Oil warning light

[HarryHornby]

I decided to take the bike to work today, on the way home, doing about 70 up the A2 the red oil warning light came on! 


I pulled over, didn't really know what to check, because obviously with the engine hot, no oil was going to show in the window anyway.  I turned the bike off, left it a couple of minutes, restarted it and rode slowly home.


When I got the bike the other week I did check the oil and it was ok.  The chap who sold it said he had replaced the filter and oil.


There are no signs of major oil loss, no big puddle wherever I park the bike so if the bike has dumped it's oil I can't see where.


Can the oil light mean anything else other than "you have no oil left"?


Once the bike cools down this evening I'll have a look at the guage but I can't see where I've lost an engine full of oil.


Cheers in advance.


Forgot to say, when I got home I couldn't select neutral, it kept going from 1 to 2.  I turned off the engine and it went straight into neutral, no probs..... is this connected?

[noggythenog]

Theres a few bits n bobs on here about the light.


I reckon it's just a tad low & tripping the level sensor, can happen under accelaration when the oil gets sloshed over & trips it.




Have you started it up for a minute, switched it off & lay on the floor beside it to watch the oil slowly fill the window?, can sometimes be tricky to see the sitting around for days level because of the black bit on the window.

[noggythenog]

You're prob talking like 100 ml top up or something.


Mine did it when i first got it & i just topped it up a tiny bit.

[fazersharp]

I reckon it's just a tad low & tripping the level sensor, can happen under accelaration when the oil gets sloshed over & trips it.

Yep I have had this when accelarating out from a roundabout - it flashed on and then off the leavel was fine and just needed about 50ml
I found it odd though as I have never had that happen before when I used castrol act-evo oil but this time it was hein garrick stuff- im sure its thinner and more prone to this

[Fraser]

+1 mine came on when riding downhill, it only needed a 100ml  top up for the oil to show half way up the glass and the light hasn't come on since ,

[fazersharp]

Yeh thats the thing  mine was already showing halfway up the glass, I wont be using hein garrick again (even if I could)
HarryHornby
Do you know what the chap put in it

[HarryHornby]

I don't, but I'll ask, he seemed a decent enough chap.  I suppose for piece of mind if it happens again I could always stick on a new filter and oil, just to put my mind at rest.


OK, just checked the bike, oil was halfway up the glass.  I've stuck a bit of Castrol Power 1 in and it's moved up the glass..... fingers crossed.


Thanks for putting my mind at rest!


I could have gunned it home afterall!   

[fazersharp]

I suppose for piece of mind if it happens again I could always stick on a new filter and oil, just to put my mind at rest.

Thats what I was thinking

[noggythenog]

I dont think it's because of the type of oil....purely just not topped enough & to be fair it's a good thing as it warns you early when you still have plenty instead of when you are bone dry.




When my light came on the yamaha mechanic had just changed the oil with yamalube.




I ran 10W30 last year & never had it come on.




Plus this year ive used Halfords own 10W40 & it hasnt come on.

[fazersharp]

S I think I must have just found out that the difference between it flashing on somtimes and never comming on is about 30ml

[darrsi]

S I think I must have just found out that the difference between it flashing on somtimes and never comming on is about 30ml

30ml is like an egg cup.......i doubt that very much!

[fazersharp]

S I think I must have just found out that the difference between it flashing on somtimes and never comming on is about 30ml

30ml is like an egg cup.......i doubt that very much!

You remembered that one then !!!!
Its true tho thats all it took from flashing on to never on

[darrsi]

S I think I must have just found out that the difference between it flashing on somtimes and never comming on is about 30ml

30ml is like an egg cup.......i doubt that very much!

You remembered that one then !!!!
Its true tho thats all it took from flashing on to never on

I don't forget.........

[john 087]

the oil light is an oil level light, not oil pressure. mine flashes if the level drops, especially if accelerating hard up an incline. the ligh will fash for a second or two.

[HarryHornby]

Thanks for the answers, guys.  They've put my mind at rest, my biggest concern was that the oil light meant you've got 300 yards to slow down before I seize!!!

[unfazed]

I don't, but I'll ask, he seemed a decent enough chap.  I suppose for piece of mind if it happens again I could always stick on a new filter and oil, just to put my mind at rest.
OK, just checked the bike, oil was halfway up the glass.  I've stuck a bit of Castrol Power 1 in and it's moved up the glass..... fingers crossed.
Thanks for putting my mind at rest!
I could have gunned it home afterall!   

As stated in previous posts the oil light is for engine oil level not oil pressure.
Half way up the sight glass is not enough for the fazer and it will flash the oil light regularly, mostly when cold or under hard acceleration.
A common problem when users change the oil and filter is that they fill it to the correct level, but never check it after the initial startup. The filter takes about 300mL to fill and will only fill when the engine is run. This is enough to drop the level half way down the sight glass and bring on the light.
I would suggest for your own peace of mind to change the oil and filter and and then you can gun all you want safe in the knowledge that there is sufficient oil in the engine and it is the proper specification fresh oil.
I have always use the theory: If I have not seen the seller change the oil and filter then I assume it has not been changed and do it myself.