Oil Level Warning - 30% downhill gradient

[kurienp]

For those of you on this forum from Yorkshire or having done the Pott Bank/Pott Moor High Road/Trapping Hill road into lofthouse (from Leighton reservoir side), when descending the steep road into Lofthouse (a 30% gradient from what I remember), the oil level warning light came on. As this was the first time on my LC, I was worried indeed. Well, stopped the bike without switching off the engine, look at the oil sight glass ... but that does not tell you much. Did not want to have any issues ... so while the engine was still running, rode all the way into Pateley Bridge. Switched off the bike for a few minutes, and then restarted and the warning sign was gone.

Same thing happened again three days later when coming down from Hardknott pass in the lake district. Same remedy, switch off, stop for a few minutes and restart. All is well then.

The engine oil level is correct. The bike is running well. No issues there. Is it a case where an adventure bike cannot handle any gradient around 30% ... or does this point to any other underlying problem with the/my bike? On to you engineers on here ...

 

[WindyChuffer]

Well as your oil level is correct you clearly have nothing to worry about.

 

[Engineer]

My 2013GS LC did this one on a very gentle downhill slope on the main road into Stamford - oil level was well over half way up the site glass on the flat - I put another 100ml in and it has never done it again and have been up and down lots of hills in the Alps since - no idea why it indicated low once when it obviously wasn't.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I know that hill

 

[Greg Masters]

Moral - don't ride down 30% hills and sleep well.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Moral - don't ride down 30% hills and sleep well.

Or don't ride down steep hills like a pussy and so slow that the oil has time to drain forward

 

[Engineer]

I know that hill

I am sure that many people do.

 

[David Nimrod]

Moral - don't ride down 30% hills and sleep well.

Especially at the same time!

 

[David Nimrod]

Note: this is a 'Technical Section'

 

[andylel]

My level indicator was coming on intermittently with a correct oil level. Told the dealer at 12000 service time. Replaced under warranty. All is now well.

 

[madmartin]

For those of you on this forum from Yorkshire or having done the Pott Bank/Pott Moor High Road/Trapping Hill road into lofthouse (from Leighton reservoir side), when descending the steep road into Lofthouse (a 30% gradient from what I remember), the oil level warning light came on. As this was the first time on my LC, I was worried indeed. Well, stopped the bike without switching off the engine, look at the oil sight glass ... but that does not tell you much. Did not want to have any issues ... so while the engine was still running, rode all the way into Pateley Bridge. Switched off the bike for a few minutes, and then restarted and the warning sign was gone.

Same thing happened again three days later when coming down from Hardknott pass in the lake district. Same remedy, switch off, stop for a few minutes and restart. All is well then.

The engine oil level is correct. The bike is running well. No issues there. Is it a case where an adventure bike cannot handle any gradient around 30% ... or does this point to any other underlying problem with the/my bike? On to you engineers on here ...

Had the same thing on my lc13. Coming down one of the steep passes in the lake district this summer. Dont think its out to worry about. I keep my oil level just below tol of red circle.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

You should tell your dealer so there is no get out if your engine has a problem in the future and the computer has logged a few low oil warnings I know they are generally very good so unlikely but they may say its your fault you ran it with low oil warning for x number of miles no point it giving any excuse to reject a claim.

 

[kurienp]

Or don't ride down steep hills like a pussy and so slow that the oil has time to drain forward

I agree! That was the root cause!

 

[Sooty09]

I know that hill well, many others just like it and despite 63 mpg and 9500 miles to a tyre (so I must ride like a pussy) I have never had an oil warning light.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I know that hill well, many others just like it and despite 63 mpg and 9500 miles to a tyre (so I must ride like a pussy) I have never had an oil warning light.

Or you could be a super smooth rider who does not waste fuel by being a pussy, particularly on down hills when it's free and an opportunity to keep that average MPG up

 

[Zx9man]

You should try zig zag hill then

 

[sven]

My oil warning light came on after getting stuck in traffic at the bottom of "The Struggle" heading down towards Windermere after the Kirkstone Pass was closed due to an accident.

I stopped and checked the level, which was fine, and the warning went away once the engine was restarted.

I should have known it'd be OK as my GS LC hasn't used any oil yet in 4k miles, unlike my GS MU (1 litre every 3k miles) and RT TC (1 litre every 2k miles )

 

[Pukmeister]

I know that hill well, many others just like it and despite 63 mpg and 9500 miles to a tyre (so I must ride like a pussy) I have never had an oil warning light.

He's talking about an adventure bike, not a moped !