Curious to know if anyone else had had issues with the Ski Doo 800R PTEK motor. I have an 08 Renegade 800R that the motor seized up on last week. It's has been completely stock since day one and had nothing but premium fuel and the Ski Doo recommended oil. Not sure why or what happened to it yet but the dealer is tearing into it this week. It had 5800 miles on it which in my opinion, is not that many. Motor has run strong and without a hitch until now. The dealer told me that is about the life of this motor, which, if true is very disappointing.
800R PTEK Motor Issues
- Thread starter f7rider
- Start date
raceinsnow
New member
I just had one go thru my shop last week.Mag side piston was leaned out and the cylinder on that side had cracks in the transfer ports.I also pulled the crank and cleaned and flushed out the bearings and repacked with issoflex grease.The pto side bearings were dry when I pulled it apart.Sled has 5500 miles on it with no mods.
08 xp 800
Yep my 08 800 went down at 5100mi 10 days after warranty , Robs in Johnson creak tore it down then told me no warranty so there i sit ! had it rebuilt now has somewhere around 10000mi . as far as i see the rev xp 800 is a joke i have never own some thing so unreliable ! 12 belts($125 each) 1 track( $600),y pipe fell off 5 times($70 each),cheap plastic belt adj 3times($40 each), raves broke($69each),hand warmers don't work($120),drive shaft , rear wheels keep falling off($50) ,speedo keeps going to kms, and now clutch shot (just worn out I'm OK with that it had a long life) But $1000 for a new one! the crank will be next . Another brp dealer told me the 800ptek only good for 4000mi thats bs brp. Not only that 4 11 etec siting there with no compression . For $10,000 you get a headache thats only good for 4000mi. was going to trade last fall told me only worth $1500-$2000
Yep my 08 800 went down at 5100mi 10 days after warranty , Robs in Johnson creak tore it down then told me no warranty so there i sit ! had it rebuilt now has somewhere around 10000mi . as far as i see the rev xp 800 is a joke i have never own some thing so unreliable ! 12 belts($125 each) 1 track( $600),y pipe fell off 5 times($70 each),cheap plastic belt adj 3times($40 each), raves broke($69each),hand warmers don't work($120),drive shaft , rear wheels keep falling off($50) ,speedo keeps going to kms, and now clutch shot (just worn out I'm OK with that it had a long life) But $1000 for a new one! the crank will be next . Another brp dealer told me the 800ptek only good for 4000mi thats bs brp. Not only that 4 11 etec siting there with no compression . For $10,000 you get a headache thats only good for 4000mi. was going to trade last fall told me only worth $1500-$2000
unreliable new technology?
Sounds like I better keep my 600 & 700 Polaris twins going as long as I can. Seems everywhere I read, nobody makes an engine that will last more than 2 seasons, is this because of the garbage ethanol fuel we are forced to buy, or all the mfg's just mapping the fuel systems way too lean?? I'd like to have a new 800 RMK next year, but I wont put up with unreliable machines. Any OE dealer mechanics out there have an opinion?
Sounds like I better keep my 600 & 700 Polaris twins going as long as I can. Seems everywhere I read, nobody makes an engine that will last more than 2 seasons, is this because of the garbage ethanol fuel we are forced to buy, or all the mfg's just mapping the fuel systems way too lean?? I'd like to have a new 800 RMK next year, but I wont put up with unreliable machines. Any OE dealer mechanics out there have an opinion?
D.B. Cooper
Member
There's 2 reliability threads on SnoWest for POLARIS 800's
The 2008-2010 (4injector) don't last too long
The NEW 2011 2-INJECTOR are receiving excellent test results, but it may be a bit early yet........................
From other sites I have checked out this motor seems to have issues at 5-6000 miles. Sleds are way to expensive to have to rebuild the motor after 5000 miles. The dealer gave me several reasons for this. Manufacturers are getting to much power out of a motor they try to build as light as possible. Also blamed emission standards that they have to meet. I don't know what the reason is but I guess this makes a strong case for a 4 stroke - as much as I hate riding them. I should know exactly what happened to my motor this week and will post the results. This is my first Ski Doo and might be the last.
indy_500
Well-known member
Rebuild after 5000 miles isn't bad at all. SPI pistons w/gaskets are under $200 easily. Wiseco $275-300 w/gaskets. The sled costs what, $10-$12,000? Rebuild it, premix gas 100:1 to make er last and ride! With Doo's sealed crank bearings, all you gotta do is repack the bearing with isoflex and your good to go for another 5000 miles.
2 year old sled that costs 10-12000 rebuild at 5000 miles is a JOKE!!! I don't care care what brand it is for that cost it better run longer than that. I love workin on sleds so I don't invest that kind of money, but to say that is not bad is crazy!
