Oil pressure light

[bradleymaynar]

This is more a question of curiosity than anything else. My 79 750e has an oil cooler on it. I don't know when or who put it on. But the oil light comes on occasionally, and then it's only on for a few seconds. When I first had the bike I would panic and add a little oil. Shortly after that I changed the oil and found that I was about a half quart over. Lesson learned. I then would notice the light flickering when it was close to needing a regular oil change, about 2K miles. Now, I see it flash out of the corner of my eye, but only after I've given it a good, hard take-off. This is within 500 miles of the last oil change. One note, I need to replace the tach cable because the housing is cracked at the connection to the engine. I have a new V.C. gasket on it. But like I said, this is a question of curiosity because the bike runs fine, but if I can fix this, it'll keep me from putting a piece of tape over the oil light. Bad idea, I know.

Thanx
Brad

[SqDancerLynn1]

Have you checked the petcock and carbs?? if you are leaking fuel into the engine that could account for the overfill and the oil light.
Could be a dirty oil pressure switch, maybe bad O rings on the oil pump??

[Anonymous]

I'd suggest that you track down the problem and get it fixed. I'm no moto-guru, but the way I hear it, the oil light comes on when you definitely have a serious problem, and so if it comes on sometimes, you might be at the brink all the time. A dealer or other mechanic should be able to tell you exactly what your oil pressure is. For all you know, it could be the sensor that's bad. Take it to a mechanic.

At least you're lucky you don't have oil trouble on a 450. The 450 has different bearings which, I'm told, have better durability in the long run, but require constant, high-pressure oil supply. I think it was that the 450 had roller bearings and the other GS's had shell bearings, but it might be the other way around...

Anyway, I say save the tape for another day and get it fixed right!

Michael

[redliner1973]

:twisted: ...dnuora yaw rehto eht s'tI

[saaz]

79 E has low pressure oil system so not many worries most likely. The oil pressure switch may need a clean. Some other have had to replace o rings in the pump. If you have a cooler on, it may be a bypass type, or some other adapter that reduces oil pressure.

[bradleymaynar]

I asked at Suzuki, and was told it wasn't that big a deal. Seeing as it was a dealership, and he didn't push it as a get-or-the-bike-will-die part, I wasn't too concerned. Also, the oil line runs from the pump to the cooler to the block. As for gas situation, I have an inline shut-off vavle. I've been too cheap to buy the rebuild kit.

[AOD]

it is true about the low pressure system, we're talking about 8 psi i believe. it could be a wire problem even...who knows. it should not come on after a HARD run because your engine makes maximum oil pressure during a hard run...most oil lights would come on during idle or cold start.

if it comes down to it, its an old bike...ya know? if it runs low on oil pressure...it'll just run till it can't run no more. it happens sometimes...

in the meantime, tape over the light, and ride.

[redliner1973]

If it is an aftermarket cooler, and you are running a pressure switch that loks like the ones on a car, it is probably the switch itself, as the GS's oil pressure can go as low as 1psi, too low for most switches to remain open. this is usually more noticeable when engine is hot. :twisted:

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how the 750 is configured, but the 1100 has 2 ports for the oil cooler, one on either side of the oil filter. If you use those ports, then you should replace the oil filter cover with one from an 1150. This configures the oil filter/cooler correctly so that oil will not bypass the cooler. With the stock cover, I'm afraid the cooler does not have much effect.

[bradleymaynar]

Little correction. The lines run from the pump to the cooler back to the pump. Adam, will do man. Like I said, I mainly asked out of curiosity. I just wanted to see if anyone else experienced the same thing. It's just one of those stupid idiot lights they put on anything with wheels, and my first reaction is always panic. You think I'd be over it by now.

Brad

[Anonymous]

I have an oil cooler on my bike and it came that way from the guy I got it from. Oil press. light has flickered 2 times and both were low on oil after high mile all day runnings. Now I keep oil on the bike at all times.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Pump to cooler???, usually the two valve motors have the cooler hooked up from the back of the motor near the CCT with an adapter. Is that how yours is connected??

[Anonymous]

Little correction. The lines run from the pump to the cooler back to the pump.

Do you mean 'filter' instead of 'pump'? The oil pump is inside the engine close to the clutch. If you do mean filter and you are using the 2 outlets on either side of it, then don't dismiss what I pointed out to you. If you need more clarification, I did a search so that you can actually read a post on this subject. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...t=5565&start=0

in the meantime, tape over the light, and ride.

Not on my bike.

[Anonymous]

I'd also suggest that you make suer to run a high zinc oil, just in case you do get a little less oil than you need. Read http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_oil.htm for explanation and list of high-zinc oils.

Michael

[redliner1973]

Most of that post deals with oils in the 'SG' and are almost non-existant anymore. Most all oils have the zinc and phosphorous lowered considerably due to the catalytic converter issue. :twisted: :twisted: