Rod bearing failure 2006 Polaris Fusion 600

[Hoosier]

My engine broke down a week ago. Dropped it off at a northwoods mechanic that I have reason to trust. He took the engine apart and determined the rod bearing failed. Needs significant rebuild including crank repair. Asked me if I fogged the engine. I bought it last winter and did not, although I ran seafoam in it prior to storage. I doubt the guy before me fogged it did either, although it only had 200 miles when I bought it (now it has 3000). He said the bearings can fail if the engine is not fogged and if you use synthetic oil, because synthetic oil does not attach well to the bearings in the offseason, which can result in the bearings getting rusty and later failing.

I have no reason to doubt this mechanic and obviously the engine is severely damaged, but does this cause make sense? I'm not a mechanic so I thought I'd throw it out there to see what other opinions might be. I'd hate to fix it without knowing what caused the problem.

 

[xcr440]

Sitting during the summer without fogging, and any and all metal parts in the motor are exposed to the "air". That air has moisture, that moisture corrodes (Or rusts as it is) those metal parts.

They won't fail immediately, but that little bit of rust causes wear on the metal, and eventually, it will fail.

This is why I fog now and do not use the start every month method of storage.

 

[Hoosier]

Someone told me running seafoam in the sled prior to storage is the same as fogging it. I don't think that's true but I wanted to make sure. Doesn't seafoam stabilize the gas and clean carbon deposits, while fogging the engine coats all the internals with a thicker layer of oil that protects from moisture, etc. while the sled isn't being used? Is that true?

 

[doo_dr]

Everyone has two cents on this debate. Fogging is a very good thing to do if you want to forget about the toy till next season. Starting your toy every month is a great way to keep things moving, remove moisture from the engine, and slowly get rid of last years fuel. What happened to you is what I fear the most. I do both (run and fog). I will stabilize (sea foam) my fuel, grease all pivot points, take the belt off, and then run my sled every month. My fogging part comes in when I let the sled run for 5-8 minutes, then I use my trusty hooked coat hanger and open my oil inj wide open for another 3-5 minutes while at idle. Shut down after the garage is full of smoke and get ready to do it again in 30. Coating the crank/ bearings and rings in a rust preventative oil very important I just don't trust that $5 can of oil to protect me for 180-240 days.

 

[toolie]

Would dumping a small amount of motor oil or injection oil down the cylinders be doing the same thing pryor to storage?

 

[rp7x]

lots of oil

i try to fill mine with oil ,rusty cranks scare the shell out of me ,starting once a month what about the third week rust? always afraid of those six year old sleds with 500 miles , just put them to bed with what you think works for you

 

[jojo69]

Had a plugged injector that took out a piston and the crank, but it was the 900.

 

[simonsr1]

Ive run sleds since 1989, I have never fogged the motors, but I do dump oil into the cylinders and crank it over, fill the fuel tank to the top, fill oil resevoir to the top, and thats it, most of my sleds have had over 6000 miles on them and never had any problems, always started up on the first few pulls. I also used to take carbs apart before everyseason to see if they are varnished or gummed up without using stable, never had a problem, now I just take them apart everyother season to make sure, (knock on wood)

 

[xcr440]

I have never fogged the motors, but I do dump oil into the cylinders and crank it over

This is what my dad did and still does with his "stored" toys, and has had the same results you have had the way it sounds.

 

[eao]

and if you use synthetic oil, because synthetic oil does not attach well to the bearings in the offseason,

Sounds like the typical "blame synthetic oil for everything" line that many mechanics use when they haven't a clue why something failed.

 

[Hoosier]

He wasn't blaming the synthetic oil - he was more saying you have to fog, particularly if you use synthetic oil.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

I have done what simonsr1 stated to my engines for many years, also with no problems, and I have used synthetic oil.

 

[Hoosier]

How much oil do you dump in the cylinders? An ounce? Then you just pull the cord to work it all through?

 

[Duffy]

Last year my friend had a rod bearing go out of his 600 Fusion, 6000 miles.

I use gas stabilizer and fog the engine every spring, I also drain the gas out of the carberators. Engine fogging oil is suppose to stick to metal parts and cling on, synthetic and regular oil drains off the metal parts with time. Engine fogging is preventive maintenance it is not a fool proof solution. I have had crank bearings go when using this method.

There is no fool proof way of storing your sleds. I think starting them every month might be best but some of us put them in a rented storage shed and forget them until fall. I would also recomend using gas that contains no ethanol in your last couple of tanks. Ethanol is alcohol and absorbs moistue, when the gas and ethanol evaporates all that is left is the moisture. Pitting your bearings and causing then to fail.