Oil Pressure Warning Strange Behaviour

[roundy]

Posted this yesterday (on the SportTouring site)...

The other day I started the RT (2006) and after a second or two the red triangle was flashing with the oil can icon on the dash. Eventually after a few restarts it went. Then later on that afternoon after I stopped at a service area it came back on. Weird thing was if I rev'd the bike the icon and the light would behave in a strange way, stopped flashing and stayed on and then as soon as I bought the revs down it flashed like normal again. It also went off momentarily a few times. Came on again this morning but after about 1/4 mile down the road it went out and stayed out for the whole ride.

I am thinking I may have a bad pressure switch...?

**Today's update...**

Firstly I pulled the pressure switch plug and squirted some contact cleaner on the terminals, then;

I checked the oil in the sight glass, 85/90% full window, started her on the centre stand and allowed her to warm slightly and get the oil going round before I touched anything, noticed that after about 30 secs the oil was going down in the sight glass - so I don't suspect any flow problems. Pulled out of the garage with relatively no throttle and parked on centre stand again whilst I shut the house up. Whole process was circa 8 mins, rode off to work, no light at all.

I will see what happens when I go to ride home from work tonight, I may try the same warm up procedure etc as I am wondering if I could just do with an oil change, it's pretty over due but I've been a little hectic lately! Oh, bike has 41K miles...

 

[jefformston]

oil pressure

Posted this yesterday (on the SportTouring site)...

The other day I started the RT (2006) and after a second or two the red triangle was flashing with the oil can icon on the dash. Eventually after a few restarts it went. Then later on that afternoon after I stopped at a service area it came back on. Weird thing was if I rev'd the bike the icon and the light would behave in a strange way, stopped flashing and stayed on and then as soon as I bought the revs down it flashed like normal again. It also went off momentarily a few times. Came on again this morning but after about 1/4 mile down the road it went out and stayed out for the whole ride.

I am thinking I may have a bad pressure switch...?

**Today's update...**

Firstly I pulled the pressure switch plug and squirted some contact cleaner on the terminals, then;

I checked the oil in the sight glass, 85/90% full window, started her on the centre stand and allowed her to warm slightly and get the oil going round before I touched anything, noticed that after about 30 secs the oil was going down in the sight glass - so I don't suspect any flow problems. Pulled out of the garage with relatively no throttle and parked on centre stand again whilst I shut the house up. Whole process was circa 8 mins, rode off to work, no light at all.

I will see what happens when I go to ride home from work tonight, I may try the same warm up procedure etc as I am wondering if I could just do with an oil change, it's pretty over due but I've been a little hectic lately! Oh, bike has 41K miles...

In the time it has taken you to write the above you could have changed the oil. Give the bike a treat and spent 10 minutes changing the oil and filter, it will thank you for it.

 

[stanley]

Get the oil changed before you kill it.
If the light still comes on, then get the oil pressure checked out. I'd get the pressure checked out anyway.

If a failure causes oil pressure loss, then damage has often already occurred by the time the light comes on.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Bollox just order up an oil pressure switch

If there's oil in it and it goes down the window when you start it It is being pumped around

Question can you hear a loud clattering that gets louder while you rev it, whilst the engine is running??????



No! Very likely then there is oil pressure and the switch is faulty



Yes! You have a problem likely requiring a strip down and rebuild!

 

[roundy]

No clattering from the engine (well apart from the normal boxer noises )

I'll see how things go now I've cleaned the contacts, but will be ordering a switch as they're cheap so why not.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Roundy it's not usually the contacts, it's the ball spring part of the switch that usually gives the problem whether it be a bit of sludge or something fouling it

I like that answer about "Normal Boxer Noises"

Ride Safe

No clattering from the engine (well apart from the normal boxer noises )

I'll see how things go now I've cleaned the contacts, but will be ordering a switch as they're cheap so why not.

 

[roundy]

I read somewhere about a pressure relief valve sticking or something, but have no idea where that would be!? But from what i've read its easy to access..?

 

[DrFarkoff]

Don;t over complicate it Roundy change the switch first and see what happens next

Mind you when was it's last oil change? and dare I ask What oil did they use?

 

[Steptoe]

In the time it has taken you to write the above you could have changed the oil. Give the bike a treat and spent 10 minutes changing the oil and filter, it will thank you for it.

What's that got to do with the price of fish...... his oil might only be 500 miles old.

It's an oil pressure switch problem.

 

[roundy]

What's that got to do with the price of fish...... his oil might only be 500 miles old.

It's an oil pressure switch problem.

Defo, going to get one ordered....

Oh, and the oil is a little *cough* more than 500 miles old.

When I do change the oil I promise i'll dump the correct one out - yes, it's me ;-)

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

.............
It's an oil pressure switch problem.

He's right you know

Mine went, £12(ish) for a new one and took 5 minutes to replace.

You'll need a deep socket to get in there though, 16mm IIRC?

Andres