Oil Pressure Light and 1989 GS500

mms16 · November 20, 2004, 06:21:21 PM

Hi everybody,

I just purchased an '89 GS500 and so far I love it. However, after only two days of riding I have noticed that the oil pressure (I think that is what it is?) light comes on after one or two seconds at idle (stoplights etc). This made me think that the oil level was low, but after topping it off the little red light still comes on when the engine is running at idle (approx 1000 RMS). At 1050 RMSs and above the light immediately goes out (with the slightest movement of the throttle). Does anybody have any ideas? Is this normal? What should the idle speed be? (I am thinking that if I set it to 1100 RMS there would be no more problem, or at least no more little red light. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

-Matt

gsJack · November 20, 2004, 06:32:41 PM

Idle should be about 1100 +/-100 RPM. Also if you just got the bike the oil might be old and thinned out causing the problem. Always good to change the oil on a used bike soon after you get it.

The Buddha · November 20, 2004, 08:45:28 PM

OK you canot have that light come on when riding ...ever ... its triggered at 3 psi, whihc IMHO is plenty low to cause damage to a motor ... heck I lost a good 2 quarts of oil when my oil pressure guage (aftermarket addon) blew and it still didn't come on...
Cool.
Srinath.

calispec · June 08, 2006, 04:21:09 PM

I'm resurecting an old thread here but minne is doing the same thing (Same year and everything oddly enough).

here is the weird thing too. If i set the idle at like 1200rpm the slightest (i mean hardly nudging the thing at all) touch of throttle and the il light comes off. If i adjust the idle speed up to like 3000rpm the oil light still comes on even thought barely bumping the throttle from the 1200rpm idle was shutting it off before.

Also, with the idle at 3000rpm, if i barely bump the throttle the light will go off.

Oh, and the Jake D had new oil pump installed before I got the bike from him.

So, does this sound like a sensor problem?

How does one test the oil pressure sensor?

scratch · June 08, 2006, 04:27:12 PM

I'd check the sensor. Most likely it's dirty or blocked.

calispec · June 08, 2006, 05:46:57 PM

Quote from: scratch on June 08, 2006, 04:27:12 PM
I'd check the sensor. Most likely it's dirty or blocked.

ok, i'll take it out and clean it off bnut how do i know that it is still working is there a way to test it?

how do you recommend i clean it? stiff brush? solvent? The bike and i are in different towns except on the weekend for the time being so i really don't know what i'm dealing with and want to be prepared.

manofthefield · June 09, 2006, 11:02:48 AM

Another thing you may want to check is the oil strainer. Sometimes stuff will get stuck in there and block it off. I had some goop in there(grey gasketmaker they use when putting the engine cases together) that would block it when my bike was at idle on the sidestand. You have to drop the oil pan to get to it

LimaXray · June 09, 2006, 11:19:04 AM

You also might want to check your main and rod bearings... if you really do have low oil pressure they're probably the cause... bearings do wear over time and cause oil pressure to drop, making oil pressure a great measurement of the condition of the engine.

on a side note, the oil light in my Kia does the same exact thing. I'm pretty sure it's cause I drive it too hard and rev it too high on a regular basis and managed to spin a bearing in less than 24k miles.
Good thing I have that 100k mile warranty

calispec · June 11, 2006, 07:07:11 AM

ok, i pulled the oil pressure sensor and there was nothing visibly wrong with it. My dad suggested dropping it in some gas and letting it soak to clean it out in case there was anything stuck up in side there. Is tha my best course of action for that? Anyone have any suggestions?

I also dropped the oil pan and checked out the strainer and it seemed clean enough, but i'm going to blow it out anyway just to make sure.

calispec · June 11, 2006, 07:46:22 AM

I was having some issues with my oil pressure light flicking on and off. So i pulled my oil pressure sensor off and want to know what the best way to clean in case there is stuff clogging it up would be.

scratch · June 11, 2006, 08:57:37 AM

Gas or kerosene should do the job, be sure to agitate it in the kerosene (or gas), so that the stuff potentially clogging it will come loose. If you have a single hair off of a soft brass bristle brush, you could use that to wiggle around in there, gently. Should be pretty obvious if it's clogged with any kind of debris, though.

