When does the oil pressure indicator lights up on the 1200GS???

[ThePlayer]

Hallo ppl
Iam new to this forum and i would like to ask your opinion on this, i own an R1200GS and recently i had a serious problem with the right cylinder. there was damage done to the valves and valve springs on my right cylinder, due to low level engine oil as the BMW dealership here in my country of CYPRUS claims. i told them the oil in my engine was approx. 2.5 liters (according to their mechanic but the service advisor insists that it was low). even if the oil as they claim is low, i asked them why the oil pressure light didnt appear on my display, at least to get a warning. the told me that if the oil pump is working then the oil light will not appear.
did it happen to any of you? did the oil pressure light appear? how much oil will be in the engine untill the light shows on the display?
thanx a lot

 

[SUPERGS]

Oil ..oil ...oil. Hopefully you got it right this time !!! " ENGINE NEEDS OIL"

 

[littleredrooster]

The light on the display is a low-pressure light, not a low level light. If it comes on, you have about 10 seconds to stop the engine before it grenades itself. Read the manual about checking your oil frequently.

 

[littleredrooster]

...and further, I can't see that low oil level could cause damage to valves and springs. The crank and/or piston group would let loose long before a valve or spring. Summat fishy going on here....

 

[Shep]

...and further, I can't see that low oil level could cause damage to valves and springs. The crank and/or piston group would let loose long before a valve or spring. Summat fishy going on here....

Surprisingly the big end bearings on a vehicle can survive low oil pressure for a reasonable length of time as the centrifugal forces push the oil out to the bearings. Pistons on the boxer engine also have the advantage of oil splash to lubricate them to some extent. However the Cylinder heads are supposed to be oil cooled and i'm guessing that low oil levels would lead to overheating of the head and valve gear and a valve only has to stick once Also i'm not sure but I think the cam chain tensioner is oil pressure activated and if that failed it could lead to valve gear failure.

Shep

 

[alimey4u2]

As previously suggested, I also don't think it was pressure but temperature related, possibly exacerbated by your geographical location....