Oil light came on a couple times today

[jixaw]

My oil light came on near the end of my ride today....its the same light that is on when I turn the key...(the one that goes away once it is started)...it came on for a sec while I was accelerating...then it went off....it happened again too like about 2 minutes later....I was at work by then....

I havent checked my oil level...but it should be fine....it doesnt leak (well...it did leak out of a plug...but I have replaced the plug).. (not a spark plug..a drain plug)...perhaps it burns a lil oil???....

do you think it was too hot?...it was an hour and half ride...I wasnt riding it too hard I dont think.....I didnt notice any drop in performance

I will check my oil level today when I get out of work....this has happened b4, but it was because I had low oil due to the slow leak out of the plug (at least I think so).....

any thoughts?

[HotFix]

a light for oil, what will they think of next - trip odometers?

[mbossman2]

oil light comes on = problem

your bike probably burns some oil (evidence bluish grey smoke from tailpipe).

you are probably just on the edge of too little oil and as it moves around as you accelerate/turn/lean just enough to uncover the sensor and trigger the light.

[jixaw]

ok...I hope that is what it is....because of the leak, I might not have the correct amount of oil in there....I think also I was afriad to overfill it....maybe I will drain it this weekend and add the right amount....

I will add some oil today though...I can use car oil right?...just not that energy conserving kind (clutch slipper)

[mbossman2]

you want to make sure that the oil you use is rated for the bike. Check MOM and see what oil rating it recommends and then go to your favorite auto parts store and buy the cheapest oil that meets or exceeds that rating.

[MarcS]

Newer S oil classifications can contain less of certain additives that aren't needed in newer engines, but are needed in older engines. New classifications don't simply supercede old ones -- you're best off going for one of the specific recommended classifications. I think BMW actually said that they won't warranty engines that have had SJ oils in them if the failures are oil related. C classifications *do* just supercede older ones, and are typically higher quality oils anyway -- a lot of MC riders like to put stuff like Shell Rotella or other commercial/diesel oils in their bikes, due to the better anti-wear, anti-corrosion, and anti-shear additive packages.

Oil lights are usually pressure based, and are set to trigger at a very low pressure. If you are seeing the light on, you probably are doing damage to your engine. Many (most?) bikes have an oil capacity that is a good bit in excess of what is required to run the bike under normal conditions. One other factor in the oil pressure light is that if your oil is contaminated (with gas or coolant), it will not be able to form films, it will foam excessively, and it won't pressurize. You can have a full pan of contaminated gas and not be able to get pressure.

On a bike as old as yours, it could be perfectly normal for it to be burning 1qt of oil or more per 1000 miles.