Synthetic oils in ATV's ??

[Twitter]

Hey dave,
I read your comments on another post warning against synthetics in ATV's to avoid clutch slippage. This is something I've never heard before and I just recently put synthetic in my 2000 Yamaha Big Bear thinking I would get easier starts and less engine wear.
Can you please elaborate on the concerns with synthetics ?
Should I take out the synthetic and go back to a regular oil ??
Thanks for any information !!
Twitter

[pikechaser]

Ive heard the same concerns but have run it in couple of my machines for many years without problems...seems like you get a little more speed on top end..have never had any clutch problems..i run amsoil in mine , wouldnt think there'd be a whole lot of difference in them but who knows

[Dave]

Running synthetic oil in a FULLY automatic belt-driven machine is not a concern for most brands since the engine oil is not used for any transmission duties. Polaris recommends synthetic for its engine.

In a machine such as the Big Bear, the engine oil is also used in the transmission. For 5-speed with an automatic clutch it is said sythetics is too thin and does not provide the lubrication needed; between gears and such.

I made calls to two local Yamaha service depts. and they comfirmed no synthetics should be used in that machine. Don't be too concerned. I doubt you hurt your motor but would check into using the correct oil in the future. Talk with a Yamaha service dept next time you drive by one.

[Twitter]

Thanks for the quick reply Dave !!!
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[Sandee]

Water doesn't mix with the synthetic oil - with regular oil it will at least mix and you will be pumping this instead of just water. See a problem here if it gets 20 below??

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www.rainyriverresort.com

[Dave]

Nice information, Sandee. Thanks

[pikechaser]

i was wondering around a local dealer that sells a few different brands of atv's and I see that artic cat now makes a sythetic oil for atvs=talked to a mechanic there and he says its good stuff==clutch plates will not slip and would be ok for any brand of atv

[pikechaser]

well honestly if youve got water in your engine wether it mixes with the oil or not your headed for trouble==change your oil on a regular basis..and change it repeatedly if you swamp it...good luck

[Dave]

pikechaser, did he say if that synthetic oil was good for manual and/or fully automatic transmissions?

[Sandee]

Problem is the water is from condensation. We used synthetic oil on our Polaris Big Boss and had 2 cams go out. Mechanic said he got a 1/2 cup of water out of it, which is not good, since the oil was changed that morning!! Hmmmm . . .

What does your mechanics say about letting the ATV idle or NOT to idle??

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www.rainyriverresort.com

[pikechaser]

Has anyone ever read the classified ads in the paper and noticed all the polaris atv's in there many with rebuilt engines??? hmmm do what you will...Ive run synthetics for years with no problems and will continue to do so...sorry

[pikechaser]

He said the oil is designed for manual shifting atv's, With a automatic style atv you dont need to worry--good luck

[Iron Cowboy]

Cant the condensation problem be avoided by makeing sure the motor runs long enough to get good and hot thus evaporating any water?
Doesnt the condensation come from frequent short runs ?
For the record, In my 2000 Honda Foreman es
I run Klotz techniplate fully synthetic 10w40 that says right on the bottle made for 4 stroke motorcycle engines with automatic clutches. I also know quite a few guys that run Mobil 1 fully synthetic 15w50 automotive oil that you get at the local wal-mart with no problems so far, been running it for a few years now.

[Sandee]

We were told by one mechanic to let it idle after we had repairs done. After the 2nd repair, we were told by the manufacturer that we should NOT let it idle, that's why the cam went out again!! Hmmm....

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www.rainyriverresort.com

[pikechaser]

I believe your right ironcowboy--thats wat I always try to do