Exhausts and Engine » Oil level warning keeps coming on

My check oil level warning indicator keeps coming on ...but the level is always perfect -right at the center dot. It started doing it since the last dealer oil change at 20k (have 28,500km now). In a days' riding it will likely happen at least once. It usually comes on at start up and usually goes out after 100 miles or so. Anybody have this happen to them? Any ideas what's up?

Mine has done this occasionally although not recently. I keep the oil around mid glass too as I find that having it higher adversely affects gear changes. The level can be raised so maybe add a little and see what happens. A lot of owners run at a full glass.

Otherwise if it's random and when cold maybe live with it.

Both of ours has that problem if the oil level is less than 3/4 full in the window.

What year are these bikes with this “feature”? My 2017 hasn’t done this (yet?) but maybe that’s because I keep the oil well above the halfway mark.

I have this problem with my 2002 Yamaha FZ1. It uses an oil level sensor that seems to be adjusted a little off and is kind of sensitive regarding the oil level. You need to add a bit more oil than specified to get it to turn off after an oil change. So maybe the oil level mechanism in some bikes were not set quite right at the factory.

My 2016 will do this on occasion. It's not consistent and I've not been able to figure out what triggers it. For example, I'll take the bike on my standard work commute. Mostly highway miles, and I'm just getting to work, so not very spirited riding. When I get off the highway onto surface streets and I'm working the gears more, it will come on. Oil level through the sight glass is dead center when checked. This will happen one day and I won't see it again for 2-3 months.

Zitat von AZGeek im Beitrag #4

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What year are these bikes with this “feature”? .

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It's also a rather dangerous warning light to learn to ignore. My first experience with it was on a long, multi-day trip. Bike had been running great, and I get going after lunch on a Sunday and the light comes on. I freak out and stop. Let the rest of the group ride on. I give it the time necessary to property read the sight glass, find an open store and buy a quart of oil. Rode with my eyes glued to the gauges until I could get home as I didn't want the engine to burn up or seize.

Same thing has happened to my ‘16 several times. Always come on at idle when the engine is warm. First time was as I was pulling out onto the race track at a BMW track day. I had visions of the engine exploding and spewing oil all over the track. Rolled onto pit road, killed the engine and watched the oil level come up. Restarted and it didn’t happen again the rest of the day.

My wife's bike has the same problem. From time to time the "oil check light" pops up. Initially I was concerned about it but as the level is ok, well above minimum, I disgard the message. And that's easy to say as it's not my bike.

*Possible* solution to this. I was at the shop this weekend and I told them about the intermittent oil light problem. The head mech suggested replacing the water pump. The logic being that if the water pump is not as efficient, then engine temperature may fluctuate enough to trigger the oil sensor. The bike is not overheating, but temperature is fluctuating. In any event, I got fresh oil this weekend to 3/4 of the sight glass and I'm getting a new water pump under warranty two weeks from now. Will report back on any success.

Zitat von bill the cat im Beitrag #11

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*Possible* solution to this. I was at the shop this weekend and I told them about the intermittent oil light problem. The head mech suggested replacing the water pump. The logic being that if the water pump is not as efficient, then engine temperature may fluctuate enough to trigger the oil sensor. The bike is not overheating, but temperature is fluctuating. In any event, I got fresh oil this weekend to 3/4 of the sight glass and I'm getting a new water pump under warranty two weeks from now. Will report back on any success.

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Lee, apologies for the late reply on this. So after the water pump replacement, I've not had the oil light come on. However, this still doesn't make sense to me, and I've been riding during the winter, so temps have been cooler. As the water pump was replaced at the same time as an oil change, I may have the magic level of oil that doesn't trip the sensor. In short, the oil light is not coming on anymore, but the methodology to get there is still pure voodoo.

Probably the least helpful post on the forum.

Zitat von bill the cat im Beitrag #13

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but the methodology to get there is still pure voodoo.

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Zitat von bill the cat im Beitrag #13

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Probably the least helpful post on the forum.

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