Oil light coming on??? : (

[rup5555555]

Hi guys, I was riding thro London yesterday, traffic was at a stand still, the air temp was 38 degrees (!!!), the bike started to idle at higher than usual revs and hunt, then the oil light came on for 2 seconds and went off, temp gauge was at 50%. Now, the next day, when I start it the oil light stays on but the idle is ok, the oil level is ok, no visable leaks, the oil was changed only 500 miles/1 month ago. Any ideas? Thx

 

[Pukmeister]

I presume the oil light clears with a blip of the throttle ??

 

[GSmonkey]

Any ideas? Thx

It was hot, oil got very hot, viscosity dropped, pressure dropped, light came on.

Not sure why the light is still on at idle the next day on a cold bike. As above, does the light go off when you blip the throttle?

 

[MIKE R]

Faulty oil pressure sensor?

Mike

 

[TeaPig]

With luck it's the oil pressure switch which has died in the heat, or the wire to it has grounded againt the engine somewhere, but you must be sure as running the bike with no oil pressure will destroy the engine.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Workshop - pronto.
Just because your oil level is ok doesn't mean you are getting pressure.

 

[rup5555555]

Hi guys, took the bike out for an italian service this morning, a few miles on quality super unleaded - light went off after a few hundred feet and stayed off I will keep a close eye on it but I hope it was just down to the heat

 

[trainman]

Hi guys, took the bike out for an italian service this morning, a few miles on quality super unleaded - light went off after a few hundred feet and stayed off I will keep a close eye on it but I hope it was just down to the heat

i think if it was me and given that you are expecting another 6000 miles from it i would change the oil again just in case, depending on the grade there is the chance that its suffered and has lost some of its properties,

 

[Pukmeister]

Happened to me too.....

My old 1200 gave me an oil warning light in summer 2005 riding through Alton in heavy traffic. Revs cleared the light, it was only at idle when the light came on. That was when BMW used 10W40 oil, since upgraded in viscosity to thicker 20W50. After that one incident it was fine.

Without wishing to start yet another oil thread, be sure the viscosity is correct if you have done your own servicing. If the oil pressure switch is suspect, perhaps the electrical connector needs a clean or a spray with water displacing fluid (WD40), the switch sits on the LH side of the engine block under the LH cylinder.

 

[TeaPig]

light went off after a few hundred feet and stayed off I will keep a close eye on it but I hope it was just down to the heat [/QUO

I think you still have a problem. With the engine cold the light should go off virtually the moment the engine fires and not a few hundred feet down the road. The heat will undoubtably thin the oil and lower the oil pressure at tickover but even then the light wouldn't normally come on except under extreme conditions, and then only at tickover as Pukmiester said

You do need to check the oil is of the right viscosity which means changing it. If that makes no difference, and for the minimal cost involved I'd replace the oil pressure switch.

 

[Pukmeister]

You do need to check the oil is of the right viscosity which means changing it. If that makes no difference, and for the minimal cost involved I'd replace the oil pressure switch.

So would I.