Gummed up power valves

Catman10

Drinking the Doolaid
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Messages
801
Reaction score
2,382
Location
Red Deer Alberta
Hey guys just wanted to give everyone a heads up on powervalves. If your sled is going on 2-3 seasons take the time to pull your valves and check them. I have been running Amsoil from day 1 with my sled and it now has 1200 miles and when I pulled my engine apart the other day I was really surprised at how much build up there was, if I would have left it I am sure that they would have given me grief this year. Oh and I am running Amsoil Intersepter and am thinking about trying the Dominator to see if it is better. My engine otherwise looks like new inside and I have been happy with the oil so far, I am not sure that other brands are any better, what have you guys found?
 

redrum

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
221
Reaction score
4
Location
Martensville.Sk
I run the exact same oil on my pro X and haven`t really had any build up on my valves yet....
 

smokindave

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
1,020
Reaction score
925
Location
calgary
I put on 4500 miles last season on my 08 m1k and ran arctic cat oil.Power valves nice and clean.I also replaced pistons thinking they would be worn but they look like new.I have not and will not try anything else.
Good Luck,
Dave
 

Dr. Meatman

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
2,020
Reaction score
0
Location
iowa
old man just pulled the powervalves off his sled. He's been using arctic cat oil and they were pretty gummed up pretty bad.
 

ZRrrr

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
3,338
Reaction score
3,495
Location
In my head
I run Shell Advance Synthetic and have never "had" to clean a power valve....ever.
 

slomo

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
809
Reaction score
123
Location
in my garage
i've been using ac apv synthetic and mine were pretty clean as well with 2500km
 

snotterite

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
3,151
Reaction score
8
Location
calgary
Ran a jug of Blue Marble last year when I ran short late in the season......WTF 1 jug and valves looked like a Duck in a exxon tanker accident.:eek:
AC synthetic forever:d
 

Modman

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Messages
6,040
Reaction score
8,523
Location
Castlegar
Ran a jug of Blue Marble last year when I ran short late in the season......WTF 1 jug and valves looked like a Duck in a exxon tanker accident.:eek:
AC synthetic forever:d

If you didn't drain the whole system and mixed oils (even in the slightest bit) they can mix and not burn properly. Some oils lube better (and burn less) and you need far less of the oil to lube the same amount of parts. Some TC3 and TCW3 formulations don't like one another either. Not saying this happened, just some FYI for folks.
 

snotterite

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
3,151
Reaction score
8
Location
calgary
If you didn't drain the whole system and mixed oils (even in the slightest bit) they can mix and not burn properly. Some oils lube better (and burn less) and you need far less of the oil to lube the same amount of parts. Some TC3 and TCW3 formulations don't like one another either. Not saying this happened, just some FYI for folks.

Drained it to the point jug was dry....only mixing could of occurred in the charge tube, what ever that holds.
 

shiznitt100

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
343
Reaction score
13
Location
The Gar
would be the first time i pulled them apart are they hard or complicated? im sure its a no brainer but it may be the only sled i have running right now lol
 

brew_doo

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2007
Messages
1,088
Reaction score
562
Location
Whitecourt, AB
I run Shell Advance Synthetic and have never "had" to clean a power valve....ever.
I'm using the same oil in an 04 800 doo and the valves have very little build up after last year's 1200 km. Keep your eyes on the Ukrainian Tire flier as this oil always goes on sale this time of year for a week. 40% off if I remember right.:)
 

ZRrrr

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
3,338
Reaction score
3,495
Location
In my head
I'm using the same oil in an 04 800 doo and the valves have very little build up after last year's 1200 km. Keep your eyes on the Ukrainian Tire flier as this oil always goes on sale this time of year for a week. 40% off if I remember right.:)

Yup...I stocked up during last years sale, so much so that I am not sure I need any for this year.
 

catmando

Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2006
Messages
9,081
Reaction score
6,868
Location
Edmonton
My suggestion is pull them and inspect them before the season starts,I learned the hard way,messed up a weekend which was easily prevented by what should be regular maintenance(10 min job)!................A bit longer if cleaning them is required!
catmando!
 

Haggis

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
671
Reaction score
18
Location
Sherwood Park
What is the best way to clean if they are bad??? Had an 02 800 Pol and ran Polaris synthetic oil - very bad, very bad indeed!!!!
 

BIGFOOT

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
5,528
Reaction score
1,079
Location
Hidden zone
What is the best way to clean if they are bad??? Had an 02 800 Pol and ran Polaris synthetic oil - very bad, very bad indeed!!!!

Been running Shell Advance Syntheic since 93 in bikes & then sleds.I don't know any different. I cleaned my valves with any electrical cleaner spray,wipe dry then coated with the as above stated oil. Clean once a year..... Always had very little build up.
 

shoppingcart111

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
1,685
Reaction score
559
Location
Edmonton
What is the best way to clean if they are bad??? Had an 02 800 Pol and ran Polaris synthetic oil - very bad, very bad indeed!!!!

What exactly do you mean by bad? I bought my sled last season and they did the valve upon purchase, when I got the sled home I drained all the oil cause I didn't know what was in it, and had been running poo syn all last season, took the valves apart recently and holy oil gum, looked like molasses. Wondering if I should change oil?
 

Scotty

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2007
Messages
1,373
Reaction score
308
Location
Sherwood Park / Ardossan, Alberta
Shell Advance Syn. The best by a far. I too have only used it in all the years. Never a gummed up p. valve problem ever. Same experience with long time riding buddies. Can't say the same for Amsoil or any other. Cats syn oil is shell by the way.

In November, the Shell bulk stations have there annual Lube sale for us sled heads. $28.00 / 4L jug :) Sweet deal!!! Crappy Tire has the same deal as stated above.
 

snotterite

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
3,151
Reaction score
8
Location
calgary
Good Info Scotty......is the Shell oil the exact same as AC APV pure syn.?
 

xtremegriz

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
611
Reaction score
19
Location
Castor,Ab
The previous owner of my sled ran the synthetic ski-doo oil and when I checked the valves there were hard, scaley deposits. I've been running the shell advance synthetic since, and when I inspected them this summer....clean as a whistle!!:twocents:
 
Top Bottom