low oil level light coming on

Hi all. The low oil level warning light on my '84 xj900 has started to come on at about 3-5 kliks after start off,stays on for a while .then goes off.It will also occassionally come on duriing moderate acceleration uphill.Yes,I know classic symptoms of low oil, but definately not sill level is good(running Shell motor cycle 20w-50w for summer) Consistency of fault seems to indicate to me its not electrical .Has any one experienced this, or any suggestions? Possible slow oil return to sump ?Once it settles down it doesn't occur in the remainder of a 70 kilometer commute.

 

The oil level sensor is at the front of the oil pan. Heading uphill and/or strong acceleration pushes the oil to the rear of the pan. People reduce this problem by making sure to keep the oil at the absolute maximum permissible level.

 

Possibly the sender is going bad too but try Carl's suggestion first - cheaper

 

G,day, and thanks for the replies.As stated , I,d be highly suprised if its the low oil level,as the top bubble is only just visible with the bike on its side stand, and gone on the centre stand. The sensor itself,I believe,is just a float switch,and I gather just completes the circuit when it drops the contact mechanism,along with the oil level. In my limited experience, when these fail, they tend to not make contact,ie no light. It also seems that the repeatable, and consistent nature of the fault indicates that the sensor is reading an actual engine condition, rather than randomly faulting.
Does anyone know what amount of oil left in the gearbox will trigger the sensor, I've never been in a position to stop quick enough and have a look at the sight glass. I can source another sensor out of the '80 xj650 I'm currently rebuilding (been sitting in my shed for 23 years after deciding that being around as a father was probably more important than having the joy of a bike, over that now) Thanks for any help coming my way ,cheers

 

Wait....you say the bubble is just visible on the SIDE STAND and gone on the CENTER STAND?

Mate, either you stated that backwards accidentally, or you ARE very low on oil. The bubble should just barely be visible on the CENTER STAND and little or no fluid will be visible on the side stand.

 

Actually what's been described is a too full condition.

When on the side stand there should be no oil in the window. It should be empty and clear.

On the center stand there should be just a little bit of daylight at the top.

 

Hi Sushi,Carl is right , the reference is to the top of the sight glass,not the bottom.The oil level is slightly overfull at the moment, about 200mm, but didn't think it worthwhile dropping new oil to correct. Still dont see how this could be causing original sensor activating fault.(next on list, graduated oil measure bottle)

 

Hey, that was 200ml, not 200mm

 

Since your oil is a bit high and I have to agree the sensor failure is a remoter possibility I'm wondering if your first guess was correct. Slow oil return to the sump. Oil will flow better as it heats so you could have partially clogged passages?

An oil treatment might help but I hesitate to recommend additives since we have a wet clutch. I have heard of folks using seafoam but I'm not sure how much that will help.

 

Best bet now is to pull the sensor and clean it out very thoroughly with brake or carb cleaner. Then test it again externally before reinstalling it.

 

Hi again,and thanks for all the advice.I,ll take into my garage and give it a good going over . At least dropping the oil to get at the sensor will show actual oil amount in the motor. Cheers and thanks again

 

I have a question as my old sender wire had a break so i had to replace it.

How do i test it out of the bike?

If it was facing up when i test it, with no oil to lift the float up, should it have continuity between the oil sender body and it's wire?

Meaning the oil light on the dash should come on.

But this one i have (off XJ650) I found that it has continuity when it is upside down, meaning that the light would come on when it's full of oil. Is this normal or should it be as i described firstly?

I had my old switch apart and the float has a metal contact at its top that would contact the lid of the unit when the bike is full of oil.

Not ever have seeing my bike running correctly, does the oil light supposed to come on when the oil level is low?

Always find an answer after i post- :?

But why this sender looks to have continuity when oil is up beats me, i can shake the unit and the float rattles up and down...

 

I found there are two types of oil sensors so i am after the non computerized dash sensor, end. Rob.