Oil, oil, everywhere

[DudeandDog]

Oil pooling in the intake, pistons and valves have obvious blowby/burnt oil, oil pan seeping...I have 160 hours on the machine, started going through a 1/2 quart of oil every 35-40 hours after the 50-hour service. When my 6-month warranty was up I purchased the extended care policy because I simply felt the machine was delicate and high-strung. My dealer submitted the case to Polaris, and it was approved for full repair, parts are ordered, and now we wait. 2300 miles and an average speed of 15mph. My previous ride was a 2016 Ranger XP 1000 that had zero mechanical issues over 700 hours. Pretty bummed with this machine. Now. We. Wait.

 

[JTBarlow]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

 

[Dale's Snake Pit]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

JT what is Tribotex and how does it work?

 

[JTBarlow]

JT what is Tribotex and how does it work?

It’s a nanoparticle ceramic treatment that can fill in minor imperfections in the cylinders and other metal parts. It won’t fix major issues, but it can help if you catch the problem early enough.

Tribotex Small Engine Treatment

 

[DogRunner2]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

What weight oil do you use?

 

[rsharby]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

How many miles, hours did you have when the oil useage went up? My machine at 6000 miles and 250+ hours continues to use about one qt per 1000 miles, as it has since day one.

 

[JTBarlow]

How many miles, hours did you have when the oil useage went up? My machine at 6000 miles and 250+ hours continues to use about one qt per 1000 miles, as it has since day one.

It started around 1500 miles.

 

[JTBarlow]

What weight oil do you use?

Last time I used a 20w50 race oil. I’m dropping it down to a 10w40 on this next service and seeing how much the Tribotex helped.

 

[DudeandDog]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

I'll just let Polaris replace the pan and fix the mating surface and rebuild the top-end. Polaris approved all the warranty work instantly; they know they have a valve and/or ring problem plus the gasket surface being bad. They even waived the $50 "deductible" that is part of the extended warranty package. When it comes down to it, we shouldn't have to purchase additives, experiment with different oil weights (both of which could void warranties), or watch our rpms on an overly high-strung engine. My average speed is legitimately less than 15 miles per hour, and I can say that 8000 rpm is not something I do often. They just had manufacturing/quality control issues with the first-year machines.

 

[DogRunner2]

Last time I used a 20w50 race oil. I’m dropping it down to a 10w40 on this next service and seeing how much the Tribotex helped.

Ordered the Tribotex last night.I'm at 3600 miles and using a little but figured I'll give it a try.I'm using Mobil 1 5w50 ,thought about going to 15w50.Would I be ok you think running that weight?

 

[JTBarlow]

I'll just let Polaris replace the pan and fix the mating surface and rebuild the top-end. Polaris approved all the warranty work instantly; they know they have a valve and/or ring problem plus the gasket surface being bad. They even waived the $50 "deductible" that is part of the extended warranty package. When it comes down to it, we shouldn't have to purchase additives, experiment with different oil weights (both of which could void warranties), or watch our rpms on an overly high-strung engine. My average speed is legitimately less than 15 miles per hour, and I can say that 8000 rpm is not something I do often. They just had manufacturing/quality control issues with the first-year machines.

The late ‘24s and ’25s had a slew of oil pan leaks. They don’t have an oil pan gasket, just sealant. So mating surfaces aren’t critical, but assembly has to be much more diligent.
The later ‘25s have had several crank seal issues as well, though not as many as had the oil pan leaks.

I’m definitely in agreement that they should be more strict on their quality control. There’s been way too many issues that could’ve been solved easily if they had proper control measures.
And this isn’t just a Polaris thing. Go onto any SxS forum for any brand, and you’ll see as many complaints and issues.
Overall, Polaris has been really good about taking care of warranty issues, but it’d be nice to not have to take the machines back in in the first place.

 

[JTBarlow]

Ordered the Tribotex last night.I'm at 3600 miles and using a little but figured I'll give it a try.I'm using Mobil 1 5w50 ,thought about going to 15w50.Would I be ok you think running that weight?

I’d try the Tribotex with the lighter weight first, give it 500+ miles, and see how it does.

 

[Pirate]

My thoughts. It sounds like you have "dusted" the motor. I did this on my RZR800.
Dust has gotten past the air filter and when it gets to the injectors it becomes mud. Which gets into the cylinders and ruins
the piston ring seating. Scores the cylinder walls.
Thus oil consumption starts and if you're not careful, I wasn't, all the oil disappears and the engine commits suicide.

