Spent 3 years changing ATV oil wrong until a mechanic in Timmins set me straight

I always just drained the oil, swapped the filter, and poured in new stuff. Thought that was the whole job. Then last summer I was up near Timmins and my quad started making this ticking noise. Stopped at a small shop and the guy asked if I ever checked the oil screen. I had no clue what he was talking about. Turns out my Polaris has a little screen that catches debris and I never cleaned it once in 3 years. He pulled it out and it was nearly plugged solid with gunk. That ticking sound was my engine starving for oil because the screen was blocked. Now I clean that screen every other oil change. Has anyone else missed something simple like that on their machine?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_phoenix5d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah that happens way more than people realize with some machines. I had a buddy with a Yamaha who ignored the oil strainer for years until his top end seized up. Pays to check the manual even if you think you know the basics. The ticking noise is a dead giveaway something is off.

lisar145d ago

Hang on, is it really that bad? I've had bikes for years and never touched the oil strainer. Changed the oil and filter on schedule, sure. But that strainer? It's just a screen. Not like it's a high pressure filter. I call it more of a failsafe. If your oil is clean and changed regularly, that thing probably looks brand new. A ticking noise could be a dozen other things. Loose valve clearance, low oil level, even a worn cam chain. Jumping straight to top end seizure feels a little dramatic.