Switching oil brands - how to drain oil system without introducing air bubbles?

[Frostbite]

I plan to put together my sled today after having SLP perform their performance edition magic on my sled.

I also plan to go from Arctic Cat APV oil to another brand (I won't specify because I don't want this to turn into a "what oil is best post").

I would like to drain as much of the APV oil as possible without introducing air to the injection system. Is it best to just drain the oil tank and leave what's left in the oil lines or is there an easy way to drain the lines as well without introducing problems?

Thanks

PS: I also want to add a little more spring pressure to my 2009 oil pump arm to keep it from sticking via a little more wrap on the oil pump spring, is this still advisible?

 

[Blk88GT]

It may sound stupid, but I've had good luck using a turkey baster.

Just make sure you clean it before you put it back in the kitchen! LOL

Alternatively, you could use a manual fluid pump. Then you don't have to worry about Christmas dinner tasting like APV

 

[Icedog]

It may sound stupid, but I've had good luck using a turkey baster.

That's what I use too. I thought I was the only one that used kitchen tools in the garage.

 

[Frostbite]

Nice!

I'm sure she needs a new turkey baster anyway.

Heck, what do they cost, $1.49?

Thanks for the idea, are there any others?

 

[BigAir]

Pour the new oil in and not worry about it. Has anyone actually experienced or even heard of someone having a problem with mixing oils? I never have and I have personally mixed different oils several times with no ill effects.

 

[MNpowderfiend]

ditto BigAir. I've had the same sled since 2000. MM700. Started with Yammy Lube, then Amzoil, then Yammy Lube, then Amzoil. no diff for me, and now I have 5500 miles on the sled and have not opened the motor for any reason.

Once I rented a Poo from Ricky at the Exxon in Cooke. Rode up to Top of World, 30 miles away from Cooke, got off the trail by the gas station up there. Then, oil light went on. Ooops. "hey, does anyone have a quart of oil?" "yes, here's some Injex 66."

Put in the Injex, rode all day. Got back to Exxon, and told them the story. You would have thought I robbed their store based on the reaction I got for mixing oils in a rental on the trail. Options were, leave it, tow it, play dumb and blow it up, or pour in Injex.

That was the first I heard about mixing oils as a bad thing.

Please point me in the right direction on some facts that show motors exploding, pics of it, etc. I know the manufacturer's booklets say, don't mix oil, but is that because they want you to use their home brand oil? I bet even starting a motor when it's 30 below one time is worse than mixing oils.

Eric

 

[1080paul]

Just pour it in. Your asking for more problems draining the system.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys!

I know mixing oils is not the end of the world but here's something from a manufactures website.

When using BLANK 2-Cycle Oil for the first time do I need to drain my oil reservoir?

We recommend that you drain the majority of your old oil out of your reservoirs first, making sure that you don’t get air into the lines and loose your prime. If there’s a small amount of the older oil in the very bottom of the reservoir as well as your injector lines it should be fine. By draining as much of the other oil as possible, you will get the benefits that BLANK has to offer more quickly.

Is it okay to mix Blank 2-Cycle Oil with other oils (synthetic or mineral)?

We don’t recommend doing this if possible, especially the first time that you use it. If you happen to run out of Blank at some point, Blank; however, the benefits from Blank will likely diminish (almost completely) with that first use of the mixed tank.

 

[TheBreeze]

pour it in

i have switched two sleds from APV to Klotz. I just filled er up with Klotz when the reservoir was getting low on APV. No problemo.

 

[SnoShark]

Thanks guys!

I know mixing oils is not the end of the world but here's something from a manufactures website.

When using BLANK 2-Cycle Oil for the first time do I need to drain my oil reservoir?
We recommend that you drain the majority of your old oil out of your reservoirs first, making sure that you don’t get air into the lines and loose your prime. If there’s a small amount of the older oil in the very bottom of the reservoir as well as your injector lines it should be fine. By draining as much of the other oil as possible, you will get the benefits that BLANK has to offer more quickly.

