I was sitting at a light 2 days ago, and the oil level warning light faded on, then went out after a few seconds. I thought, that very odd because I am meticulous about maintenance on my vehicles, but I didn't want to pay the price of stupidity, by ignoring it....we are talking about the oil, the motorcycle engine's blood. I was a couple blocks from home, so I rode immediately home, since the light went out, and I parked the bike in the driveway and checked the sight glass. It was completely full. Well, I thought, I am about due for an oil change, so I went and bought the oil and a new filter today, and I changed the oil. I see you guys talking about 4.25 qts of oil, but I can't even put 4 qts in my bike, even with a new filter, which I replace anytime I do an oil change. If I put 4 qts in my 2011, The sight glass is completely covered, with no air bubble at the top. Anyway, I filled up my bike until the oil was to the top mark on the sight glass, then I fired the bike up and let it idle for 3 minutes or so. I checked the sight glass and sure enough, it has filled the filter and needed a little more oil, so I kept pouring more of the 4th qt into the crank case, until the sight glass was filled to the upper mark again. Once again, I fired the bike up and let it idle for 3-5 minutes. I let it sit for 10 minutes, while I went in the house, so all the oil could drain back down into the crank case. Once again, I checked the sight glass, and it was right at the top mark, just like I expected. I got on the bike to go get fuel for my ride tomorrow, and I fired up the bike and started down the street. I didn't even get out of the neighborhood, and the oil light comes on and stays on. Now, I just checked the oil level before I left, and I had looked the whole engine over looking for leaks. I had also rechecked the crank case filler cap to make sure it was tight, and the crank case drain plug to make sure it was tight. I was pretty sure I was not leaking any oil, and the damn thing was full. So of course, I rode right back down the street and parked it in the driveway. I waited a few minutes and checked the sight glass again...still full, right to the top mark, just like it was before. So I am thinking WTH? I have worked on a lot of vehicles in my life, and I usually don't fool around when it comes to the oil light. I lost a V8 in my camaro when I was a teenager because I didn't pay heed. I have dropped many oil pans and replaced the oil pumps, just to be sure. So here I am, and I start checking things over closely. The temperature on the bike is actually running a little lower than "normal", and if the oil was low, it should be getting hotter if anything. I check the sight glass again, and it is good and the oil looks brand spanking new, like it should. I turn the key on , and the oil light comes on and stays on. I turn it off and try it again, same thing, the oil light stays on. I do this several more times, and finally, it comes on and goes out like it should. Anyway, because the damn thing is acting so flakey just when I turn the circuit on with the key, I am leaning toward a faulty sending unit. Especially now that I am reading the sending unit just reads level and not pressure. I was thinking pressure, like a car, until I read this thread. Have any of you replaced this sending unit before? Do you know if it is very difficult? Do you really have to tear very far into the bike to replace it, or is it easy to get at? Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Rhynno
