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Oil light comes on and goes

3900 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Blaze950, 
C
Just a quick question. I just changed the oil and filter and now there is this weird thing going on with the oil light. After starting the bike, the oil light is not on but as soon as I ride it comes on. The light goes away after like a like a min. Does anyone know why it does this? Thanks
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SCRBen
cirocboyz said:
Just a quick question. I just changed the oil and filter and now there is this weird thing going on with the oil light. After starting the bike, the oil light is not on but as soon as I ride it comes on. The light goes away after like a like a min. Does anyone know why it does this? Thanks
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Your oil will be slightly low. I’ve had that before. It’s only an issue if it stays on, I’d say. Give it a recheck (when up to temperature) and see if there’s any scope to top it up slightly. Just don’t overfill it.

Cheers,

Ben
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jevers478@gmail.com
cirocboyz said:
Just a quick question. I just changed the oil and filter and now there is this weird thing going on with the oil light. After starting the bike, the oil light is not on but as soon as I ride it comes on. The light goes away after like a like a min. Does anyone know why it does this? Thanks
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You do know not to screw the dipstick in when checking the oil level? Just saying.....🤔
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Blaze950
My SCR does the same thing. The oil light will come on only when the bike is cold and it's only on for about 3-4 minutes or until the bike warms up enough. I've checked the oil level (warmed up of course) and it's 100%. Once I see the oil light comes on, I'll turn my bike off at a stop sign / red light right around the corner from my place and the light usually does not come back on, but that could also be because it's warmed up enough by the time the light changes..
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Blaze950 said:
My SCR does the same thing. The oil light will come on only when the bike is cold and it's only on for about 3-4 minutes or until the bike warms up enough. I've checked the oil level (warmed up of course) and it's 100%. Once I see the oil light comes on, I'll turn my bike off at a stop sign / red light right around the corner from my place and the light usually does not come back on, but that could also be because it's warmed up enough by the time the light changes..
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Yea I checked the oil too and it looks fine. I do the same thing where I would just stop bike and just let the light disappear in about a minute lol. The light just bothers me. Maybe its an issue with the wiring for the sensor? Idk.
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SCRBen
It seems like it’s especially sensitive, for whatever reason. If it’s not because your level is low, then I think it’s just until the oil pressure builds to a sufficient level, as the engine warms up. It’s been discussed a number of times over on the Bolt forum. For example:

Oil light

Oil light
www.yamahastarbolt.com

If you ever get a Koso meter, the oil light on that illuminates even more readily - you’ll really notice it then! Like you say though, if you know your oil level is correct, just continue, and it’ll soon extinguish (y)

Ben
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adast950
I have a feeling the dipstick is too long :) I always change the filter together with the oil, I buy a 4-liter canister (that's what the manual says is the oil volume) and if I pour in the whole thing, the oil light does not come on however, the dipstick oil lever is way above limit (measuring cold, on side stand, not screwed in). If I put in just the amount of oil to get to the midpoint of the dipstick, the light comes on after about a kilometer of riding which indicates low oil pressure. I returned home and poured in the rest of the 4-liter canister. You should not ride a vehicle with the oil light on.
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adast950 said:
I have a feeling the dipstick is too long :) I always change the filter together with the oil, I buy a 4-liter canister (that's what the manual says is the oil volume) and if I pour in the whole thing, the oil light does not come on however, the dipstick oil lever is way above limit (measuring cold, on side stand, not screwed in). If I put in just the amount of oil to get to the midpoint of the dipstick, the light comes on after about a kilometer of riding which indicates low oil pressure. I returned home and poured in the rest of the 4-liter canister. You should not ride a vehicle with the oil light on.
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you have to check the oil level with the bike straight up, not on the side stand. You're going to get an incorrect oil level reading on the side stand.
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adast950
Bobcat said:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you have to check the oil level with the bike straight up, not on the side stand. You're going to get an incorrect oil level reading on the side stand.
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Actually, you made me look into the user manual and you are right, Bobcat.
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D
I put 4 liters of oil in mine when I changed the oil and its a little over full on the dipstick.
I put mine on the bike lift to get the bike level when checking the oil and dont screw in the dipstick. My oil light has never come on.
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Lugs
Just had this issue myself. Changed the oil and filter, oil level filled to near top of dipstick hatched area after initial start up - went for a ride and light came on after a hundred yards or so. Did some digging and first surprise to me was that it's a level warning light, not pressure like most other bikes I've had. Topped the level right up to top of, even a gnat's more than, dipstick hatched area with the bike held vertical and illumination hasn't reappeared. To me this indicates an error between the dipstick markings and the level warning light setting. If the oil level is anywhere within the dipstick markings with all other factors correct then the level warning light should not illuminate . . ? ?
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jevers478@gmail.com
Lugs said:
Just had this issue myself. Changed the oil and filter, oil level filled to near top of dipstick hatched area after initial start up - went for a ride and light came on after a hundred yards or so. Did some digging and first surprise to me was that it's a level warning light, not pressure like most other bikes I've had. Topped the level right up to top of, even a gnat's more than, dipstick hatched area with the bike held vertical and illumination hasn't reappeared. To me this indicates an error between the dipstick markings and the level warning light setting. If the oil level is anywhere within the dipstick markings with all other factors correct then the level warning light should not illuminate . . ? ?
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When you hold the bike level, do you set the dipstick in the hole and NOT thread it in? This is the proper way to check. If you screw it in, you will underfill ( I think I just introduced a new word to the English language) the crankcase and possibly make the oil light come on.
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Lugs
definitely not screwed in, bike at the vertical.
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D
I think the dipstick is too long.
I put 4 liters of oil in the bike when changing the oil like it specs and the oil is almost half an inch overfull on the dipstick.
I've never had to add oil but consider the full mark to be 1/2 an inch above full.
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SCRBen
I’m pretty sure Yamaha have not made the dipstick too long……I think they know what they are doing.

If you’re putting the full 4 litres straight in at oil and filter change time, your light never comes on, and your dipstick is suggesting the bike is overfull, because it is.

Ben
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Blaze950
Every once in awhile my oil light comes on, but it's only when the bike is still cold. (It's probably happened about 10 times total over 5 years).. It's never done it when the bike is warm, though. My theory is that the oil is still fairly cold and for some reason it throws the low oil sensor?? I regularly check my oil level and I always keep it right where it should be. This bike it a tank and I've never had any oil leaks.
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D
SCRBen said:
I’m pretty sure Yamaha have not made the dipstick too long……I think they know what they are doing.

If you’re putting the full 4 litres straight in at oil and filter change time, your light never comes on, and your dipstick is suggesting the bike is overfull, because it is.

Ben
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If over filling it a bit fixes the oil light issue, is it overfull?
My oil level never changes between oil changes, if it was overfull it would blow the extra oil out the vent.
Im going to keep adding 4 liters of oil when I change the oil as it works great and my oil light never comes on.
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Blaze950
Dustyroads said:
If over filling it a bit fixes the oil light issue, is it overfull?
My oil level never changes between oil changes, if it was overfull it would blow the extra oil out the vent.
Im going to keep adding 4 liters of oil when I change the oil as it works great and my oil light never comes on.
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Good to hear you've never lost oil either! These SCR's are tanks. I've also never had any change in oil level, even after huge week long trips in 100+ degree heat..
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