Red Oil Level Light

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Singleshot

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Yesterday (Mar 19), I took my 2004 out for the first ride of the season in Michigan. I let it warm up a little in the driveway then headed on out. About a half mile from the house, the oil light came on (this has never happened before). I pulled off on the shoulder and stopped the engine. Then I restarted the engine and the light went out. I rode about another half mile and it came on again. This time I pulled into a parking lot, stopped the engine and checked the sight glass. The oil level was fine. The oil was clean as it was changed last November and the bike was parked for the winter in a 60 degree heated building until yesterday. After leaving the parking lot, I rode the bike for about 60 miles (some interstate, some surface roads) and the light never came on again. The bike has 9,734 miles on the clock. The oil and filter has been changed four times since I bought the bike new. I suspect the connector on the oil level switch pig tail may need cleaning or the oil level switch may need to be replaced. Has anyone else had the oil level light come on for no apparent reason? Has anyone installed an oil pressure gauge on their FJR?

 
What oil filter are you using? I think I remember back awhile ago certain oil aftermarket oil filters can induce this problem. Don't remember exactly what it was but think it had to do with the bypass valve in the filter. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm misguided. Radman!

 
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Most times, right after an oil and filter change, my light will come on and then go out after I switch off and on again. But this only happens at highway speeds, 4-5 grand on the tach and will occur only once. Might be the sensor sensed an air pocket or sumpin'. Dunno, but it's never worried me. S

 
What oil filter are you using? I think I remember back awhile ago certain oil aftermarket oil filters can induce this problem. Don't remember exactly what it was but think it had to do with the bypass valve in the filter. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm misguided. Radman!
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Your misguided.

Singleshot - I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens again. Perhaps something was just a little sticky after the long months of winter storage. If it keeps recurring, then figure out what to do.

You do know that the red oil light warning is just a measure of oil level, NOT a measure of oil pressure?

If you got oil in the sight glass, you are good to go.

 
When you have a cold start it takes the cold oil a bit longer to make the round trip back down to the sump. For a brief period while the oil is cold the oil level in the sump will be lower than normal. Once the oil is warm and flowing freely the level in the sump will reach its normal equilibrium point.

After you shut down the engine when the light is red, the oil level will increase and switch the light off. You have oil returning to the sump via gravity but no oil being pumped out.

 
...first ride of the season in Michigan. I let it warm up a little in the driveway then headed on out...
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(My italics.) The bike sat a loong time, and as others suggested, you probably still had some oil in the sump, not yet registering. Did you let the bike warm up to one bar on the heat-o-meter?

Guess two: did you encounter a hill? A few have reported same as you when on a hill early in the ride, usually associated with first issue.

By the way, when I got my new 04 FJR, the dealer gave me an orientation that included: "Son, start the bike and let it warm up. If you ever drive away or blip the throttle before the gauge reaches one bar, I will come over and kick your ass."

He didn't actually say that, but I was all giddy and scared and love-struck by my new ride, and it seemed like he said that. Been doin' what he said...No oil light to date.

 
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It has happened to me... once. Warmed up the bike and headed out for the day. A few klicks down the road the oil light came on. pulled over shut the motor down. Sat there a minute or two, checked oil. Fired her back up and oil light didn't come back on. That was last summer heading to CFO. Hasn't happened since.

 
Yambone, yes there was one bar of temperature showing before I left the driveway. I don't think temperature was an issued as the bike was stored in a building at a temperature of 60 degrees [all winter] when I started the engine. Based on what others have reported, I'm not too concerned about this anomaly. I haven't ridden the bike since last Sunday [3/19], so I don't know if it will happen again any time soon. If it becomes an on-going problem, I'll change the oil level sensor.

 
...I'll change the oil level sensor.
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I'm far from being considered a mechanic, but that sounds like a big job to me. The same thing happened to me following my last oil change. Actually it did it twice, two mornings in a row in the exact same spot on the highway. I pulled over onto the shoulder both times, ck'd sight glass while on center stand and both times the oil was perfect level. Hasn't done it again since. A genesis quirk maybe. I wouldn't be concerned about it unless it came on and stayed on. A little un-nerving and aggrevating, but it should clear up on its own.

 
If you have a real oil pressure or oil flow problem the initial clattering of mechanical parts between your legs would normally get you to shut off the engine. If you persevere in spite of the clattering noise the heavy rapping noise (no, not the music type) that quickly follows down by your ankles should alarm you enough to shut down. Failing that you would be able to tell by the trail of oil and mechanical parts passing under your rear tire that it is time to call it a day ;)

 
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If you have a real oil pressure or oil flow problem the initial clattering of mechanical parts between your legs would normally get you to shut off the engine. If you persevere in spite of the clattering noise the heavy rapping noise (no, not the music type) that quickly follows down by your ankles should alarm you enough to shut down. Failing that you would be able to tell by the trail of oil and mechanical parts passing under your rear tire that it is time to call it a day
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Hope you're not speaking from experience on that last bit.... :D

 

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