Iam sure a lot of fst owners had good luck with there FST ,My wifes is not a good one, polaris star refused the claim on hers. I need to here from the ones that had problems, engine or crank. I am fighting along with my dealer to have the decision overturned. YOUR RESPONSE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANX GUYS.

Suggest that you search here on HCS & other forms for the many past FST problems!!!!
---Polaris assemble the engine, oil cooler, air intake, coolant correctly???
---Was the ECU reflashed to the latest 2008???
---Did engine run too cool, then not evaporate gas out of the thined out oil/gas that could cause engine failure?????????

Also search on other Internet forms:
http://www.polarisfiles.com/forum/index.ph...&#entry5751

The headings that are all caps, like *COOLER, INTER are titles of diagrams / assemblies in Polaris/Victory Online Parts Catalog. This should make it easier to see how these parts are located on the snowmobile.

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Some excellent Internet links below:
*AIR INTAKE SYSTEM

Some have had trouble with gas in the engine oil and in the air box. Here is a good discussion of what is involved.

Fuel in Oil/Air Box, causes and solutions

Oil/Gas in the Airbox Issue... oil level and foam

Catching oil in airbox, No more mess

Gas in oil ?related to detonation knock?
---....carried over from ''other'' forum....

I was recently informing this group that I found traces of oil/gas in the air box of my 2007 Switchback FST. After a professional oil analysis performed by a local John Deere industrial engine dealer, I can confirm to this group that my oil was positively contaminated with gas. That is now an indisputable fact.

Now, let's figure out the root cause.

The sled has around 1,000 miles and has not shown any symptom of oil contamination with gas for the first 800 miles. It was during my last ride that the problem showed up. The condition during this last ride were warm outside air temperature (40F degrees) and moderate elevation terrain (around 1,500ft).

For the first time, during the last ride, it appeared that the ECU was compensating for what was probably ''higher than usual'' detonation knock. Boost was consistent at around 14.5psi at wot for around 5-10 seconds then was reduced by the ECU to around 11-12psi at wot (yes... I have an accurate boost gauge installed) after that.

Looking at the technical documentation, it is mentionned that the ECU will retard timing and ADD extra fuel until detonation knock is under safe limit. I have a theory that the extra fuel added to engine when under knock management is perhaps too much and finding its way in the oil as a result of incomplete combustion.

The reason for the the possible higher knock & detonation during my last ride is most probably linked to the warmer air -- the intercooler was probably not efficient enough to keep the air charge within the expected temperature values.... as the throttle was held at WOT for a longer period, the air charge became warmer to the point of inducing detonation knock and consequently triggering the engine protection algorythm -- reduced timing and extra fuel.

Since I have an EGT on my Switchback, I can tell you that the exhaust, post-turbo, is usually around 1480F degrees during normal trail riding. During longer stretch at around 70mph, the EGT has risen on occasions to around 1,540 degrees. During my last ride, in warmer air temperature, the EGT was consistently 30F to 40F degrees higher.... with an absolute maximum of 1,579F degrees recorded during the whole day.

I have already installed a Wideband Air/Fuel monitor on my sled and will be able to provide accurate and precise combustion data to this group within the next few weeks. Since my wideband controller is connected to a Bosch wideband Uego 4.2 oxygen sensor, data will be very accurate (within 0.1% lambda error). The Bosch Uego 4.2 O2 sensor is the same that weber is currently using on all our FST's.

To put everything in context:

- Oil level was never above the 1/2 mark on the dipstick;
- My gearing was changed to 24/44, stock clutching
- My track is 144 X 15 X 1.75
- Stock thermostat, runs from 152F to 158F consistently
- Usual max. boost on VDO gauge = 14 to 15psi
- Lightweight stainless exhaust, http://media.putfile.com/FST-sound-clip
- Sled has never been tipped to the left
- Never an issue of any kind with the ''check engine light''

----After 175 miles of riding hard in subzero temps on Saturday I checked my oil and it had risen from just above the ADD to just below the HALF. That oil has approx. 500 miles on it.
My coolant temps were running in the mid 150's that day, a little cooler than it usually does but outside temp was -15 to -5 that day. Could this cause the ECU to run richer? I still was gettting MPG in the mid 13's and running hard against several F7's and a 1000 Ski Doo SDI, which he and everyone else said was an extreme mileage maker. The FST beat thier mileage at every fill up.

I still haven't changed the thermo yet, but everyday I'm getting closer to doing so.
I want to hear some comparisons between the '06's and '07's.
Some have tried to experiment with the Electronic Boost Control Valve, which is attached to the outside of the air box.

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http://www.polarisfiles.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1092

I know some, if not most of us are still seeing oil rise etc. issue. Myself and at least Real-Steal have reported the issue is gone(at this time). I would love to help the rest solve the reason. Here are a few facts about my sled and experiances. What is different from mine and the others.

