Was wondering if there is any other oil you can use besides polaris brand for the engine. Thanks

 

Any oil as long as its Full synthetic and 0w-40. I use amsoil alot. Mobile 1 is also sold everywhere.

 

It also does not have to be 0-40. I recommend Castrol Syntec 5W-50.

 

0w flow quicker on cold starts than 5w. There were alot of per worn exhaust cam lobes from dry cold starts back in the day , why chance it.
I have a old 96-03 Clymer manual that recommends 10w-30, they sure edit that out on there new manuals.

 

Oil stands almost an inch deep under the cam. There is no such thing as "dry cam lobes" on start up.

Cam lobes wear from dirty used oil and cheap junk oil.

 

I use Castrol Syntec 5w 30 on probably10 different polaris machnes dating from 97 to 2009, the older ones have 7 to 10,000 miles on them, have not had any engine troubles or cam wear in any of them, I too believe the worn cams were from lack of oil changes instead of type of oil.

 

or cheap, soft metal used in the cams.

 

Most of the flattened cams I've changed over the years(quite a few),the oil drained out of the tank like STP or dark,dirty honey! YES lack of oil changes I think is the most common cause of cam failures,but most of the owners admitted not using the correct oil(anywhere from 5-30,10-30, 5-20,etc! ) IF you do use a thicker grade,reguardless of brand,JUST change it a little more frequently. And this even depends on severity of use!This is where the manual is right on! P.S. PLEASE lets not have another oil slinging,politics,or religion debate again,nobody wins!! OPT

 

Or the 8000 miles on our 97 Sportsmans (still going strong) with soft cams is just sheer good luck.