Low Oil light? How low before it comes on?

MNs10

New Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
49
Location
MN
It's raining this morning (love the rain on the bike), I take off to go to an appointment and I only make it a little over a mile when the oil light comes on. I shut the bike off and push it onto the walking path at the intersection. After putting the bike on the center stand I check the oil sight window and it shows nothing, so I feel under the bike and look around but I can't find any sign of oil leaks. The motor still feels cool. I remember the manual saying something about the oil light flickering during stop and go (I never saw it do that before/I didn't stop hard at all and it was level ground). Since I never saw the light before my fear is something must be wrong with the oil/filter change the day before... I push the bike home, defeated.

During my oil change I torqued to the required specs, added the 3.6 US quarts and let the bike run until it reached operating temp to check for leaks. A little later I went for a short ride before putting the bike up for the night. This morning I checked the bike for leaks, etc before taking off.

After I get the bike home, I go inside because I'm now low on body fluids...It takes some effort to push this beast a mile. Anyway after changing cloths and getting some water I bust out the drain pan and loosen the two bolts to drain the oil. OMG, I am holding my breath thinking ''please, please, please be some oil in there...just some". Well judging from the amount that came out it must have been full. ???

What the hell? I'm going to fill it up and see if the light is gone. Any ideas?
 

hANNAbONE

...Patiently Waited...
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Messages
1,490
Location
Versailles, IN - veho tutus, meus frater
Re: oil light came on...

I had slightly over filled my black beast last September. So when I took out some to feel better about it, I went for a ride.

About 1/2 mile from home my oil light came on. I immediately shut it down...and waited a second or two and then fired it back up.

Light went off.

I took it home and re-evaluated my reduction of oil I took out...seems I might of gone a little overboard with the decrease.

Once I took my time and leveled off my level - I went for a ride --- hasn't happened since.

Measure carefully the amount of oil you put into the case.

And do NOT trust the sight glass.

YMMV
 

Z06

Member
2012 Site Supporter
Vendor
Joined
Sep 19, 2011
Messages
463
Location
Melbourne FL
Re: oil light came on...

Mine has done that two different times. No idea as to reason because both times it had proper amount of oil.
 

MNs10

New Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
49
Location
MN
Re: oil light came on...

Ok, this is interesting...

I just refilled the bike with the amount the manual calls for if not replacing the filter, 3.28 US q. Checked the oil per the manual and the level was on the lower end of the fill window. The 'level' on the window was exactly the same as the day before after I changed the filter and put in the exact amount of oil requested in the manual. The oil level from the factory when checked per the manual was always at the top of the site window.

I've been screwing with this all morning now and I'm getting consistant readings by following the manual...In order to get a site reading in the window as it was from the factory and as per manual, I had to add a just over another 1/4 quart. That puts the level in the window right at the top line.

A couple thoughts and some of this was talked about in the oil thread...I drained the oil on the side stand and leaned it over back and forth a few times. This drained a fairly significant amount of oil out after there was no dripping from being on the sidestand, probably near the amount I just added to reach the full line...I will keep doing it this way but I will now add the amount neccesary to get the level in the sight window to the full line.

The oil warning light may flicker when riding on a slope or during sudden acceleration or deceleration, but this is not a malfunction. -according to the manual. I'd be willing to bet the warning light flickering occurs when the oil level is nearer the low mark on the site window. My oil light came on right as I stopped and I killed it like a ninja, I wish I would have waited just a second because clearly the bike was not low on oil just near the low line on the site window.
 

RED CAT

New Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
1,110
Location
Calgary, Canada
Re: oil light came on...

A little shortcut! If for some reason you have to drain a little oil. Just use the front drain plug which only drains a small amount of oil compared to the rear most drain plug. Not sure why.
 

markjenn

Active Member
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
2,427
Location
Bellingham, WA
Re: oil light came on...

I doubt if you have anything wrong.

Many of us (including myself) have had the oil light come on now and then when the oil level is within the limits of the sight glass. My MO is that it comes on briefly a few miles into a ride and then goes out a mile or two later as the engine reaches full temperature. I attribute this to a very aggressive oil level sensor. This is a bit of a Yamaha thing - I had an R1 and a R6 which also had slightly pessimistic oil level sensors.

The discrepancy between Yamaha's fill quantity and the actual quantity required to fill the bike with oil has been discussed (at length) in another thread. Several are reporting they have to put more oil in than Yamaha specs. A common link in these reports is folks working pretty hard to get a more complete drain. Yamaha's spec may be a little low too. FWIIW, I don't do anything extraordinary during the drain, put the spec'ed 3.6 (w/filter) in, go for a normal ride, and do a normal check later when the engine is fully warm. I'm usually about mid-way on the sight glass. There is nothing wrong with doing a little top-off if you need to or feel more comfortable with the oil at the top of the sight glass. Just be sure to do your check in a "normal" way - engine at full operating temp, centerstand with bike on level ground, and wait a few minutes for oil to settle. I wouldn't be too quick to dump more in immediately after an oil change or to put oil in while watching the sight glass.

- Mark
 

tomatocity

Active Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
5,251
Location
Sacramento, CA USA
Re: oil light came on...

In the beginning I had concerns with the oil level and when you could read the oil level. Now I put the correct amount in the engine and don't worry about it.

Twice I had seen the oil light come on and both were during harder than needed acceleration. Discussed it on this forum and have not worried about again.

I am the one that is overly concerned or worries about things like this. Have come to the conclusion that if you know you installed the correct amount of oil and have a quality oil filter installed you should not have a problem for many miles. Heck its a Yamaha.
 

Maxified

Member
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
655
Location
Northern Florida Panhandle
Re: oil light came on...

