Out riding yesterday and, came out of the woods and while running down the road at about 35-45 mph for about a mile when all of a sudden the bike started slowing down, losing power, then when I stopped it died. Got off and started looking and noticed the the dipstick bracket had broken and the dipstick tube was sticking out and I had lost some oil. The only oil we had was 10w40 castrol which it only took about 1/4 of a quart to fill it back up, don't think that was the problem, as far as the engine losing power, but I thought i'd add that in there because it did happen at the same time. The bike started right back up and ran fine but it has a little knock when put under a load. I had regular unleaded pump gas in the bike at the time and have ran regular gas most of the time, could this be part of the knocking? Only lost about 1/4 of a quart of oil, don't think that would be anywhere enough of a loss to make the engine start tightening up. Going to change oil back to full synthetic oil, probably amsoil,with new filter and start using premium gas from now on and see if that stops the knocking when put under a load.
What do you guys think?
Thanks

 

Put a new fuel filter in it and drain the gas and carb. then put some water remover in the gas tank. i had the same problem with my 2006 polaris sportsman 450 and this seemed to fix it.

 

I don't think a 1/4 of a quart low would hurt anything, how much oil do those ATVs hold? Also 10w-40 would only be bad over a long period of use, plus it would be so diluted by the remaining proper oil anyways.

Let us know how it works out.

 

Sounds like a valve issue.

 

Thought about that, did you use a polaris brand fuel filter, or just pick up a universal type?
Also heard some people talk very highly of Sea Foam fuel additive to clean out the fuel system and remove possible moisture, anyone ever used any of that?
Thanks

 

i used a polaris fuel filter but there is not a very big difference between the universal and the polaris filter. i have used the sea foam and Heet i cant really tell the difference.

 

Sea foam is a great additive! Add it to your fuel every few tankfulls(won't take much-a can will last quite a while). Also, add some to your crankcase before an oil change(just run it long enough to warm up the oil) and it helps clean everything out. Go with the POPO filter.