I'm doing yearly maintainence on my buddy's 2000 SP 500, and I'm trying to figure out the correct procedure for an engine oil change. I have drained both the engine sump, ,and the oil reservoir, and installed the new oil filter. I'm reading here on the forum about having to pinch off the oil reservior vent line before the slit (I did find the slit) for 15-20 seconds after starting the engine, then release and listen for hissing sound. Other accounts here on the forum say nothing about this priming procedure. My Haynes manual says nothing about it either. So what's the deal?? Do I need to do this or not? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Yes!!!..When you do the "TOTAL" oil change.......That means draining the engine or crankcase..........Then yes prime the system.........Some just do the tank(reservoir) and then it will not need to be primed.......Caper..............

 

My Haynes Manual says nothing about priming, but says to drain both the oil reservoir and the engine sump, change filter, put both plugs back in, fill her with oil and go. nothing about priming. What gives???

 

I would guess that a LOT of people rely on their Haynes manual to do routine maintainence on their quads. Therefore I would think there would be a LOT of cooked Polaris Sportsman 500 engines out there, if you really needed to prime the pump after draining the sump. I'm gonna prime it just to be safe, but I can't figure out what the truth is here. Anyone got a Polaris service manual for these machines? What does Polaris have to say on this matter?

 

i have always started engine and let it warm for a few minutes. then immediately drain both oils and change the filter. and then start it back up. done it this way for years. never had a issue.

 

You said it's a 2000 sportsman?....Correct?..........Does it have the "SLIT" in the top oil line hose?..(pressure relief)..Caper.......

 

Yes it is a 2000 sportsman 500. It has the aluminum oil reservoir tank, and it does have the slit in the oil reservoir vent line. What Colt said above is a perfect example of what I'm running into. Some people are saying "Yes you must" and others are saying "I never do, and never had a problem" So I'm pulling my hair out.

 

the way I understand it is if you disconnect the oil line from the oil tank to clean the screen then you have to prime it,otherwise no

 

i had a 2000 sportsman 335 and i never primed the oil pump. i understood u only had to do that if u had the newer models that u take the screen out of the backside of the oil pump.

 

what miniexcavator said lol