Oil warning light - SV650.org

14-05-09, 04:44 PM

How low does the oil level have to drop before the warning light comes on in an 01 SVS?

My bike had a really choppy feel to it today rather than the nice smooth vibes the twin puts out so I checked the oil level when I got to uni and found nothing but a little bubbling at the very bottom of the window! Somehow it's managed to go from half-full to empty in a fortnight.

Cue a walk down the road to Halfords for a funnel and some more oil and then pondering how the hell I carry a 10L bottle of oil home on the bike.

At least it gave me the chance to buy some ultra-chavvy blue anodised aluminium valve caps to tart things up!

ophic · 14-05-09, 05:04 PM

Its an oil pressure light not an oil level light - so pretty much empty. The engine could be very well knackered by the time it comes on. It's there to warn in cases of major oil leakages.

10L is a bit overkill! the SV only needs 2.3

be careful with aluminium valve caps as they have a habit of getting stuck to the valves.

embee · 14-05-09, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ophic

be careful with aluminium valve caps as they have a habit of getting stuck to the valves.

Not a problem, someone will pinch them long before they seize on.

14-05-09, 08:21 PM

Half full to empty sounds right in around 2 weeks.
Do you use your revs often?

14-05-09, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardypeeps

Half full to empty sounds right in around 2 weeks.
Do you use your revs often?

That depends a bit, surely? Mine uses no oil and I have been known to use the revs a bit at times

14-05-09, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ophic

be careful with aluminium valve caps as they have a habit of getting stuck to the valves.

bit of copper slip before screwing on!

appollo1 · 14-05-09, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevebetts

bit of copper slip before screwing on!

oo-er

yorkie_chris · 14-05-09, 09:35 PM

Well if it starts rumbling and knocking now you'll know it's proper f##ked!
It will either be right, or it won't. You could pull it apart now to check I suppose, but if there is no damage done then you've wasted the price of a gasket kit.

How long did it run for with oil light on?

Though to be fair, anybody putting blue anodised valve caps on is probably safer with a blown up engine...

ophic · 14-05-09, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

How long did it run for with oil light on?

Though to be fair, anybody putting blue anodised valve caps on is probably safer with a blown up engine...

I think he means, it didn't come on even though the engine was low on oil - which is normal behaviour, but some expect it to behave differently.

yorkie_chris · 14-05-09, 09:57 PM

Ahh must read the OP more carefully.

It depends on many things. Low oil will however cook your motor, and can demolish things without the light even flickering...

14-05-09, 04:44 PM	#1
ranathari Guest Posts: n/a	Oil warning light How low does the oil level have to drop before the warning light comes on in an 01 SVS? My bike had a really choppy feel to it today rather than the nice smooth vibes the twin puts out so I checked the oil level when I got to uni and found nothing but a little bubbling at the very bottom of the window! Somehow it's managed to go from half-full to empty in a fortnight. Cue a walk down the road to Halfords for a funnel and some more oil and then pondering how the hell I carry a 10L bottle of oil home on the bike. At least it gave me the chance to buy some ultra-chavvy blue anodised aluminium valve caps to tart things up!

14-05-09, 05:04 PM	#2
ophic Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whyteleafe Posts: 3,395	Re: Oil warning light Its an oil pressure light not an oil level light - so pretty much empty. The engine could be very well knackered by the time it comes on. It's there to warn in cases of major oil leakages. 10L is a bit overkill! the SV only needs 2.3 be careful with aluminium valve caps as they have a habit of getting stuck to the valves. __________________ Silver SV650SK3, Fuel exhaust

14-05-09, 08:21 PM	#4
vardypeeps Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil warning light Half full to empty sounds right in around 2 weeks. Do you use your revs often?

14-05-09, 09:35 PM	#8
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Oil warning light Well if it starts rumbling and knocking now you'll know it's proper f##ked! It will either be right, or it won't. You could pull it apart now to check I suppose, but if there is no damage done then you've wasted the price of a gasket kit. How long did it run for with oil light on? Though to be fair, anybody putting blue anodised valve caps on is probably safer with a blown up engine... __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

14-05-09, 09:57 PM	#10
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Oil warning light Ahh must read the OP more carefully. It depends on many things. Low oil will however cook your motor, and can demolish things without the light even flickering... __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fuel warning light, when?	lazymanc	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	10	02-07-08 06:35 PM
gas light?(that'll be fuel warning light)	Spanish Fly	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	9	08-06-07 05:45 PM
F I warning light	scorpion	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	8	30-05-07 11:58 PM
Fuel warning light	Mark_h	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	8	24-05-07 09:14 PM
F.I warning light	caines	Bikes - Talk & Issues	5	09-11-05 03:57 PM