Z06 said:
Mine has done that two different times. No idea as to reason because both times it had proper amount of oil.
::026::
Twice for me also, about 3 miles into the first ride of the day & I was cruising, not accelerating.
 

markjenn

Active Member
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
2,427
Location
Bellingham, WA
Re: oil light came on...

tomatocity said:
Have come to the conclusion that if you know you installed the correct amount of oil and have a quality oil filter installed you should not have a problem for many miles.
We've probably discussed this in the other thread.... while I agree with you in general principle, I do think one should endeavor to get the oil into the middle of the sight glass even if this means adding a bit more than the Yamaha spec. Yamaha's spec is a guideline, and their instructions specifically say to inspect and adjust oil after putting the spec'ed amount in. This is an explicit acknowledgment to me that the spec'ed amount is an estimate and that the sight glass should be considered the final word.

- Mark
 

houndman

New Member
2012 Site Supporter
Joined
Apr 5, 2011
Messages
250
Location
Sierra Nevada's
Re: oil light came on...

markjenn said:
We've probably discussed this in the other thread.... while I agree with you in general principle, I do think one should endeavor to get the oil into the middle of the sight glass even if this means adding a bit more than the Yamaha spec. Yamaha's spec is a guideline, and their instructions specifically say to inspect and adjust oil after putting the spec'ed amount in. This is an explicit acknowledgment to me that the spec'ed amount is an estimate and that the sight glass should be considered the final word.

- Mark
Absolutely agree, after putting in the 3.4 LITERS, not quarts as book says, I saw nothing in sight window,thus the red light syndrome. I merely added 100 cc of oil. Magically there was oil in the sight glass half way up and no more red light. I will now put approx 3.5 liters. I will rely on the visual effect of the sight glass.
 

tomatocity

Active Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
5,251
Location
Sacramento, CA USA
Re: oil light came on...

Say what you say but I doubt the engines and OEM oil filters vary though the person's doing the measuring might.
 

mcbrien

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2011
Messages
784
Location
Hanover , Pa
Re: oil light came on...

My FZ1 used to do this . I liked it because I knew if the oil light didn't
come on it had plenty of oil . Sounds like the Tenere is the same way .
I just had my 600 mile service and they added nearly 4 quarts . If you
over fill the worst it can do is over flow into breather ....right ? It's a dry
sump you can't get to much oil in the motor . It would have no effect on
oil pressure .
 

markjenn

Active Member
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
2,427
Location
Bellingham, WA
Re: oil light came on...

tomatocity said:
Say what you say but I doubt the engines and OEM oil filters vary though the person's doing the measuring might.
Again, we've discussed in the other thread.... the engines and filters probably are very consistent, but that doesn't mean how much oil a person gets out of the engine during the change is. According to spec, 20% of the engine oil in the S10 is "undrainable" and Yamaha assumes that you will leave 0.85 qts in the engine. If you get more out, then you may be low. As Yamaha recommends, the sight glass should be the final word.

- Mark
 

ainsworth

New Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
53
Location
Rio Grande - Tierra del Fuego - Argentina
Re: oil light came on...

I have a routine to take mesure. Manual explain "how to do" but along time I had the bike i made a different way. In the morning before to start I put the bike over de central lifter (if stay all night over the side foot) and wait for a moment the level must be over the top of the glass window but if I tilt a little the bike to the left side I will must see inmediatly the level.
In concordance with another opinions i think the instructions how much you must put are not enough, may be the correct capacity around a 200 / 300 ml more than the manuals say. Two times I changed oil and filled as the manual say, but twice after change oil the red light turn on when I cornering or accelerate fast, then ad around 200 ml of oil and the problem was fixed at least for the 10 thousand km and still running good
As I always say excuse if my english is not so good or the vocabulary is not complete, but i think you can understand the meaning
 

mcbrien

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2011
Messages
784
Location
Hanover , Pa
Re: oil light came on...

Your english is fine ;D If the light comes on add a little oil
and go ride . ::021::
 

ainsworth

New Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
53
Location
Rio Grande - Tierra del Fuego - Argentina
Re: oil light came on...

mcbrien said:
Your english is fine ;D If the light comes on add a little oil
and go ride . ::021::
::012::
Mcbrien
You understand perfectly
Oil must be inside, if you don´t have enough, oil light turn on. If you don´t find oil in some part of the bike or under and can´t smell oil, add a bit and enjoy riding ::021::
 

sambora67

New Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
18
Re: oil light came on...

i just came back from a 3000km ride in three days. At abt 1800km into the ride, the red light stayed on. Before the ride it was changed with new oil where it could be seen thro the check window level and was fine.
I had to top up abt 700ml to raise level again as at 1800km there no sight at window . Never had this problem for short rides of 600km a day.

The 1800km ride was done within 32 hrs , and maybe coz of constant riding coz this :(
 

elizilla

Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Messages
544
Location
Michigan, USA
Re: oil light came on...

I saw the oil light once. It was a cold day and I was accelerating hard to merge into traffic on the freeway a mile from my house, so the bike was still relatively cold. I couldn't just stop, I was in heavy traffic. The light stayed on for perhaps one second. By the time I could have stopped, it had gone out. I pulled over as soon as I safely could, and checked the oil. It was in the middle of the sight glass.

I decided to ride more, worry less. Haven't seen the light again since. I will make a point to not accelerate so hard until the bike is warm.
 

Z06

Member
2012 Site Supporter
Vendor
Joined
Sep 19, 2011
Messages
463
Location
Melbourne FL
Re: oil light came on...

Mine has come on 6 or 7 times. 2 times in last 4 days. Always about 2 miles from the house and at a steady 45 MPH. Stay's on until I shut off bike and restart. Oil level near top of glass. Have no idea why. But I will always check for reason when it does come on.
 
Top