I have a can-am v-twin 800 atv. The manual says to use chaincase oil, like Amsoil chaincase 2000 in the gearbox (which is sepparate from the engine oil) Is there any harm using gear oil or MT/GL-4 ATF?
GearBox Fluid
- Thread starter ridgerunner
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What is a chaincase oil ? I don't know. That must be one powerful ATV!!!
MolaKule
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A GL4 of the correct viscosity should work.
A chaincase lube is actually more like a GL1 or 2 in terms of AW/EP additives.
A chaincase lube is actually more like a GL1 or 2 in terms of AW/EP additives.
Polaris recommends chaincase fluid. ATF is of similar viscosity. Motor oil will probably work ok, but it's a bit thicker than ATF or chaincase fluid, so it won't get into the layers of the chain as quickly. ATF is used on a lot of 4x4 transfer cases that are gear/chain drive with no issues.
I use chaincase fluid, but have used ATF in the past (on a Sunday when I wanted to ride and had changed the gears on a sled). I used ATF the rest of the season with absolutely no issues. You would probably have the same success with motor oil. Some guys even use synthetic gear oil, but I think that is a bit thick for a sprocket/chain system like a chaincase. As long as you have something that lubricates in there, I don't think it really matters a whole lot. You just don't hear of many issues of chains wearing out because of the wrong fluid in the case. Checking the fluid, making sure it's at the full mark, and changing it once in a while to get rid of contamination go a long ways to make them last a long time...
I think if it works good on a sled should do well in ur ATV.
I actually use Mobil synthetic 5w30 motor oil in my manual gearbox in my car, it works really good too. I think regular gear oil would be too thick. ATF, or Pennzoil synchromesh, or just 5w30 synthetic motor oil, would be fine. Napa has a sale on NAPA synthetic, just 3.29$ a quart.
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I use chaincase fluid, but have used ATF in the past (on a Sunday when I wanted to ride and had changed the gears on a sled). I used ATF the rest of the season with absolutely no issues. You would probably have the same success with motor oil. Some guys even use synthetic gear oil, but I think that is a bit thick for a sprocket/chain system like a chaincase. As long as you have something that lubricates in there, I don't think it really matters a whole lot. You just don't hear of many issues of chains wearing out because of the wrong fluid in the case. Checking the fluid, making sure it's at the full mark, and changing it once in a while to get rid of contamination go a long ways to make them last a long time...
I think if it works good on a sled should do well in ur ATV.
I actually use Mobil synthetic 5w30 motor oil in my manual gearbox in my car, it works really good too. I think regular gear oil would be too thick. ATF, or Pennzoil synchromesh, or just 5w30 synthetic motor oil, would be fine. Napa has a sale on NAPA synthetic, just 3.29$ a quart.
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The gearbox doesn't have a chain in it, just gears (I think). The atv is driven by a CVT tranny and the gears(Park, neutral, reverse, high, low) are changed by a hand lever via the gearbox to the CVT an driveshaft. So, ATF or MTF or Gear Oil would work then huh?! The gearbox is small and will only fit 300ml in it.
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Use Amsoil or redline MTL
If the manual says chain case lube, then use chain case lube.
Go by the Harley dealer and get yourself some Formula+ transmission/primary chaincase lube.
Hey - don't laugh - it's real, honest-to-goodness chaincase lube.
Seriously though - you could use that Genuine Polaris chaincase lube. Or the Amsoil stuff. Or the Cam-Am stuff. How much are we talking about? A quart? More? How often do you change it?
Or go hang out on an ATV forum and see what they say. I do know that there is [aledgedly] a viscosity difference... and many say that you should not use gear oil. Probably something closer to ATF... and some use Dexron III but there are still others that use a synthetic motor oil.
I'm just having random thoughts here........
Hey - don't laugh - it's real, honest-to-goodness chaincase lube.
Seriously though - you could use that Genuine Polaris chaincase lube. Or the Amsoil stuff. Or the Cam-Am stuff. How much are we talking about? A quart? More? How often do you change it?
Or go hang out on an ATV forum and see what they say. I do know that there is [aledgedly] a viscosity difference... and many say that you should not use gear oil. Probably something closer to ATF... and some use Dexron III but there are still others that use a synthetic motor oil.
I'm just having random thoughts here........
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I posted this question because of a discusion on an atv forum. I knew that I would get more information here. Thanks everyone for your comments, it's been very helpful. I just wanted more choices in lubes if (when) I ran out of chaincase oil. I change the gearbox fluid about 2-4 times per year, depending on how much I ride. Also, chaincase oil is quite expensive for what it is. The BRP-Can-Am dealer wants about $15.00 for 12 oz. bottle!! I usually get mine from Amsoil for $36.00 a six pack of 12 oz. bottles. Now I know that I can use other fluids w/o worry.
Originally Posted By: ridgerunner
I posted this question because of a discusion on an atv forum. I knew that I would get more information here. Thanks everyone for your comments, it's been very helpful. I just wanted more choices in lubes if (when) I ran out of chaincase oil. I change the gearbox fluid about 2-4 times per year, depending on how much I ride. Also, chaincase oil is quite expensive for what it is. The BRP-Can-Am dealer wants about $15.00 for 12 oz. bottle!! I usually get mine from Amsoil for $36.00 a six pack of 12 oz. bottles. Now I know that I can use other fluids w/o worry.
Yeah - I did some searches in the ATV forums and many seemed divided on what you could actually use - and I didn't realize it was that expensive.
Heck, I've run Rotella in the primary chaincases for my Harleys for more than 20 years..... and they tell me that I shouldn't. Not that I'm trying to tell anyone else to do it but it works for me. Of the few times I've had to pull the covers, it's always been nice -n- shiny in there.
I posted this question because of a discusion on an atv forum. I knew that I would get more information here. Thanks everyone for your comments, it's been very helpful. I just wanted more choices in lubes if (when) I ran out of chaincase oil. I change the gearbox fluid about 2-4 times per year, depending on how much I ride. Also, chaincase oil is quite expensive for what it is. The BRP-Can-Am dealer wants about $15.00 for 12 oz. bottle!! I usually get mine from Amsoil for $36.00 a six pack of 12 oz. bottles. Now I know that I can use other fluids w/o worry.
Yeah - I did some searches in the ATV forums and many seemed divided on what you could actually use - and I didn't realize it was that expensive.
Heck, I've run Rotella in the primary chaincases for my Harleys for more than 20 years..... and they tell me that I shouldn't. Not that I'm trying to tell anyone else to do it but it works for me. Of the few times I've had to pull the covers, it's always been nice -n- shiny in there.
is the clutch in the gearbox? the definition of what is snowmobile chaincase oil seem to be all over the map from the blender bottlers and even the sled manufactures. For example some of it stinks heavy of hypoid gear oil, some of it has no smell like that but is dosed with visible solid moly or graphite. Some products are thick, some are really thin. Because it's just lubing a chain it seems everyone has there own idea of what works. From my experience it all does work indeed, but some may not be friendly to a wet shared clutch.
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