, but for one reason or another they must choose not too. Although, wouldn't these tests be requirements and not optional? Or, is it more like a sales tool like Snell ratings on helmets or something. Even those must meet DOT though. Shouldn't there be some kind of minimum rating on their stuff? Seems like it would be a better sales tool for them.

I didn't figure that they did. It would be nice to know what the minimum recommendations are though, because somewhere, sometime someone is going to need oil and they wont have what Poo recommends available. I think it's pretty petty of them not to publish the minimum specs.

Never did hear back from them.

I honestly didn't think you would.

Along with cleaner burning oils the leaner running sleds need an oil with better tolerance to high temperature before it quits lubricating-called lubricity. That's why the the higher quality synthetics may save your engine. They can't dump excess oil into your cyclinders and meet the EPA standards and leaner fuel mixtures raise internal temps.

As I'm sure you may already know, there are many oils out there both cheap and expensive, mineral based and synthetic that meet the highest industry standard for lubricity. What I believe really sets them apart is how clean they burn. Not as many oils meet those tests.

 

[Ron]

[QUOTE
As I'm sure you may already know, there are many oils out there both cheap and expensive, mineral based and synthetic that meet the highest industry standard for lubricity. What I believe really sets them apart is how clean they burn. Not as many oils meet those tests.[/QUOTE]

I wasn't referring to minimum standards-the Polaris Blue meets the minimum. Some of the synthetics offer protection at much higher temperatures, the kind we see in the EPA compliant engines. Under US law if Polaris required VES Gold+, they would have to furnish it free. All they can require is a minimum standard like JASO or ISO, etc. What they have done is recommend a higher quality oil with more protection at extreme temps. Making it burn cleaner helps with EPA requirements so it's of benefit in two ways.
There are tests by ASTM that measure the temps that an oil can stand before it quits lubricating but I believe that info is only available to members, don't see it in print.

 

[Snoweasel]

Gold Plus

I will say that the new Gold Plus makes cold starts considerably easier in terms of rope pulling effort. My GF is now able to start her sled on her own, whereas she could not do it before gold plus. Even I find the recoil effort easier.