Low Oil light? How low before it comes on?

[EricV]

Re: oil light came on...

Having the oil light come on is now a regular occurrence with my 2012. When I leave my home I can now predict with great accuracy the spots along the road where the light will come on and then go off. While I understand that this is a quirk of the bike, I do not understand why it did not do this for the first 10,000 miles or so of riding and now has become a regular phenomenon. If I decide to sell the bike, then it will be a difficult thing to explain to a potential buyer.

I notice this sometimes happens for my '12 when the oil is dirty, and/or I fire the bike up cold, having been parked outside all night, and just take off. When the bike is garaged, or it's warmer, this doesn't happen. Camping in high elevation last month in CO, it would do it every day when we headed out, despite the oil not being low. (I even added a 1/8 of a quart just to see if it would make a difference, and it did not.) FWIW, the oil was approaching the 5k mark and I do usually change every 5k.

Pterodactyl - Do you park the bike outside as your normal routine? And how close to your normal oil change interval are you?

 

[Pterodactyl]

Re: oil light came on...

I notice this sometimes happens for my '12 when the oil is dirty, and/or I fire the bike up cold, having been parked outside all night, and just take off. When the bike is garaged, or it's warmer, this doesn't happen. Camping in high elevation last month in CO, it would do it every day when we headed out, despite the oil not being low. (I even added a 1/8 of a quart just to see if it would make a difference, and it did not.) FWIW, the oil was approaching the 5k mark and I do usually change every 5k.

Pterodactyl - Do you park the bike outside as your normal routine? And how close to your normal oil change interval are you?

My bikes are parked in a heated shop. The behavior seems the same regardless of how old the oil is. i will try adding a bit of oil to see if it has any affect, but the sight glass is near the top already.

Thank you for merging the threads and making it a sticky.

 

[dcstrom]

Somewhat related to this... I think I have a bad oil level sensor. Oil level is good, but light is on constantly - except when it's not on, or when it's flashing 10 times, with a 2 second delay, and then another 10 flashes. I've read that the flashing is an indicator of a bad sensor.

Now, the odd thing is, this just started now when I got the bike back from the shop after having the stator replaced (another story, another thread, which I will get to later). The light wasn't flashing before it went into the shop. Seems like all the messing with wiring we've been doing lately must have caused the problem with the sensor? I have to trace wires and stuff to see if anything has come loose. Was looking for a test for the sensor but didn't find one, anyone know?

Related, I've had a slight leak from the oil level sensor for ages, there's an o-ring there that must need replacing. I have the part but haven't done the replacement yet because it looks like the exhaust headers need to be removed to get the sensor out. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Somewhat related to this... I think I have a bad oil level sensor. Oil level is good, but light is on constantly - except when it's not on, or when it's flashing 10 times, with a 2 second delay, and then another 10 flashes. I've read that the flashing is an indicator of a bad sensor.

Now, the odd thing is, this just started now when I got the bike back from the shop after having the stator replaced (another story, another thread, which I will get to later). The light wasn't flashing before it went into the shop. Seems like all the messing with wiring we've been doing lately must have caused the problem with the sensor? I have to trace wires and stuff to see if anything has come loose. Was looking for a test for the sensor but didn't find one, anyone know?

Related, I've had a slight leak from the oil level sensor for ages, there's an o-ring there that must need replacing. I have the part but haven't done the replacement yet because it looks like the exhaust headers need to be removed to get the sensor out. Anyone know for sure?

The MX Manual shows the oil level switch to be a simple float. With all that you bike has been through, over-voltage may've damaged it electrically or you may simply have a sticking switch. To check, remove it and hold


Bolts at bottom, as it came out of the engine (low oil indication) the resistance from the body to the pin ought to be 114-126 ohms.


Upside down, with the float down (full oil) the resistance ought to be 484-536 ohms.


I'm not close to the bike to be able to tell if the heads need to come off to get to it.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The light on the '12 got pretty predictable the other day when riding home from WV. Going up roads with a steeper incline the light would come on. Then go off after leveling or a while. Next time we were heading up, heard my wife say, "lights back on." Probably happened 7 or 8 times on a 300 mile ride. It took about 3/4 of a quart to get it to the proper level in the window after getting home.

Just not something I worry about all that much.

 

[Checkswrecks]

My 2012 Gen1 used to use a little oil if I did long highway stints at 80 mph. The 2014 Gen2 never has.

 

[Dpatt711]

Just did my oil change, I start off with 3qts qnd ride for 5min. I had it flicker. Added .25oz and that brought the level visible within sight glass but still low. No light however

 

[MFP]

Just did my oil change, I start off with 3qts qnd ride for 5min. I had it flicker. Added .25oz and that brought the level visible within sight glass but still low. No light however

Did you change the oil filter as well?

 

[Dpatt711]

Did you change the oil filter as well?

Yes

 

[MFP]

Yes

That is probably why you were a bit on the low side.

 

[Dpatt711]

That is probably why you were a bit on the low side.

I was 50/50. Not thinking about it I drained from center stand, so expected some to be left. However judging by the qty I added it did thoroughly drain.

 

[bigbob]

Just did my oil change, I start off with 3qts qnd ride for 5min. I had it flicker. Added .25oz and that brought the level visible within sight glass but still low. No light however

I may be senile (watch it Patrick, Bob, Jon, Glen) but when I changed oil and filter I used the whole gallon. I think you are at least a half quart low.

 

[Sierra1]

I'm amazed that your light went off with only 3 qts. Mine won't stay off without the whole jug.

 

[Cycledude]

According to the owners manual it’s supposed to take 3.6 quarts when you change oil and filter so that’s what I use and it seems pretty accurate. After riding for awhile and parking on centerstand on fairly level spot the oil is usually between the 2 lines by the little sight glass.
But you can park in the same spot everyday and usually get a slightly different reading everyday.
I have been riding Tenere’s for about 93,000 miles and have never noticed any oil consumption.

 

[bigbruce]

When my oil light came on I was on the highway doing 70 mile per hour. It took over half a quart before it was half way up the check window. The first gen bikes do seem to burn oil at freeway speeds!

 

[Sierra1]

I don't ever look a the lines. I know that I put more than Yamaha specified. (have to for the light to go out) I know that she doesn't use any oil between changes regardless of how much I rev her.

But yeah, that would have freaked me out if the oil light came on randomly like that.