Is it normal for the engine oil level to vary, depending on engine temp, as much as 1/2-3/4" over full mark when engine is up to temp? I just did an oil/filter change on my ’12 500 HO LE in June, and when done, the oil level was right at the full mark (after filling it with two quarts of Polaris oil). This past weekend, I took it up to a friends hunting property, and let my brother-in-law ride it around while I did camp chores. He is new to ATV riding, but seemed to be doing OK. Then after a couple of hours, he walks back to camp to tell me he dumped it on its side and couldn’t lift it back upright by himself. When I walked back down hill to where it was, I found it lying on its right side. He hooked a sapling with the left front tire, and it flipped him on its side. We lifted it upright, and after a quick check over, I hit the starter and it fired up pretty quickly. Nothing sounded unusual, so I drove it back up to the camp (about 500 yards). I shut it off and did a more through inspection, and when I checked the oil level, it was 3/4" over the full mark. I checked for water in the oil (removed oil tank drain plug just enough to let a bit drain out, and no water was seen). I checked oil consistency and smell, and there wasn’t any gas contamination. I decided to not use it any more, until I could get it home and check further. The next day, when home, I again checked the oil level, and it was now right at the full mark, not over as before. The oil looks great, with no signs of water or gas contamination, so I am not able to explain the difference in levels, unless it is normal for it to read high when hot.
Is it normal for the engine oil level to vary, depending on engine temp, as much as 1/2-3/4" over full mark when engine is up to temp? I just did an oil/filter change on my ’12 500 HO LE in June, and when done, the oil level was right at the full mark (after filling it with two quarts of Polaris oil). This past weekend, I took it up to a friends hunting property, and let my brother-in-law ride it around while I did camp chores. He is new to ATV riding, but seemed to be doing OK. Then after a couple of hours, he walks back to camp to tell me he dumped it on its side and couldn’t lift it back upright by himself. When I walked back down hill to where it was, I found it lying on its right side. He hooked a sapling with the left front tire, and it flipped him on its side. We lifted it upright, and after a quick check over, I hit the starter and it fired up pretty quickly. Nothing sounded unusual, so I drove it back up to the camp (about 500 yards). I shut it off and did a more through inspection, and when I checked the oil level, it was 3/4" over the full mark. I checked for water in the oil (removed oil tank drain plug just enough to let a bit drain out, and no water was seen). I checked oil consistency and smell, and there wasn’t any gas contamination. I decided to not use it any more, until I could get it home and check further. The next day, when home, I again checked the oil level, and it was now right at the full mark, not over as before. The oil looks great, with no signs of water or gas contamination, so I am not able to explain the difference in levels, unless it is normal for it to read high when hot.
