How to Fix an Overheating Polaris 700 ATV

by Brianna Collins

garden serpent image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com

Polaris designed the Sportsman 700 EFI with trail-riders and heavy-duty workers in mind. Equipped with a 700 cc engine, on-demand four-wheel drive, and a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, the Sportsman 700 is a powerful machine designed to get the job done. However, an overheating quad can be a dangerous problem that can get in the way of work and entertainment alike. For overheating problems requiring minor repairs, Polaris includes a number of troubleshooting tips in its owner's manual, specifically dealing with overheating problems due to inadequate amounts of engine oil, a plugged radiator or screen, and low levels of coolant.

Engine Oil

Step 1

Check the engine oil levels, as inadequate amounts may cause the engine to overheat. Begin this check by parking the Sportsman 700 on level ground.

Step 2

Lift the lever lock on the engine oil cap, located the oil tank on the left side of the quad, to remove the dipstick.

Step 3

Wipe the dipstick clean with a dry cloth.

Step 4

Reinsert the dipstick completely into the oil tank and remove it once more.

Step 5

Check the oil mark on the side of the dipstick. Oil levels should be between the two marks on the side of the dipstick, known as the "safe range."

Step 6

Refill with 0W-40 engine oil if the engine oil level was beneath the lower mark. Fill until engine oil level is within the safe range.

Step 7

Reinsert the dipstick and lever lock.

Step 8

Restart the engine. If it continues to overheat, move to the next section.

Front Screen and Radiator

Step 1

Inspect the screen located at the front of the Sportsman 700.

Step 2

Remove the screen if it appears dirty or is filled with debris. Do this by gently pulling the top portion of the screen away first, followed by the lower portion.

Step 3

Remove visible debris and rinse clean with a garden hose.

Step 4

Inspect the radiator fins, located behind this front screen. If they are also dirty, rinse clean with a garden hose.

Step 5

Reinstall the front screen, pushing the bottom portion in place first and the top section in second.

Step 6

Restart the engine and move to the next section if the Sportsman continues to overheat.

Coolant

Step 1

Check the coolant levels in the recovery bottle, located on the left side of the Sportsman 700 underneath the left-side panel.

Step 2

Refill with more coolant if the coolant level is below the "MIN" or minimum mark on the side of the transparent bottle.

Step 3

Unscrew the coolant recovery bottle cap by hand and pour in a mixture of 60 percent antifreeze and 40 percent coolant until the coolant level is between the "Min" and "Max" marks.