sledge · June 11, 2006, 01:54:09 PM

A flickering oil light on tickover is indicative of low oil pressure. It can be down to a clogged oil-filter or pick-up, a filter bypass valve thats stuck open (not sure if the GS has one). A worn oil-pump or an increase in bearing clearances. If cleaning the pressure switch proves inconclusive the next step is a trip to a good bike mechanic to get the pressure checked. One of the casing bolts (not sure which but its in the Haynes manual) passes through an oil gallery and by removing the bolt and connecting up a suitable gauge the pressure can be checked and compared to the figure specified by Suzuki.

calispec · June 14, 2006, 02:38:51 PM

but isn't it kind of wierd that at a 1200 rpm idle a throttle blimp to like 1500 (i don't know the exact amount of rpm climb but basically any movement at all) will shut the light off, but if i set the idle at 3000 the light still comes on and needs a throttle touch to turn it off??

I mean if rpm's determine how much oil the pump is moving then shoudn't it not matter if the rpm's are at idle or as a result of manual throttle bump?

calispec · June 14, 2006, 06:54:19 PM

Quote from: calispec on June 14, 2006, 02:38:51 PM
but isn't it kind of wierd that at a 1200 rpm idle a throttle blimp to like 1500 (i don't know the exact amount of rpm climb but basically any movement at all) will shut the light off, but if i set the idle at 3000 the light still comes on and needs a throttle touch to turn it off??

I mean if rpm's determine how much oil the pump is moving then shoudn't it not matter if the rpm's are at idle or as a result of manual throttle bump?

does that normal? that point a finger at anything in particular?

rangerbrown · June 14, 2006, 07:22:32 PM

after the rpm levels off the presure will drop if, the drive gear is not turnign thte pump properly, and when you blip the throttle the oil pump pressure changes and the light will go off.

first thing i would do is pull the valve cover and turn it over. to see if it is getting oil, if not then you have a problem but if you have been runign as long as you said the cam 's are tost and most likely the engine.

if there is oil flowing then the sensor is shorting out or the light is. i would take the time to install the real oil gauge to monator pressure. and screw the light.

calispec · June 14, 2006, 07:29:28 PM

Quote from: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 07:22:32 PM
after the rpm levels off the presure will drop if, the drive gear is not turnign thte pump properly, and when you blip the throttle the oil pump pressure changes and the light will go off.

first thing i would do is pull the valve cover and turn it over. to see if it is getting oil, if not then you have a problem but if you have been runign as long as you said the cam 's are tost and most likely the engine.

if there is oil flowing then the sensor is shorting out or the light is. i would take the time to install the real oil gauge to monator pressure. and screw the light.

thing is it's got a new pump

rangerbrown · June 14, 2006, 07:32:43 PM

but was it installed right? are the gear that turn it installed right?

have you removed it and checked it, even new pumps fail

calispec · June 14, 2006, 07:37:33 PM

how does one test oil pressure? I mean is there a tool for this or do you just use a gauge like you would mount in a car? What is the trick for hooking this up, I take it from reading other posts i found using the search that there is a trick to getting one to hook up to this bike.

rangerbrown · June 14, 2006, 07:43:58 PM

well like i said the fastest easest wa would be to remove the valve cover to see if oil is being pumped up there,

pull the plugs so that it doesn't start, just use the starter to spin it over. if you get oil then your fine, if not then there is a blockage or the pump has failed. its just that simple

calispec · June 14, 2006, 07:54:19 PM

Quote from: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 07:43:58 PM
well like i said the fastest easest wa would be to remove the valve cover to see if oil is being pumped up there,

pull the plugs so that it doesn't start, just use the starter to spin it over. if you get oil then your fine, if not then there is a blockage or the pump has failed. its just that simple

but won't that only tell me if it is only getting SOME pressure, i mean 3psi would put oil up there. I'm in the process of replacing the oil pressure sensor and cleaning all the little particals out from the rebuild break (oil and filter change) in hopes one of those two will help.

I would like to hook up a gauge to it to make sure all is well afterwards.

what gauge do you use and how do you hook it up?

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Oil Pressure Light and 1989 GS500

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