Sled= Has all updates, stock thermo, 3600 miles. Coolant temp always runs between 150 and 160 while riding. I changed my oil at begining of season after the updates. I left oil level at bottom of low mark after oil change.v I did get fuel in my airbox the first 200-300 miles. Oil rose about 1 inch. I then lowered oil to about 1/2 inch below low mark.

Then it appeared to me the fuel in the oil disappeared next couple hundred miles. Smell of fuel in oil was just about gone. At this point my oil is staying free of fuel, but I was still getting some fuel in airbox. I noticed my foam covering the hole in airbox from oil/seperator hose and remedied that with a cut here and there to make foam contour box better leaving hole unobstructed. The fuel in box issue went away. I am now not seeing any issue with oil/fuel. I even putted around 50 miles last night in a snowstorm and checked when I got home, nothing changed.

In conclusion, these are my thoughts. I think running the oil level 1/2" below low mark (allows more area in oil resevoir for vaporazation of fuel from oil) and clearing the hole in airbox from oil seperator hose are what made the biggest difference for me. (also the reflash and oil cooler sleeve). If you have the fuel/oil issue, it will take some miles before you see it dissapear. It is a slow process and in my case it went away after about 300 miles after I had my current setup.

Pic shows clear hole in airbox. Its your call on lowering oil level below Low mark, but I do not see any problem with it. I have 800 miles on that way.
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I just copied some the good info from the many different links on this Internet sight.
Good Luck; Rich

Most if not all of that "good stuff" that was posted above was related to the 2006 model year and into 2007. I had all the recalls done as they came available from Polaris to my 2006 and it's been a great sled. I never once had an issue where Polaris didn't cover it. I paid nothing for any of it. My sled is close to 4000 miles and I'm keeping it. I just ordered an 09 Turbo Switch as well. The 1st year had many 1st year issues that spilled into 2007 but if everything was done as required by Polaris there should be no issue. Can you post the updates that were done to your FST? They should be listed under the hood on the airbox or somewhere else in plain view.

snowdevil is talking about the extended warranty (polaris star). I have heard they are harder to get things taken care of. They make a lot of excuses why they will not cover something. The original manufacturers warranty is seldom questioned as Gizz reports. I am currently waiting for word on a warranty issue with my extended warranty.

Ooops sorry. I never had to deal with Polaris Star and sounds like i hope i don't have to. When i bought my 2006 i was supposed to get a 2nd yr warranty with it and the dealer messed up the paperwork so i ended up with 1 yr from Polaris. After i found a new dealer i also found out that i never got the 2nd yr so my dealer contacted Polaris and they just extended the factory warranty to 2 yrs. All my dealings have been with Polaris (the company) and i've not had issues. If this is truly the case with Polaris Star then perhaps Polaris better figure out how to make it better or find another warranty company to deal with. I wonder how the other mfg's deal with extended coverage? I know Yam offers a very nice 4 yr coverage but does it actually pay for anything?

Just a few more thoughts, if the oil cooler restricter was assembled incorrectly by Polaris it could trash the engine, per HCS posts back in 06, 07 ????:
--- Fuel in oil will damage a ENGINE!!! some good posts--- http://www.polarisfiles.com/forum/index.ph...=1092&st=20
--- Was the oil cooler restricter part of a recall/update that the dealer should have done? My temps run between 150 and 160 unless I let it idle for extended periods in which case once it shot up to 201 but as soon as I started to ride and got air flowing and snow under the tunnel it was fine and I've never seen it do it again. 08 reflash done and all other updates.
--- Actually, Polaris sent a bulletin around telling everyone to fill to low end of stick. Instead of building a stick with the correct measure, they just changed the instructions on the newer sleds. In other words, the hash marks on the oil dip stick are not correct...on the 06-08 sleds. Do you think that they Poo will get this right in 09?
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Good Luck; Rich

The cooler restrictor should not cause any problems in the wrong hose UNLESS it moves to the water pump. Then the sled will overheat badly. So if the temps are running at 160 the restrictor has not caused a problem YET. It would still need to be corrected asap if not done so already.
The change in the oil level instructions just pertains to the proper level when refilling after a oil change. The marks are still to be used as the low and high marks. No need for a new dipstick.

Hey guys thanx for info . Been away since friday fishin and just got back this afternoon . Will check in with my dealer to see if they made any headway with polaris star. Keep the info comming. THANX .

From my experience with extended warranty programs, they all have termination ratios. Insurance companys are in business to make money and reduce costs. Extended warranty programs are in place to add margin to sales and that is a fact. The idea is to collect as much moneys as posible and pay out the nessesary claims that cant be excluded through a loop hole, and maintain a profit margin. All the companys are the same and are a waist of money.