Digital fuel injection motors will not smoke, thus you don't have a blue smoke cloud following you. The ECU has the ability to
compensate for almost any situation, thus no smoke. Not even the white smoke of death.

I would remove the air filter, then the air filter housing. you should then be able to see if dust is getting through and you should be able to feel
for mud past the butterfly. Another good way is to remove the intake manifold where it connects to the intakes on the cylinder head. You'll for sure see the mud there.

Just my experiences. If I go out riding in dusty conditions, every couple days I remove the air cleaner element, use my small shop vac and suck the dust off the outside of the element. I look inside the element for any discoloration. If I'm out riding in dusting conditions for a week or more...I put in a new element. Not the cheapest, but neither is a new engine.
Pirate

 

[Sixshooter]

Polaris motors have generally had quite a bit of blow-by. It can be exacerbated by running constant high rpms, 8000+.
Also, despite the high air intake, the Xpeditions tend to suсk a lot of dust into the filter. As the filter gets more restricted, it creates higher vacuum on the air intake and can draw oil up from the crankcase breather.

My own Xpedition started using oil fairly heavily a few services ago, and these are the steps I’ve taken to reduce the oil usage.

1. I blow out the air filter after every ride with a cordless leaf blower. It’s not high enough pressure to damage the filter, but enough velocity to clean the filter pretty well.

2. I limit the amount of time I spend at full throttle.

3. I run a heavier weight oil than the standard 0w50

4. Last service I treated it with Tribotex Engine Oil Treatment.

I’m up to due for an oil change again, and it hasn’t used a drop of oil in the last 1000 miles.

Hello all!

I recently completed the "Arizona Peace Trail". My 5 day excursion racked up 632 miles and my machine burned a full quart of oil during that time. I took it in for its 2000 mile service 2 weeks ago and gave them my documented milage and the amount of oil I added each day of the trip. Polaris apparently gave them a check list and tests to do on the engine and determined the same issue, needing a top end rebuild. My dealer went to bat for me showing what I've spent with them on services expenses and Polaris agreed to replacing it with a new engine.
I don't generally buy extended warranties , especially after my father taught me not to buy the first year of anything. Certainly happy I did!
Dealer advised the replacement would have cost me around $10,000 to $12,000
So my question would be, did Polaris make changes to that engine in the later models as far as the rings and cylinders go to keep this from happening again?

 

[JTBarlow]

Hello all!

I recently completed the "Arizona Peace Trail". My 5 day excursion racked up 632 miles and my machine burned a full quart of oil during that time. I took it in for its 2000 mile service 2 weeks ago and gave them my documented milage and the amount of oil I added each day of the trip. Polaris apparently gave them a check list and tests to do on the engine and determined the same issue, needing a top end rebuild. My dealer went to bat for me showing what I've spent with them on services expenses and Polaris agreed to replacing it with a new engine.
I don't generally buy extended warranties , especially after my father taught me not to buy the first year of anything. Certainly happy I did!
Dealer advised the replacement would have cost me around $10,000 to $12,000
So my question would be, did Polaris make changes to that engine in the later models as far as the rings and cylinders go to keep this from happening again?

While I’m sure they make minor adjustments from time to time, this motor was out in the RZR XP 1000 before they started building the Xpeditions. So they had a little time to work out the bugs before we got it.
I do feel like Polaris could be a bit more strict on their quality control. But if they have a 1% to 5% failure rate, I don’t think they would have enough incentive to make any major improvements. They have the margins to replace a motor or two out of every 30 or more machines on factory warranty, and the rest are paid for by insurance.

They make a ton of money selling repair and service parts.

 

[DudeandDog]

Hello all!

I recently completed the "Arizona Peace Trail". My 5 day excursion racked up 632 miles and my machine burned a full quart of oil during that time. I took it in for its 2000 mile service 2 weeks ago and gave them my documented milage and the amount of oil I added each day of the trip. Polaris apparently gave them a check list and tests to do on the engine and determined the same issue, needing a top end rebuild. My dealer went to bat for me showing what I've spent with them on services expenses and Polaris agreed to replacing it with a new engine.
I don't generally buy extended warranties , especially after my father taught me not to buy the first year of anything. Certainly happy I did!
Dealer advised the replacement would have cost me around $10,000 to $12,000
So my question would be, did Polaris make changes to that engine in the later models as far as the rings and cylinders go to keep this from happening again?

Seems to be a recurring issue; same stories on reddit and FB subs.