Oil warning light question

[ed29]

I noticed something odd about my oil warning lamp on the FJR. It lights during the lamp test phase right after turning the key, then goes dark along with the ABS light, etc. Shouldn't it stay lit until the oil pump is turning and the system has pressure? Mine has done this since day 1, but really woke me up as a possible problem right after an oil change. On vehicles with a gauge I always watch for pressure after a change, with a light I watch it at startup to ensure pressure. The light went dark after lamp test, even though the system only had a bit of oil in the filter from priming it.

Does anyone else see the same behaviour from the oil warning lamp? I have no confidence that mine would indicate anything at all, even if catasrophic failure occured in the engine.

A search of this forum turned up nothing, so I started a new thread.

Thanks.

 

[Tim05fjr]

It is an oil level warning only. Not a pressure warning. It will go on if oil level is low.

Tim

 

[ed29]

Thanks for the information. That makes sense of the behaviour. I guess there is no pressure monitoring in the oil system. Seems like a strange engineering (or cost cutting) decision by Yamaha.

 

[SkooterG]

Seems like a strange engineering (or cost cutting) decision by Yamaha.

When was the last time you heard of an oil pump failure on an FJR?

 

[Colin24]

I noticed something odd about my oil warning lamp on the FJR. It lights during the lamp test phase right after turning the key, then goes dark along with the ABS light, etc. Shouldn't it stay lit until the oil pump is turning and the system has pressure?
Does anyone else see the same behaviour from the oil warning lamp? I have no confidence that mine would indicate anything at all, even if catasrophic failure occured in the engine.

This may be obvious to most (including ed29). But for those FJR pilot's who are not as technically inclined it is worth mentioning.

The reason these lights come on when you first turn on your key is so that you know that the bulb is not burned it.

Its a safety check for the operator. Same reason the ABS and check engine light come on. The operator should be paying attention when the vehicle is first turned on and be looking to ensure these lights do come on for a couple seconds then go out. This way you know the light bulbs are functioning properly (not burnt out). If the bike didn't do this, how would you know the bulb is burnt out?

It's the same thing in your car. When you turn on the key at first all the various warning lights come on for a second or two. Then turn off. An observant driver will learn pay attention to what lights come on at startup in their vehicle and pay attention to it so that if a light doesn't come on they know its a problem with the bulb.

Like I said, this is probably obvious to most of the technically inclined FJR pilots out there. But I am often reminded that there are alot of people out there that are not as technically inclined and do not realize that this is one of the reasons vehicles do this.

As to the specific issue, as mentioned it is an oil level light and not an oil presure light. And it does work! Did an oil change once and got distracted part way through, only put in 2 litres and hadn't realized it. Later that day go out for a ride and 10 seconds down the road the oil light comes on. This resulted in a "WTF" moment, followed shortly by a "DOH!" moment as I realized what I had done...

So yup, works just fine!

- Colin

 

[r1byker]

As to the specific issue, as mentioned it is an oil level light and not an oil presure light. And it does work! Did an oil change once and got distracted part way through, only put in 2 litres and hadn't realized it. Later that day go out for a ride and 10 seconds down the road the oil light comes on. This resulted in a "WTF" moment, followed shortly by a "DOH!" moment as I realized what I had done...

So yup, works just fine!

- Colin

I had the same thing happen to me on my R1; difference was I thought I was okay putting in about a quarter quart less than full. Turns out that I have to keep it topped off to make sure that light doesn't come on. It really is one of those "Uh oh" moments when that light comes on.

 

[Constant Mesh]

The coolant circulating pump is driven off the oil pump. So if the oil pump locks up, or if its chain drive fails the coolant pump will stop too and it'll quickly overheat.