diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 6c2bd858d4..0d06ca5727 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -315,11 +315,11 @@ class Model(object):
             update_pk = bool(meta.has_auto_field and not pk_set)
             if values:
                 # Create a new record.
-                result = manager._insert(_return_id=update_pk, **dict(values))
+                result = manager._insert(__return_id=update_pk, **dict(values))
             else:
                 # Create a new record with defaults for everything.
-                result = manager._insert(_return_id=update_pk,
-                        _raw_values=True, pk=connection.ops.pk_default_value())
+                result = manager._insert(__return_id=update_pk,
+                        __raw_values=True, pk=connection.ops.pk_default_value())
 
             if update_pk:
                 setattr(self, meta.pk.attname, result)
diff --git a/django/db/models/manager.py b/django/db/models/manager.py
index 229232445b..3a2efe84a8 100644
--- a/django/db/models/manager.py
+++ b/django/db/models/manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from django.db.models.query import QuerySet, EmptyQuerySet
+from django.db.models.query import QuerySet, EmptyQuerySet, insert_query
 from django.dispatch import dispatcher
 from django.db.models import signals
 from django.db.models.fields import FieldDoesNotExist
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ class Manager(object):
     def reverse(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.get_query_set().reverse(*args, **kwargs)
 
-    def _insert(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.get_query_set()._insert(*args, **kwargs)
+    def _insert(self, **kwargs):
+        return insert_query(self.model, **kwargs)
 
 class ManagerDescriptor(object):
     # This class ensures managers aren't accessible via model instances.
diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 5a82988e3d..57e41fc608 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -457,18 +457,6 @@ class _QuerySet(object):
             except StopIteration:
                 self._iter = None
 
-    def _insert(self, _return_id=False, _raw_values=False, **kwargs):
-        """
-        Inserts a new record for the given model. This provides an interface to
-        the InsertQuery class and is how Model.save() is implemented. It is not
-        part of the public API of QuerySet, though.
-        """
-        self._result_cache = None
-        query = self.query.clone(sql.InsertQuery)
-        query.insert_values(kwargs, _raw_values)
-        return query.execute_sql(_return_id)
-    _insert.alters_data = True
-
 # Use the backend's QuerySet class if it defines one. Otherwise, use _QuerySet.
 if connection.features.uses_custom_queryset:
     QuerySet = connection.ops.query_set_class(_QuerySet)
@@ -681,3 +669,13 @@ def delete_objects(seen_objs):
 
     transaction.commit_unless_managed()
 
+def insert_query(__model, __return_id=False, __raw_values=False, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Inserts a new record for the given model. This provides an interface to
+    the InsertQuery class and is how Model.save() is implemented. It is not
+    part of the public API.
+    """
+    query = sql.InsertQuery(__model, connection)
+    query.insert_values(kwargs, __raw_values)
+    return query.execute_sql(__return_id)
+