GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: jangofett on August 11, 2003, 08:38:03 AM

Title: oil pressure question
Post by: jangofett on August 11, 2003, 08:38:03 AM
Hey GS'ers, if your bike has not been run in a few days and you start it, can the oil pressure light come on for a few seconds. I never noticed before but this morning it did come on right when I started it and about 3 seconds later it went off. I figured this was no problem but thought I would check and see. I just changed the oil a week ago and never noticed this before. The oil shows full? Does anybody else out there ever see this? Thanks!
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: Bob Broussard on August 11, 2003, 08:57:30 AM
After sitting for awhile the oil has drained down. It takes a few seconds to pump up the pressure.
After the first startup it will build pressure faster, unless it's long periods between runs. Since you changed the oil it was probably more drained down than just sitting.
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: TheGoodGuy on August 11, 2003, 09:14:25 AM
i had that yesterday for about 10 seconds the oil presure light was on.. but then it went off. But then I knew this was going to happen after my oil change.
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: jangofett on August 11, 2003, 10:59:59 AM
Yeah, it was last week when I changed the oil though. I have run it since then but the bike has been parked for about three days so maybe that is why it came on because of a longer period of time sitting. I knew it would come on last week when I changed the oil and it did but I did not know about it coming on this morning after sitting a few days. Just thought I would check with you all. Thanks!
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: glenn9171 on August 12, 2003, 10:04:18 AM
What weight oil are you using?  Conventional or synthetic?  Heavier oils and conventionals take longer to circulate when starting the engine than thinner oils and/or synthetics.  I use 10W-40 Castrol Syntec Blend and the light never stays on more than a second when starting up.  Except, of course, immediately after an oil change.
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: jangofett on August 12, 2003, 12:19:05 PM
I am using 10W-40 Valvoline motorcycle conventional oil. When I started it today, it did not do this. I guess it had just drained down after a few days.
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: scratch on August 13, 2003, 06:56:58 AM
An old Triumph owner's trick is after a bkie has been sitting for a while to turn over the crank a few times by hand before starting.
Title: oil pressure question
Post by: jangofett on August 15, 2003, 02:34:53 PM
Something did not feel right about the Valvoline 10W-40 Motorcycle oil I put in a couple weeks ago. My oil light was coming on for 10 seconds each time I started it on a new day. I went to Suzuki and bought a factory oil filter, and suzuki 10w-40 oil. The oil light problem is gone and my bike is shifting smooth again. I have no clue what was causing the oil problem except maybe the filter. All I know is the Valovoline oil did not even look thick enough to be 10W-40. Needless to say, I won't use it again. My bike sure did not like it.  All is well now!