i know polaris made a diesel atv, why did they get rid of it? does anyone have a sound recording of the sportsman diesel or any other sportsman model that wasnt diesel?just wondering what they sound like. was this diesel just like a normal diesel engine in trucks.

 

I was just wondering the exact same thing.

 

Main resson was nobody didn't want to pay such a high price for a 4x4 that had such a slow take off, its top speed was in the 30s. Im sure it had a couple problems also. Im sure they didn't get the engines as cheap as gas since they didnt buy as many. They really didn't sell good either. They might bring it back but I dought it.

 

it was first used for construction sites but the companies didnt buy it. keep in mind that desiel is avabable on construction sites easily.

 

I love diesel engines and thought the diesel Polaris would be a great idea. But I was S L O W ! There are some fearsome things that go on inside the cylinders of a diesel engine and it has to be built heavy and tough to stand up to it, so it weighed a lot for the performance it had. Plus, at first glance, diesel engines appear simple because they have no ignition system - no wires, no sparkplugs, etc, but they make up for it by having to have fuel injection at fairly high pressures. I still think if you wanted a sure enough dependable workhorse ATV the Polaris diesel would earn its keep, but most folks who work their 4 wheeler during the week like to play with it on the weekend. And the diesel didn't like to play much.

 

I couldnt have said it better myself kep. Diesels rock but are slow. they are fun to uprate though. You would be suprised what a little propane and nitrous can do to a mild mannered diesel. I think a diesel is about 1 hp for every 4 lbs of motor. On a 4wheeler I would expecty about 1hp to 8lbs. In the old days it was like 100 lbs to a hp. There is folks pushin almost 800 hp out of a 5.9 though. requires some drugs but they seem to be holding up. thats like .8 hp per pound for breif stints. They mighta been slow but id bet theyd pull a mid size truck through a mud hole with sufficient traction. Less maintanence is usually the norm too.

 

I am a little interested in the diesel. Ive poked around to see how cheaply I might pick one up. I found that they are quite a bit more common in the rest of the world. We are the only ones who dont appreciate a good diesel. Maybe I could get one for next to nothing in Mexico and drive it up. LOL.
If you look at the hard core 4 wheel drive trucks like the landrover or landcruiser. Alot of em have diesels because diesel is easier to come by in the outlands. And more fuel efficient with fewer break downs. Plus great low end torque is a very good thing to have while crawling. Look at the jeeps while not diesel they are inline sixes same with my fj40's. 6s are great for low end torque. Diesel 6s are better. I have an inline 6 cummins in my truck and it is unbelievable. I pulled a 14 by 55 foot mobile home with all possessions inside while my truck was bone stock. I sunk the trailer into an old style crib sewer and dragged it through anyways. The axles were dragging in the mud. Torqus maximus. We only had to move it a few blocks and didnt want to rent a big truck. So mine was elected because all the other available big torque motors had sticks and nobody wanted to smoke there clutch to get it rolling. Now I have more than doubled the torque output. Have you ever seen a diesel do donuts on dry pavement?