Is it okay to mix Blank 2-Cycle Oil with other oils (synthetic or mineral)?

We don’t recommend doing this if possible, especially the first time that you use it. If you happen to run out of Blank at some point, Blank; however, the benefits from Blank will likely diminish (almost completely) with that first use of the mixed tank.

They don't really say protection or something similar, just benefits - which could ultimately mean protection depending on interpretation When I switched on my old Polaris they (mechanic, and new oil dealer) said to pour it in and go. I asked if I should let the reservoir get low. They said, "if it makes you feel better." I poured in the new stuff with about a 3/4 full reservoir of VES oil and never had a problem. I would say splurge on the turkey baster and suck out most of it. I'm getting my new M today so we'll see how much oil the dealer dropped in. I plan on running oil other than APV.

 

[aueland]

Just drain as much as you can out of the tank and put the blue marble in.

 

[backcountryislife]

Thanks guys!

I know mixing oils is not the end of the world but here's something from a manufactures website.

When using BLANK 2-Cycle Oil for the first time do I need to drain my oil reservoir?

We recommend that you drain the majority of your old oil out of your reservoirs first, making sure that you don’t get air into the lines and loose your prime. If there’s a small amount of the older oil in the very bottom of the reservoir as well as your injector lines it should be fine. By draining as much of the other oil as possible, you will get the benefits that BLANK has to offer more quickly.

Is it okay to mix Blank 2-Cycle Oil with other oils (synthetic or mineral)?

We don’t recommend doing this if possible, especially the first time that you use it. If you happen to run out of Blank at some point, Blank; however, the benefits from Blank will likely diminish (almost completely) with that first use of the mixed tank.

DUDE!!!! That blank oil SUCKS, you need to use ****oil!!!



I like the baster idea, thanks! I usually just run it near dry then dump in the new oil, I've mixed a bunch of times without a problem.

 

[likkerpig]

Bought a gas siphon with a primer bulb at the short end for like 2.00 at walmart. it'll take a little bit longer but is cleaner than a turkey baster. I know, I've done both....

 

[AaronBND]

I have heard really bad things about using vegetable oil. I would advise against it Lee!

Aaron

P.S. I just changed brands myself. I used a $1.49 plastic pump from the autoparts store to suck it out. Good luck.......

 

[Frostbite]

Aaron, it's MINERAL oil not vegetable oil my friend.

My four oil choices right now are (in no particualr order):

Redline Oil
Legend Oil
Blue Marble Oil
Fowlers oil

 

[skidooboy]

frosty, i have done this a few times, i carry a quart of what i want to switch to. i run the sled till the oil light comes on, and the level in the resivior is very low. arctic cat says their low oil light comes on when there is approximatley 1 tank full of fuel left for the oil in the resi.

when it is at it's lowest i want to "push it", i add the quart. when i get back to the staging area, or basecamp, i top it off. most modern synthetics, and petroleum based oils will mix. there used to be issues with the older oils that had different base oils. some were not compatible.

just use your head. ski

 

[Frostbite]

Got it Ski, thanks!

 

[msandrews81]

Out of all of the times everyone on this post switched oils, what made you guys decide to switch?

 

[1M800]

I have never had a problem mixing oils. I have been low on a trip out west and had to buy whatever they had at the lodge. I dumped it in and ran it, and when I got home I just went right back to the oil I had been using. I don't do this on a regular basis but I have on occasion. I don't think it really hurts. I know some guys that run a different oil every time they fill it and have no problems. Some of these guys have some high mileage sleds too! I would do like the other guy suggested. Run it until the light comes on and fill it up with the new stuff. Just my .02!

 

[snowmanx]

pour the new oil in and not worry about it. Has anyone actually experienced or even heard of someone having a problem with mixing oils? I never have and i have personally mixed different oils several times with no ill effects.

ditto