Polaris Shop Talk: Ranger 1000 vs. XP 1000

In this installment of Polaris Shop Talk, we get a walkthrough of the engines of the two most popular Rangers, the Ranger 1000 and XP 1000.

The main difference between the two engines, as Chris Hendricks, Polaris Ranger product expert shows, is that the Ranger XP 1000′s engine has a dual-overhead cam in place of the 1000′s single-overhead cam. So what’s the difference between the two?

Each camshaft of an engine can only utilize two valves per cylinder. In a SOHC setup, each cylinder must use one valve for the intake and one for exhaust, limiting the amount of air the engine can use. A DOHC fixes this issue by adding a second camshaft and doubling the amount of valves it can use. With two cams and being able to use four valves per cylinder, a DOHC engine can commit two valves to intake and two for exhaust, increasing the amount of air the engine can take in. More available air means more fuel can be burned, resulting in more power.

So is there any reason to use a SOHC? Absolutely there is, and a SOHC is perfect for the Ranger 1000. Since the engine has one less cam to turn, the timing belt can make rotations faster, thus increasing low-end torque. Think of it like transmission gears, a SOHC has a smaller turning radius, like a first gear, while a DOHC’s radius is larger and won’t make a ton of torque until it gets up to speed. The other advantage of a SOHC is that there are less moving parts, meaning cheaper building and repair costs.

The differences between the engines were thoroughly considered when building the Ranger 1000 and XP 1000. Polaris knew that the XP 1000 was going to be used as an all-purpose UTV, something that can work through the week and still be able to shred trails on the weekend. Polaris wanted to make as much power as possible for the XP 1000, which is why it used a DOHC.

For the Ranger 1000, Polaris knew it was primarily going to be used for pure work with little trail use, which is why it chose a SOHC engine. You get more low-end torque for towing, a lower price, and more reliability.

Watch the full video below, and stay tuned for more updates on Polaris Shop Talk.

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