I agree 100%. Technology, engineering and R&D are the biggest reasons for a new sled costing $9-$12000. If part of that is not getting you more longevity, why pay for it? I have been sledding for over 12 years and had only one other motor issue - which was my fault by not leaving it stock. Had between 10 and 12000 miles on stock Arctic Cats and not one motor problem before selling them. Not a huge cat fan anymore but I didn't have to deal with this. 5000 miles out of a motor is just not acceptable to me. With two good snow years, that would not last me 2 seasons.
mr_fusion_ho
New member
When talking about the prices of sleds we have to take into account inflation. For an example; What cost $1500 in 1971 would cost $7857.98 in 2009. Now the sleds produced back in 1971 where no where near as reliable as the sleds produced today. In my opinion all sleds are cheaply produced in some way. An example;
Roll over a Yamaha Apex and find out how much it will cost you to put back together, not to mention one of the worst suspensions in the industry
Have a Polaris or Ski Doo engine failure
Ride the old tech of an Artic Cat
Roll over a Yamaha Apex and find out how much it will cost you to put back together, not to mention one of the worst suspensions in the industry
Have a Polaris or Ski Doo engine failure
Ride the old tech of an Artic Cat
$200 ??? no try $1900! in a rebuild on a slead thats 13 months old . allmost makes me wish we didnt have all that snow to ride , 5000mi in one year and rebuild at end
08-09 and older are bad. Pretty common knowledge in the ski doo world. Which is why i waited. I hear 2010 has different crank . Look for a guy named Big John on dootalk he is probably the most knowledgable guy you will find in the midwest with these motors. And I have said for 20 years that anything past 5k for miles on a 2 stroke you are taking a gamble. Not saying they are all going to blow, but a guy shouldnt be suprized when they do.
Last edited:
toddspolaris
Member
what did people think they were going to get with the e-tek motor. any 2cycle that uses that little of oil. I said it before, the mag and pto bearings are packed with iso-flex grease and about 5000 miles is finally washed out. well I like oil and I'll keep my older sled. Mine has a 4th oil line over to the pto bearings. I think the e-tec might work fine in the boat application cause the motor doesn't see quite the rpms and the torque on the crank is not as great. Don't know the last time I saw a boat with 5000 miles on it.
It is absolutely insane to spend $10,000 on a sled if you don't expect it to run for 10,000 miles without needing majory repairs. Maintenance yes, repairs no.
Yes its insane but we all do it. After 5k the risk goes up. A buddy of mine has put a crank in the last 3 sleds he has had around 5-7k for miles We always give him crap telling him he always keeps them one season to long! This is why i have been arguing for years that the manufactures have all of us figured for suckers because we tolerate this quality. They all are a time bomb aft that 5k mark Doest mean some wont make 10 k but your are gambiling
Last edited:
indy_500
Well-known member
that's paying a dealer to do it. no me gusta los dealers
These guys arent talking about the e-tec they are talking about the P-tek, the carbed 800 motor before it.
Last edited:
Update
Got an update from the dealer on what happened today. An inner crank bearing locked up. No other damage and the rest of the motor looks fine. Piston clearance is at 8 thousands - which is time to replace but that seems normal for 5800 miles. I have to give my dealer (Monroe Power Sports) a lot of credit. The sled is over two years out of warranty and they went to bat with Ski Doo for me. They are still waiting for approval from Ski Doo to fix it but are optimistic. You can't beat a good dealer!
Got an update from the dealer on what happened today. An inner crank bearing locked up. No other damage and the rest of the motor looks fine. Piston clearance is at 8 thousands - which is time to replace but that seems normal for 5800 miles. I have to give my dealer (Monroe Power Sports) a lot of credit. The sled is over two years out of warranty and they went to bat with Ski Doo for me. They are still waiting for approval from Ski Doo to fix it but are optimistic. You can't beat a good dealer!
Final Results
I heard back from the dealer yesterday. Ski Doo will help with the repair. I am getting a new short block at 50% off. Total cost to me will be $1500 for a new motor including labor. Still not real thrilled about having to put $1500 in a 3 year old sled with 5800 miles but it could have been worse. If Ski Doo had refused to help, it would have cost me $2000 to replace the crankshaft in my old motor. Again - kudos to Monroe Power Sports for going to bat for me. It's nice to see that customer service is not dead. It's also nice to see a manufacturer step up with some goodwill on a fix that they did not have to do anything on.
I heard back from the dealer yesterday. Ski Doo will help with the repair. I am getting a new short block at 50% off. Total cost to me will be $1500 for a new motor including labor. Still not real thrilled about having to put $1500 in a 3 year old sled with 5800 miles but it could have been worse. If Ski Doo had refused to help, it would have cost me $2000 to replace the crankshaft in my old motor. Again - kudos to Monroe Power Sports for going to bat for me. It's nice to see that customer service is not dead. It's also nice to see a manufacturer step up with some goodwill on a fix that they did not have to do anything on.