oil light

[gaffer77]

Hi i got a 79 sf, on reading archives i just want to get some things

cleared up

is the oil light connected to warn of rear light faults as well??

is the oil light for level only and not pressure??

if so why does it take time to go out on start up if its in the

base of the engine???

my bike has new oil and filter did 200 miles fine ,never had a prob

was freezing cold (for England ) the other day (talking snow)

did 10 miles light came on ,was on motorway bridge so thought

sod it if she blows she blows think about consequences if i have

to and prey to god it would be fine

i know bad attitude towards bike ,it was sunday i was late for a

meet ,the bike had given me grief (calipers played me up after a

puncture) up all night decorating as well keep her happy!!!

anyway after 10 miles i stopped ,started up, after 10 miles oil light

came on, another 20 it went out ,and has stayed out since

just wondered if anyone can clear up the point, is the light

to measure the level or pressure ,(my level was fine ,so i was

thinking blocked oilways ,strainer,worn oil pump etc)

but if its level then that is puzzling unless it really wasnt

passing back down quick enough ,but thought sensor is sitting in the oil

so oil shouldnt need to come back down for light to work if its

already down there ,how much oil goes to the top????

just a bit puzzled and too many contradictions adding to confusion

[John]

The oil pressure sender is located just below the carbs. It's the round thing with the wire attached to it. The sender makes a ground for the oil light. It sits in the oil galley that supplies oil to the oil pipe that feeds the cams. There is no level switch i the oil pan. That's on the XJ1100. First, check the obvious, and check to see if the wire is securely attached to the sender. It should have a rubber boot over it. All it senses is oil pressure. The only reason for the light to come on would be a wire shorted to ground, or a sudden loss of oil pressure. You said it ran for a while like that? Did you hear any knocking? If you had oil, then chances are it was a shorted wire, but stranger things have happened. It does not warn of the rear lights being inoperative.

[gaffer77]

i twiddled with that sender when i stopped i presumed it was that

but when reading xj i presumed they had the same engine???

i was doing about 50 in top waiting for rattles to come in

upon which i would have pulled up but nothing!!!

i did 110 miles that day i forgot my breakdown cover number

have to put that on my phone doh!!!!! it was a nightmare day

id had enough of everything so chanced it and it was ok

just wanted to clear up in my mind before i got into it all

thanx for help

[Bubba1954]

Those oil pressure sending switches are notorious for getting flakey as they get older. When I bought my Eleven from the original owner, he thought that it had low oil pressure because the light would come on at an idle when warmed up good.

I installed an mechanical oil pressure gauge that uses a small oil line to feed it. Much more reliable then the electronic sending unit.

I installed a fitting into one of the oil cooler lines to feed the gauge, but I bet one could remove the factory sendinf unit and install a fitting in its place with an oil pressure line to a handlbar mounter gauge if you don't have a fairing.

See the links below:

http://www.fototime.com/C6629D885A8D440/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/69496DE314A4664/standard.jpg

Bubba

[gaffer77]

thanx Bubba that looks snazzy as well i prefer a guage

have to think on that one,thanx for reply

[MAXIMAN]

When the weather gets cold this is typical behavior for my 1100. Especially when I still have summer oil in it (20-50 or 10-40).

However when I change to cold weather oil (5W-30) I never see the oil light.

[gaffer77]

could be that with mine am using car oil weather never been that cold with this bike before ,thanx i will check it out you guys are great and very helpfull for these stupid questions you get

but i needed help so had to ask sorry!!!!

[DiverRay]

gaffer77;
The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Nobody can know everything, and this forum is a great resource for all of us!!
Ray

[Dennyz]

The oil light also can indicate a burned out filament in the tail light on a Special.

[gaffer77]

hi i thort i read it somewhere some say it is a rear light warning as well others say no , i will dig all my books out ,just buried at the mo!!!

[Do Lee]

Yes on the Specials the oil light does double duty by also indicating if any part of the braking system or running light has problems. This includes rear brake/tail light fillement, front and rear brake switches. On my 79 Special I would be riding and the oil light would flash on forr a few seconds and then back off or would stay on for a few minutes and then go back off. Found out that my front brake switch was going bad. After replacing the switch I will see a flash every now and again this is also caused from the new switch. I don't pay that much attention to the light anymore.

[John]

Wow ...I am still learning new things every day. I didn't know that about the oil pressure light. That's good to know.