Put new oil in g/f's chaincase a few weeks ago. Used ATF this time , have used 10W-30 or similar earlier.

Went to check it last night, and the oil was looking like strawberry milkshake. Sled has gone maybe 100 miles since I changed oil - I can't imagine the water have been ingested in so short time...?

My thougts is that the water was there all the time , and frozen up solid when I changed the oil. Then thawed up and mixed with the ATF.
Any comments?

Note to self: next time pull chaincase cover to inspect whats in there - it may save you work later.

You do realise hyvo chain/gears require special lubricant,.. I can't tell you how many hyvo chains we've replaced in the last 5 years from guys who think they're saving $3 or $4 dollars by putting in the wrong cheaper oil, and now have to pay for an $85 chain, they always say, "I've got 1000's of miles on it before it went, I don't think it was the oil",... use OEM Polaris SGL chaincase lubricant. If you have an older sled with non-Hyvo chain/gears, you can probably get away with ATF, or 5W/30.


Don

ATF will not only prematurly wear out the chain and sprockets, but it will also soften the case seals enough to allow moisture to get past and and foul the lubricant.

Do yourself a favor and use the correct oil.

ok.. I don't doubt both of you have seen more chaincases than I ever will...

But Hy-Vo chains are used in transfer cases and automatic transmissions, is it the smaller oil volume and lower temperatures that makes ATF a bad choice in sled chaincases?

Found an older thread on the issue here:
http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/lofi...hp/t182613.html

Anyway, I think we can agree that clean oil is better than no oil, or oil full of water and metal shavings

I use royal purple full synthetic atf. (so does most of the guys I know)
Have for years.
But here is the clause-- We are, no joke, in our chain cases more than some people even open there hoods during a season. LOL..
Different gears,chains and fresh lube several times during the year probably stretches longevity out quite a ways as far as wear goes.

But back to Ivar I havent ever seen the synthetic fluid foam or turn colors. I dont know if standard atf is more prone to it or not. But I agree generally it takes some moisture to turn it into a delicious smoothie.
But on a side note years ago I seen a sled locked up tight as a drum due to 2" of water in chaincase frozen solid.
Changed the seals and have never seen it since.
Mark

It doesn't take a lot of water to make ATF a milky color. Like you said, pull the cover and inspect everything.

And can someone please tell me what is so "special" about the HYVO chain and gears that you have to use a "special" lubricant?

What year did Polaris start using Hyvo chains? My '02 700 has 30w in it now and so far no issues.

since 1998 polaris has used HYVO gears and chains.

So, what is the required oil for these HYVO gears and chains, just a synthetic chaincase oil?