Oil light - SV650.org

09-03-10, 10:05 AM

Hey all, don't know if any of you have had this problem before but whenever im riding around in the city and the bike is constantly starting and stopping, for some reason the oil light starts blipping but when i check the oil its at the right level. This only happens wen the bike gets hot, any ideas what the problem is?

fastdruid · 09-03-10, 12:01 PM

Light is for pressure not level.

Which bike? What oil are you using? How many miles? When was it last serviced?

Oil light should never come on apart from when the engine is off. You *need* to find out what the problem is before the engine goes pop (and it most likely will).

Druid

embee · 09-03-10, 03:07 PM

It's not unknown for the pressure switches to become faulty, this is the "best" cause for what you describe (i.e. nothing actually wrong with the lube system, simply replace switch). I've not had it on my SV, but have had it happen on other engines.

If it isn't the switch, then it's low oil pressure, which is the worst cause for what you describe.

The only 100% way to diagnose is to put a (temporary) pressure gauge on the system (often will go in place of the switch). Simpler way is to hope it's the switch and replace it anyway.

Otherwise, do as Druid says first.

09-03-10, 03:15 PM

It's the 2001 k1 curvy, using motul oil, its done 42,000 miles and was last serviced at roughly 39,000. Also when this starts to happen the iddle starts to drop below 1,000 rpm. Where abouts is the pressure switch located?

embee · 09-03-10, 04:28 PM

OK, that's your first issue then, the idle should be around 1300rpm. If it drops below 1000rpm the oil pressure will fall off rapidly, so chances are there's nothing actually wrong.

"Turn the knob on your side"

(idle speed adjuster knob that is).

This could simply be the idle speed stop needs adjusting, or with a curvey it could well be the old sticking choke malarkey. Search for "sticking choke", make yourself a cup of tea, and settle in for a nights light reading.

09-03-10, 06:37 PM

Yh thats the thing tho, the idle wen the bike is warm will stay at 1300rpm, but wen u are sitting in queue's in the city centre, it will then suddenly drop to under 1000rpm and then the light will start flickering but as soon as u leave the city and get on a straight bit of road for a while and then come to a stop again somewhere it will all be normal again, thats wat i find really wierd.

Sid Squid · 09-03-10, 07:13 PM

From your further explanation I suspect that Embee's right, (naturally), there's nothing wrong with the lubrication system, the problem is the low tickover which is caused by, probably, a fuel system fault.

yorkie_chris · 09-03-10, 07:39 PM

I'd suggest a bit of both, even cranking rpm develops enough oil pressure to turn the light out.

10-03-10, 09:33 AM

ok, im going to give all of this a go and hope it works and fixes the problem before the engine does go pop. Also do u all reckon it could possibly be a fan problem??

yorkie_chris · 10-03-10, 09:34 AM

No, they are not connected.

09-03-10, 10:05 AM	#1
Shaun T Guest Posts: n/a	Oil light Hey all, don't know if any of you have had this problem before but whenever im riding around in the city and the bike is constantly starting and stopping, for some reason the oil light starts blipping but when i check the oil its at the right level. This only happens wen the bike gets hot, any ideas what the problem is?

09-03-10, 12:01 PM	#2
fastdruid Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: W Mids Posts: 2,037	Re: Oil light Light is for pressure not level. Which bike? What oil are you using? How many miles? When was it last serviced? Oil light should never come on apart from when the engine is off. You need to find out what the problem is before the engine goes pop (and it most likely will). Druid __________________ '00 SV700S - '94 RVF400R - '97 RVF400R - '88 VFR750F

09-03-10, 03:07 PM	#3
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,804	Re: Oil light It's not unknown for the pressure switches to become faulty, this is the "best" cause for what you describe (i.e. nothing actually wrong with the lube system, simply replace switch). I've not had it on my SV, but have had it happen on other engines. If it isn't the switch, then it's low oil pressure, which is the worst cause for what you describe. The only 100% way to diagnose is to put a (temporary) pressure gauge on the system (often will go in place of the switch). Simpler way is to hope it's the switch and replace it anyway. Otherwise, do as Druid says first. __________________ "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

09-03-10, 03:15 PM	#4
Shaun T Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil light It's the 2001 k1 curvy, using motul oil, its done 42,000 miles and was last serviced at roughly 39,000. Also when this starts to happen the iddle starts to drop below 1,000 rpm. Where abouts is the pressure switch located?

09-03-10, 04:28 PM	#5
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,804	Re: Oil light OK, that's your first issue then, the idle should be around 1300rpm. If it drops below 1000rpm the oil pressure will fall off rapidly, so chances are there's nothing actually wrong. "Turn the knob on your side" (idle speed adjuster knob that is). This could simply be the idle speed stop needs adjusting, or with a curvey it could well be the old sticking choke malarkey. Search for "sticking choke", make yourself a cup of tea, and settle in for a nights light reading. __________________ "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

09-03-10, 06:37 PM	#6
Shaun T Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil light Yh thats the thing tho, the idle wen the bike is warm will stay at 1300rpm, but wen u are sitting in queue's in the city centre, it will then suddenly drop to under 1000rpm and then the light will start flickering but as soon as u leave the city and get on a straight bit of road for a while and then come to a stop again somewhere it will all be normal again, thats wat i find really wierd.

09-03-10, 07:13 PM	#7
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: Oil light From your further explanation I suspect that Embee's right, (naturally), there's nothing wrong with the lubrication system, the problem is the low tickover which is caused by, probably, a fuel system fault. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

09-03-10, 07:39 PM	#8
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Oil light I'd suggest a bit of both, even cranking rpm develops enough oil pressure to turn the light out. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

10-03-10, 09:33 AM	#9
Shaun T Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Oil light ok, im going to give all of this a go and hope it works and fixes the problem before the engine does go pop. Also do u all reckon it could possibly be a fan problem??

10-03-10, 09:34 AM	#10
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Oil light No, they are not connected. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

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