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ViragoTechForum.com » Tech Help » Sometimes oil light comes on at startup (Solved)

#1:  Sometimes oil light comes on at startup (Solved) Author: terrip Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:59 pm

My bike is still new to me and I'm still learning it's temper tantrums. In the last couple of weeks the oil light has come on when the bike is warming up and the choke is on. The first time it happened the bike was on the rear stand and revving a little over 3k rpm. I immediately killed the bike and checked the oil level which was ok (maybe a little high if anything). I restarted the bike at lower rpm and the light didn't come on again.

Last night I checked the oil before my ride and it was a little more than halfway up the sight glass when the bike was on the rear stand (I know it has a small oil leak coming from the bottom crankcase seam due to it being wrecked, but that's a whole other thing to be fixed later). I moved the bike outside and put it on the sidestand and started it. The oil light came on after about 20 seconds so I stopped the bike and restarted it, thinking the light would go out like it had on previous occasions, but it came on again. The bike was leaning a good amount to the left because it was on an angled part of the driveway. I put the bike back in the garage and added a small amount of oil. I restarted the bike while sitting on it and the light didn't come back on.

The light has never come on while riding, only while starting up.

I checked in the manuals (I have a Clymer, Haynes, and Yamaha) and it seems like the oil light is triggered by the oil LEVEL sensor, not an oil PRESSURE sensor. I looked at the cover over the sensor and it seems to be dented in pretty significantly, presumably from being wrecked. My thought is that it probably got damaged or pushed up into the case which is why I'm getting erroneous oil lights from time to time. Another thought I had is that the dented cover is crushing the wire and causing a short. I haven't taken the cover off to get a good look at it, but I do have a spare from the original engine which I can swap out when I do an oil change. I suppose it could just be that the heads suck enough oil up when it's cold and tilting to the left that the level at the sensor reads low, but the first time this happened the bike was on the rear stand. I've only put on about 500 miles since I got the bike, but the oil seems filthy, probably from the clutch being sticky when I got it, so I was going to change it fairly soon.

Any thoughts from you guys???

#2:  Re: Sometimes oil light comes on at startup Author: Kayaker56437 Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:08 pm

My oil lite comes on regularly, esp in cooler weather. You've done your homework...it is a level sensor, so if you are sure there's oil in it, don't sweat it. You might crack the bolts on the tops of the oil lines with the engine idling to observe the oil getting pumped up to where it's needed. Put a rag under the area first !!

#3:   Author: totallyredvirago Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:10 pm

my oil light comes on when i throttle up (riding) never did this until i washed it.. as long as you have oil in it nothing is being hurt.. if you have another sensor. i would replace it after you drain out the oil.
do not over fill your oil.. you want the level to be right at the top line at the sight glass.. (on the center stand)
.....dan

#4:   Author: pofarm Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:06 pm

Mine comes on when the oil is cold or when it's on the side stand. As long as the oil level is okay don't sweat it.

#5:   Author: mark75 Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:18 pm

the first time it happens, it causes you a little excitement, but it happens - usually at cold start, on side-stand or un-level ground (even had it happen on steep hills)

just be sure you put 3.3 qts in with oil/filter change.

fill level should be about 1/2 to 3/4 of the "oil window".
don't fill to the top of window.
the reason being, it will be easier to do a quick check for fuel over-flowing into crankcase that way.

prolly just needs a couple of changes with good hi-detergent oil to clean the unit out.

if it was a shorted wire, I would think it would stay on all the time, but then eh dunno confused

either way, if you know you have enough oil, don't sweat it.

#6:  Re: Sometimes oil light comes on at startup Author: terrip Post Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:33 pm

Thanks everyone...glad to know I'm not breaking my new toy and that I'm not crazy (at least as far as the oil light is concerned)

ViragoTechForum.com » Tech Help » Sometimes oil light comes on at startup (Solved)


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