In the wake of a handful of engine burndowns in Alaska and Canada, this last week Arctic Cat sent a Service Advisory to its dealers concerning proper set-up of all 2012 F, XF and M 800s.
This is not…I repeat NOT a bulletin or recall. On the contrary, it’s a bulletin that simply reminds dealers of the proper set-up of all 800s before leaving the dealership as well as the need for customers to run a 100:1 gas/oil mixture in the first full tank of full.
Arctic Cat is investigating the handful of burndowns, and from all accounts it appears to be a problem of air-bubbles in the oil and, likely, not running a 100:1 fuel/oil pre-mixture in the first tank of gas.
Although this has happened to a few 2012 800s, this isn’t exactly a new problem with oil-injected sleds. Fill the oil reservoir on any injected sled with new oil and air bubbles can/will exist in the system until the machine has been run for a few hours. An air bubble moving through the lines and into the case will create a brief moment when there is no oil lubricating the crank and cylinders. When this happens burndown can (will) occur if there is no additional oil lubrication.
Which is why for decades Arctic Cat has required that owners run the 100:1 premix in the entire first full tank of fuel. It ensures adequate lubrication in the event of an air bubble and optimizes engine break-in.
I’m told by Arctic Cat’s Service department that when following proper procedure, the company has not been able to replicate the burndown scenario experienced by a small number of owners. The company believes the problem is that customers haven’t added oil to the first tank of fuel.
Owners (or dealers) can expedite the process of bleeding air from the oil system by tipping the machine on its left side for 5 minutes (engine off), with the cap removed from the top of a fuel reservoir of oil. You must still run 100:1 premix in the first tank, however.
With a 10.8-gallon fuel tank, this means that owners must add 13 oz. of oil to the fuel and burn most of this supply before adding more fuel.
CLICK HERE to download a pdf of the Service Advisory.
15 years of racing and riding sleds and I have never, ever experienced a burndown because of an air bubble in the oil line. I’ve had burn downs because of a gas tank venting problem or an oil pump failure, but never an oil line air bubble.
Standard service used to be to bleed the oil line and pump at the bleed hole on the pump.Is this not now performed on set up?It was also said for years Not to add oil to the tank on efi sleds as the oil would actually displace some of the fuel from flowing through the injectors and actually make it lean.You can only flow so much through the injector at a predeterminated pulse width.If oil is part of it,the fuel is now leaner.Carb sleds was not an issue because they were allways too rich from the factory anywayso oil did not lean them out.Apparantly now this has changed too.
and what ever happened to reaching down with a wire and pulling on the oil injection arm to open if full while mildly running the sled on a stand… outside… till the smoke rolls… and the lines are purged of air?
or are the 12’s so “tight” there is not room to reach anything?
After over 20 new sleds… none of them have “burned down” due to oil injection issues… yet.:-0
I think the whole point here is to run the 100:1 premix, and not just a couple gallons, but a full tank of 100:1.
ArJr : (Wern’t most of those sled premix?)
Why argue with a service bulletin??? If you follow the bulletin and still have an issue at least you did as instructed. I do not see the big deal… by the way 100-1@10.8 gal.=13.82 oz.
Just Sayin
Ummmm, 1 mL of oil to 1 L of gas is NOT 100-1…it’s 1000-1!
It should read 10 mL of oil per Liter of gas.
If you lay the machine too flat to the ground it starts to drain the chain case out of it’s breather
Good catch, Gary. Fixed.
@ Jason…….Because the OIL pump boss is conected with a linkage now.. no cable. By the way….Hi J
Another warning. Your dealer throws that break in oil in the bottom of an almost empty gas tank before you take delivery of your new machine. Meanwhile, your owner’s manual strictly warns to not mix the oil and gas in the tank but rather in a separate gas can with the oil at room temperature. Then poor the premix into the gas tank. Something we all should remember from our days with premix snowmobiles.
Pour rather than poor. Need spell check on AI.
I have had a burn down on a MC 900 after the first tank because the oil line from the tank to the pump was kinked from the factory.
Then after the rebuild the mechanic forgot to take off the clamp he put on and got about 10 miles on that one.
Lesson learned check all hoses and routing before first ride, or do the work yourself…
I recently had a top end burnout due to lack of lubrication. Lots of oil in the tank and the unit have been running for a few years without a problem. I will not rebuild the engine until I can determine what cause the problem. Anyone have ideals as to the cause. The sled is a 2012 800 xf.
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A bench test of my oil pump showed a large output of oil from two lines on the pump however the third output line put out very little oil. Is this a normal condition?