I am a new Polaris owner and getting ready to do my first oil change on my 2004.5 Sportsman 500HO. I picked up the filter and oil from my dealer and the service guy told me to be sure to prime the sump after the change. He told me how to do it, but my question is . . . . . is it really necessary to do it? Just curious if you guys do it at every oil change. The owners manuel says you only have to do it if you leave the sump dry for a period of time before adding the new oil.

 

I just did my 2nd oil change on my SP 400 and the process is the same. I checked the screen & drained the sump both times. I did prime the pump both oil changes & it was easy and the "rush" of air they talk about is easy to hear. It kind of resembles air going into a tire. I simply took a needle nose vice grip and slipped a slit hose over each jaw and use it to pinch the vent hose on the oil reservoir. You might want to pinch the line and go through the priming process before you change the oil, that way you know what to listen for when you change it (in terms of the “rush” or air that is). Hope this helps.

 

Im pretty sure it isn't necessary to do it unless it is sitting dry for a while