Check oil light on '06

[zzzzip]

Have an '06 and noticed from the first ride, that the "check oil" light will come on about 1/2 mile from the house on the first ride of the day, or after it sets for about 5 hours. No light for about 1/2 mile from the start, then it comes on for about 1/2 mile and then goes off.

If it hasn't been setting for several hours, the light never comes on, or once it goes off, it never comes back on. Oil level has been proper, and I just did my own 600 mile so I know it is right. Bike has about 750 on it now. Never had this happen with my '04.

A friend thinks it is the sensor unit in the oil pan. Anybody had this happen?

Figure there is no reason to get all excited since it has 750 miles on it now, and runs fine. If it was a bad oil pump, I'd know it by now.

Thanks. B)

 

[odot]

Um....what kind of oil are you running?

 

[zzzzip]

Um....what kind of oil are you running?

Just what came in it-- Yamalube 20w40. With Yamaha filter.

 

[odot]

Is it cold there?

 

[Warchild]

Um....what kind of oil are you running?

Odot's just yanking your chain, zzzip.....

What you describe is not unheard of... many folks (including me), have had an episode of the oil level light coming on. The FJR doesn't have an oil pressure sensor, it's a fluid level sensor. If the "level" of oil is high enough, it keeps the sensor happy. If the level falls off, it will light up the oil light.

In your case, the fact that it happens only when cold suggests that oil is not returning to the bottom of the crankcase quite fast enough to keep the oil sensor happy (20-40W isn't the thinnest oil by any means).... but once the oil is up to temp, everything behaves normally.

Perhaps you also have some elevation changes and/or tight turns within that first mile (or so) of the house? This will also promote a false positive oil light... BTDT with the original Yamalube 20-40W. Never happened again after switching to my usual synthetic oil, though.... B)

 

[zzzzip]

Um....what kind of oil are you running?

Odot's just yanking your chain, zzzip.....

What you describe is not unheard of... many folks (including me), have had an episode of the oil level light coming on. The FJR doesn't have an oil pressure sensor, it's a fluid level sensor. If the "level" of oil is high enough, it keeps the sensor happy. If the level falls off, it will light up the oil light.

In your case, the fact that it happens only when cold suggests that oil is not returning to the bottom of the crankcase quite fast enough to keep the oil sensor happy (20-40W isn't the thinnest oil by any means).... but once the oil is up to temp, everything behaves normally.

Perhaps you also have some elevation changes and/or tight turns within that first mile (or so) of the house? This will also promote a false positive oil light... BTDT with the original Yamalube 20-40W. Never happened again after switching to my usual synthetic oil, though.... B)

Thought about the elevation and twisties, since I go down my drive way, up a hill and then hit 2 hairpins. So I went the other way-- down the drive, down a slight hill into a flat stretch. Same result. This afternoon I followed the Mississippi after work-- flat and straight. Same result.
Glass seemed over full from dealer and light came on. I filled it to the top dot at 600-- light still comes on. Anyway, I think it is getting oil OK, and hoped an oil change might solve the problem. I was hoping to hear others have this quirk, thus holding my hand. Actually, since I have the warranty, I am not going to lose any sleep.

OK, odot... temps from 95 with high humidity and a light breeze from the south with sun, to a cool 58 degrees, low humidity, wind from the northeast and partly cloudy. Now if I could get back the 5 mpg I lost by going from the '04 to the '06....

B)

 

[Constant Mesh]

Put it on the centerstand. Look at the level in the sight glass. Now, start the engine. Watch the level go down. This effect is more pronounced when the engine & oil are cold. You can see how effective the oil pump is by how rapidly the level drops.

If you follow the electrical cable below the sight glass you'll find the level switch. It's directly aft of the drain bolt. It is oriented straight up from the bottom of the sump. Also, you'll notice it's on the left side of the sump. So, when you're riding and the light comes on, if you stop on the side of the road and tilt the bike to the left the light will likely go off.

Don't know why there is so much variation between float switches.

From the drawing in the service manual it looks like the top of the float switch is at about the same level as the bottom of the sight glass -- and that's when the float switch is at its very lowest position (not floating).

 

[PlaynGuitar]

with my standard disclaimer about the fact that I have no mechanical aptitude whatsoever... here's my input. take it with a pint of Guinness and maybe it will make sense.

I found this same experience happening to me in the mornings. after cogitating about it for a short while I decided that I would let the bike warm up longer before kicking out. so, now I start the bike on the side stand before I put on my coat, helmet, and gloves. in the time it takes me to get the gear on the bike seems to have warmed up and let those fluids run around. by sheer luck I'm sure -- no more oil light on the run away from the house. seemed like an easy solution to me, but heck -- I admit I don't know squat about such things.

slainte!

Patrick

 

[zzzzip]

with my standard disclaimer about the fact that I have no mechanical aptitude whatsoever... here's my input. take it with a pint of Guinness and maybe it will make sense.
I found this same experience happening to me in the mornings. after cogitating about it for a short while I decided that I would let the bike warm up longer before kicking out. so, now I start the bike on the side stand before I put on my coat, helmet, and gloves. in the time it takes me to get the gear on the bike seems to have warmed up and let those fluids run around. by sheer luck I'm sure -- no more oil light on the run away from the house. seemed like an easy solution to me, but heck -- I admit I don't know squat about such things.

slainte!

Patrick

Ahah! (Dective term) You must be on to something.

I did the same thing this morning, with the same results. I just hadn't been warming up any different than the '04-- actually, I just fired it up and figured the warm up time it took to back out of the garage and coast down the drive way was enough. An extra minute or two seems t have taken care of the issue. I know, I know... I should warm it up, etc....

Thanks to all who replied.

B)

 

[chickey191]

I had these exact same symptoms. After I had done an oil change I noticed my light coming on - only in the morning. I do ride up a hill to start the day. Within a mile or so the light would go out and remain out until the next morning.

I checked the oil level - as I had filled it (on center stand) marginally over the top of the highest dot on the oil fill sight glass. I added a tad of oil - thinking it might be low (don't ask me why I thought it could be low) and the light stayed on.

I drained a couple of cups out and got the oil level almost EXACTLY on the top dot on center stand (after letting it sit for several minutes).

Light hasn't reappeared.

So - the oil level sensor must be sensitive in both directions.

I filled with synthetic - which should move this to never ending threads section

 

[zzzzip]

I had these exact same symptoms. After I had done an oil change I noticed my light coming on - only in the morning. I do ride up a hill to start the day. Within a mile or so the light would go out and remain out until the next morning.
I checked the oil level - as I had filled it (on center stand) marginally over the top of the highest dot on the oil fill sight glass. I added a tad of oil - thinking it might be low (don't ask me why I thought it could be low) and the light stayed on.

I drained a couple of cups out and got the oil level almost EXACTLY on the top dot on center stand (after letting it sit for several minutes).

Light hasn't reappeared.

So - the oil level sensor must be sensitive in both directions.

I filled with synthetic - which should move this to never ending threads section

Mine is at the same level on the centerstand, so it must be a threshold difference in the sensor.

B)