Hi everyone, I just bought a nice used 2002 Arctic Cat 500i with only 400 miles on it and I am giving in the once over before I start taking it hard into the bush. I went to the a dealer to pick up an oil filter and in talking to him I was informed I should not use any synthetic oils in my quad. I have read some previous topics about others using synthetic and was wondering in anyone can tell me why he would of said that?

And if anyone has any other suggestions about what else I should go over for maintanence before I go out it would be apprecaited other then the obvious (air filter, etc.). I have a service manual on the way so it should help.

Thanks guys.

 

Funny but AC sells a synthetic oil change kit for the 500's. It would be interesting to ask that dealer why they do that.

Edit -
Found the PN 0436-453

 

Synthetic oil is to only way to go. Better lubrication and double oil longevity. Synthetics were developed for jet engines because regular oil broken down under the heat. Cost more and worth it. Your dealer also charges by the hour and double the oil changes, double the money. He doesn't make any more money on the oil, whichever the kind. Of course he could be misinform or ignorant too.

 

That was my thought. Thanks guys, I thought I would ask because I didn't want to be inclulded in the misinformed or ignorant category.
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hes retarted i asked that a few weeks ago and everyone told me to put it in its like no other oil. I got it in mine and there is no problem

 

what ive been told is not to switch to synthetic during or right after break-in because the oil is to slick and the metal wont wear correctly. after a few hundred miles it should be good to change though. ive been running synthetic in my 2002 500 since around 400 miles, now it has 2400 miles and never had any problems.

 

The break-in thing is why the engines don't come with synthetic oil in them. Need to let those parts get use to each other. Then switch to the synthetic. At the 100 mile mark I changed oil and filter and use regular oil. At the 400 mile change I swapped to synthetic and haven't touched it yet. Will be at the 1000 mile mark. I swapped my 2001 250 to synthetic also. Cost more but a lot better oil.

 

hey bear, i think i read the article on a web site you sent someone to before. mototuneus.com ,i think it was . it tells about synthetic and regular oils and alot of other good information. especially for breaking in a 4 stoke engine.

 

I agree with everyone here. After break in I switched over to the Arctic Cat brand synthetic and have never looked back. Great stuff......

 

The only reasons I can think of a dealer not reccomending a switch to synthetic oil is: One, that you may not have enough miles on your machine and your engine needs to be broke in a little more. (I believe you need around 500 miles or so) Second, I know some people who put way too many miles on their machines that run synthetic oil (like 1000-2000miles) between oil changes. They get a mental set that synthetic oil = not having to change your oil. Which will causes some problems.

Other than that, I think he is off his rocker. The benifits of the CORRECT (wet clitch safe) synthetic oil are too great and he should know that.

SJ