oil pressure question

[Isamemon]

recently there was a thread on changing oil and it was mentioned that the oil light should never come on even at idle.
in the time I have owned my bike, the oil light comes on at low idle, like less then 1000 rpm. and Im on my second summer with the bike
so from what I am reading , this is not acceptable ????
I printed out the artlicles on checking filter spacing , by snobum, and will check it before I ride again.

I change my oil and filter often and have never seen anything that is a concern, I run synthetics

related question, part 2

and since I have an old vdo oil presssure gauge and sending unit off a german car I thought I might hook it up some weekend and see what kind of pressure I get at idle, and at say 3k
does anyone know what the acceptable values are on oil pressure on a motor with 50k on it

[donbmw]

Don't know what the pressure for the mileage should be. Have seen on some cars at idle 15 psi and this was ok pressure would go up to 50 psi as rpm's increased. I do know on all my bike that the oil pressure light does not come on at idle. One bike is a 82 R65 with 90000 miles and 75 R90/6 with around 40000 miles that I put on it but do not know the actual mileage. According to the Clymer manual the oil pressure light comes on at 3 - 7 psi.

Don

[danielroth]

are you sure that its the OIL light or the GEN light.
GEN will glow at a low idle.
double check and make sure.
-dan

[26667]

if memory serves, while I was fussing w this problem a few weeks ago, the oil pressure should run about 60+ psi and should never go below about 15psi. If the amber oil pressure light on the dash comes on at all it's a sign of trouble. I believe (again based on help here and from my guru) that the prob is most likely (not neccessarily) the switch. I had vdo press and temp guages and the vdo switch that replaced the oem switch was the problem. You might try Palo Alto Speedometer. The guy I spoke w there was really helpful and knowledgeable. The switches are available.

As a temporary fix I installed the factory switch. the p.o. had used silicone...!!? to seal the vdo switch which was the wrong thread size ?!! A switch w the proper thread is available, but more expensive than oem. The vdo guages don't work right w the oem switch, but the oil pressure indicator is back to 'factory.' I'll fuss w the vdo stuff over the winter when the lowers are off and it's easier to do.

good luck

[Brownie]

Isamemon & hedz............


Continuing from another thread......I'm one of those gauge geeks...My engine oil pressure is about 65-68 @ 4000 RPM with oil at least 180F. The VDO sender for the gauge triggers the idiot light at about 11-17 psi UNLIKE the original!!!!

If the original oil pressure sender triggers the "Uh-Oh" light.....you're in deep doo-doo!!!!

Pull the filter assembly out, check very carefully your spacer/o-ring set-up, etc!!!

It is time to ask for serious Guru help...check out Snowbum's web site, Oak's past discussions in the ABC tech section........somethin' ain't right down there!!!!

[flash412]

IIRC, that ORANGE oil light comes on when the pressure drops below TWO (2) PSI.

Are you running 0W30 oil?

[Brownie]

Isamemon & threadees..........

On the way into work tonight, "Igor" was showing 60-62 psi @ 3K RPM's, an honest 180-190F on temp (taken at bottom of sump).

An 1000 RPM idle yielded 22-25 psi, same temp. Engine has 134K miles, Spectro 20w-50 blend (always). Hope these numbers help:thumb

[rbryson]

My R90/6 oil pressure light comes on only after the engine is warm and is idling below 1200 RPM's. The orange oil pressure :violin light blinks. This has been occuring for over a year. I have changed the oil pressure sensor, changed oil filter, and changed oil three times...light still blinks after warm and on idle. Everyone talks about the spacers that come with the oil filters. In my kit there was a white rubber ring and a thin metal ring. If you look at Clymers or if you look at a blowup of the MAX parts catalog it is next to impossible to tell if any or all of these are used for a 1975 R90/6. CAN ANYONE TELL ME SIMPLY WHAT GOES WHERE? MUCH APPRECIATED.
Randyhttp://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/images/smilies/violin.gif

[donbmw]

On my 75 R90/6 it doesnot use the large oring and shim. When you remove the cover thier is another cover under it to removed the filter. You could have a problem with the inner cover leaking oil for the light to come on or the bearing on the crank are worn or the pump.

Don

[tghsmith]

was any work done to the oil pump cover(ie new o-ring)I have seen a slightly larger o-ring(non oem) installed in the pump cover that gave the oil light at idle. if your sure of the filter setup install a new oil presure sending unit to start with.