Help with oil refill after running low

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Hi, Novice question from a newby. I've been running the 1100GS for a few months with no noticable oil consumption. Started it up this morning and oil light wouldn't go out. I killed the motor quick and was surprised to see there was no oil visible in the sight glass (cue howls). I had made a heavily laden trip last weekend of 250 miles, so that may account for it, no sign of a leak.

So I've topped up with 10w40 semi-synthetic which I was told was used at the last service 3,000 miles ago. All seemed well when I first fired her up, but the oil light keeps coming on intermittently, even though sight glass is almost full when I switch off and wait 10 mins. Haven't wanted to rev it over 2,000 RPM in case I'm doing terminal damage. Probably run it for 30-40 seconds in total, and doesn't sound any different to usual. Electrics to switch work OK. Bikes done 33,000 miles by the way.
Anyone got any ideas? Should I idle it for longer to refill oilways (doesn't sound right to me, surely they should fill in seconds?) Could the pressure switch be faulty, or on a oilway which is partillly full? Any suggestions from exprienced GS'ers welcome.

 

[boxer]

Try replacing the oil pressure switch it can develop faults - I've on my 3rd. Only a few quid and can be found above and back of the oil level window.

Checking the oil level is more difficult than it sounds. Do a search in this forum and you'll find out how most do. It basically involves leaving the bike on it's sidestand before checking level on centerstand. You'll find that sometimes the bike will've made oil, other time's it will have vanished - so base filling quantities over a couple of readings.

Don't put more than 100cc of oil in at a time to avoid overfill.

Any oil overfill should be ejected into a compartment under the airbox, this can be drained via a plug at the rear nearside corner of the airbox.

I think that you'd have to run the level really, really low before damaged is done - I think

 

[finglonga]

Hi, Novice question from a newby. I've been running the 1100GS for a few months with no noticable oil consumption. Started it up this morning and oil light wouldn't go out. I killed the motor quick and was surprised to see there was no oil visible in the sight glass (cue howls).

By starting the engine from cold you will have ditributed the oil around the engine. As it is cold then it won't drain back down as fast as when it is hot.

Therefore when you looked as the sight glass the oil would be loitering up in the engine somewhere and be reading low, by adding more then you may have overfilled it.

 

[Gas'd Off]

First, to see if you are really really low, check if any oil shows in site glass when it's on the side stand?
Then....
Flat surface, centre stand, leave for ten mins, fill oil to dot on site glass. Start engine, allow to warm until there are two bars on the temp gauge. Stop engine, leave for five minutes, check level. Add oil, as mentioned above, in small amounts if required until it is on the spot. In this warm weather 10w40 will be used up quite quickly on long hot journeys. Recommend 15w50

 

[Number 6]

faulty oil pressure switch.

 

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Sorted now. Ta.

Thanks for the tips guys. I had overfilled as a reaction to a faulty pressure switch. I hadn't expected there to be no oil in the window after starting the bike, although I appreciate it will lower. Oil switch is behaving itself now, but I'll change it anywhere as Boxer recommends.
Interestingly(?) when I unplugged and shorted the oil switch lead to the frame to check the lead & bulb were OK, the clock reset itself and I can't repeat the feat. Another querk of GS ownership? Never enjoyed any bike as much!
Thanks again and ride safe.