I am getting ready to do a service on my 2002 sp500 ho. This is my first one on an ATV. (bought it used not its first service) I have been reading fourms here and there looking for info on what to use. I am not interested in buying polaris oils. Its to far a ride to get them and the prices are to high. I work at an automotive parts house and have access to a lot of stuff. I have pretty much decided on mobil 1 for the oil. An wix oil filter which I put in stock when I got the machine.

My question is what would you guys recommend for everything else? Like hub oil, diffs, tranny.

I have read to use type F trans fluid in the hubs. Well they don't even make that anymore. Its now FA will that still work ok? Trans I have seen people say use the same oil as in the motor. Whats the thoughts on that? I was looking at using Valvolinne SYN 75w-90 in the diffs. can I use the same weight in the front and rear? IS the rear diff and the trans made together? I really haven' t had a chance to study it. I have seen some places talk of different weights from the front to rear. Thanks for any help. Sorry to ask so much on a first post but maybe as I learn I can return the favor someday.

 

I would go to a Polaris dealer and get the exact stuff you need. You might pay a couple of dollars more but at least you know you got the right stuff. Make sure you get the right hub fluid for your "outboard" hubs. I know there are other oils you can use, I'm not a mechanic so I don't take the chance. Just my opinion. I just changed my trans and front diff fluid and it cost me about $15.00.

 

Can't stand the factory boys turning the screws to people. It 30 miles to the polaris dealer one way the they want 12.99 a quart. I would rather just use what I have in front of me everyday. I have read all over the place of people using other stuff besides polaris brand and having no problems. Polaris does not blend there own oil. They use lub tech I think at the moment and they also do mobil 1. I have also heard they take bids on there stuff and the lowest price gets to blend it meaning they might not be selling you the same thing now they did a year ago. Thats from reading around fourms everywhere. Not sure how much truth is to that.

 

Have you considered Amsoil. They have all the products you need to service your ATV. They can ship it to your door. You can check out their product line here Amsoil.. For the transmissions you should use a chaincase oil, because it has chains instead of gears. Theres also alot of debate about using automotive motor oils in ATV's. Although the Sportsman doesn't have wet clutch, Oil designed for ATV's have other additives designed for powersports such as rust preventors. These help since ATV's aren't usually ridden reguraly and convential will drip off the parts, leaving them vulernable to corrosion.

 

I am not really concerned as what brand as much as I am what weights and such. I ran Amsoil in a race car I had and hae no problems with it what so ever. Since the polais brands don't really tell you what they are and just some high tech name they give it.

My ATV is ridden pretty much daily. I live in the country and have land to ride on. ITs not very often that I don't have to take my son for a ride. IT ridden pretty much every afternoon.

Thanks for the imput though.