Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Triumph America Oil pressure problem

Hi all,
I'm in a delema! I have not long bought a used America, just some 9K miles on clock, fitted with Tulip pipes, apes and single seat, a real looker!
It's still under shop warrentee although she's 4 years old.
I have put 135 Jets in her to tune the exhaust from 120 jets and she runs sweet.
Have just had a run down from the UK to south of France and back again. She has used a lot of oil (1 1/2 litres over 1300 miles) Not smoking, no mis-firing, no blackening of the exhausts, no blackening of the spark plugs, everthing sweet. Getting here back to the U.K I gave her a good wash & wax up, now within 100 miles since the run, the Oil pressure light is showing!. I've not rode her since. Levels are good, changed oil, no sludge or debris in sump, nothing to tell me there's a problem but the fact is it has used a lot of oil. We were cruising for most of it at 80-85mph, never objected to any of that. So why the oil consumption, and why cant i get the pressure light out after initial start up.
I have another pressure switch comin (just £12.00) or so. But it does'nt get away from the oil usage issue which I'm not happy about!
Could the jets be too big that its "Washing out the Bores" Anyone heard of that? The engine sounds and runs fine, I'm worried that i have bought a donkey? what do you think?
Suggestions please guys?
Jon Bradley England

Did you make sure the oil filter doesn't have a puncture or leaking at the gasket? The jets don't have anything to do with your problem. That oil has to be going somewhere.

Hi and welcome,
Regarding the oil pressure warning lamp, you did mention that you gave it a good wash, I believe that water sometimes gets into the switch and can make it come on or light dim.

With the level, double check it again I think.
Use the same spot of ground, make sure the bike is at the same level and the engine is cold, make a note of the level in the sight glass. do a few hundred miles and recheck with it cold again.

As Ian says it must be going somewhere, not spraying out of a faulty pressure switch by any chance??

Have a look in the air box as well, should be clean.

Good luck.

Cheers for coming back,
I'll double check the switch for moisture and cover it in that grease. As for the oil filter, no leaks to report.
Riding it that hard (well not that hard) should'nt have burnt that sort of oil, and I cant see it coming from anywhere.
Running on 10-40 semi Synthetic, 95 octane Gas for you Americans! Lol
Whats the sort of pressure i should expect if i fit an oil pressure Gauge?
Jon B

My Other Bikes a Trophy 1200 by the way and have owned original bonnies back in the 80's Pre 76 models
So I'm not totally green, but this one has me thinking!, Mmmm......
Jon B

Hi Jon,

I noticed I was low on oil last September while doing a pre-ride inspection in Bowling Green, Ohio. Had to put .7 ltrs in. No sign of any leak. No snotty pipes, nada. That was the first time I had to add oil too and so far was the last time.

Several members on this site have had an oil consumption issue after installing a big bore kit. They too had no apparent evidence of oil use other than a low sight glass.

Point being that lucas is alive an well. Although he has moved away from lectrics to oil.

What can I figure? Ring slip by is apparently burned throughly and doesn't smug the plugs and /or the headers get so hot the oil is burnt there and what exits the pipes is a sooty ash that doesn't have a tendency to stick.

Metering your oil pressure and checking the pressure sensor is forthright. Perhaps a compression check on the jugs could offer some insight on your rings. Having someone riding behind you might afford them an opportunity to see if you blow smoke. Of course you already now about these steps, but I wanted to mention the mystery oil consumption issue being although rare is still a bit too common.

I'm well impressed with this Forum Malarky!! Some great advice guy's,...very much appreciated!
"Brothers in arms" across the pond!....That's what I like to see.
Keep it real! & Ride free!
Jon B

I should think a compression check is in order as high or low oil pressure won't cause this sort of consumption. And, not as an insult but as a query...did you check the oil sight glass with the bike set dead level and not on the side stand? Filled to the mark while on the side stand would overfill your sump and likely blow the oil out the breather into the air box.

O.K Boy's here's an update!
Got home from work, could'nt resist getting straight out to the shed, checked;
Air filter box; Clean
Sump & filter; Clean no leaks
Oil levels; Good
Got some Silicon Grease, removed grommit from pressure switch, Moisture evident!!
bit of a ****** to get too, but cleaned out, loosened then tightened end screw on wire/fitting, end of switch. Covered in grease.
Started bike, no more "low oil pressure light"! Possibly cracked it? well done all especially NIBiker! you got me thinking.
Now I'm still not sure where all that oil went?? So next service I'm gonna get her comp tested just to make sure, but in the meantime, I'm gonna fit an Oil pressure Gauge!
What pressure should i be looking for Gang? Any idea's as to where i can buy the kit?
Thanks again to you all for your imput and time
Jon B

water can cause the oil light to come on, that is why I made our mechanical gauges. I washed Wendy's bike and hers came on due to water. That will not cause the oil consumption though.

Hey Ian you made those gauges??!! Got plans etc??

I made them , yes. I bought the stuff from J&P Cycle, used stainless brake line with the AN3 fittings and chrome banjo with the AN3. I had to machine a special double banjo bolt since the banjo fitting on top of the trans is thicker than a standard banjo so my double banjo bolt was really like a 2 1/2 banjo bolt.I machined the banjo bolt out of a stainless bolt of larger dia. I made the brackets out of stainless plate I had and polished.
The banjo bolt on top of the trans was 10mm X 1.25.

Dog33,....or should I say "Top Dog"
Nice set up! Seems easy enough to sort the parts and retro fit. We dont have a JP Cycles over this side of the Pond. I've used them whilst on holiday in the states for parts when i had a customised Softail. Bloody handy & a good price on most after market parts.
What sort of pressure does your missus bike run at then?
Trying to get a feel of what i should be hitting?

Jon B

I get 80lbs consistently under load and it drops to around 25-30 on idle - depending whether the engine is hot or cold.

My '05 runs 65 Lbs at temp. on idle. Noteworthy is I have only had it installed for a few weeks, my oil is still new and I haven't been stuck in a traffic jam on a good hot day yet.

30lbs vs 65lbs ... new oil is maybe a factor - temp more so and various oil viscosities - I am in a hot climate running 15/50. Also revs make a huge difference - 100 revs difference on idle could account for most of it.

What revs is your idle set at?

Hmmm that doesn't stack up - I'm at 1050. Lower revs would produce less pressure. Maybe volume of oil is a factor. I'm nearly due for an oil change so maybe my level has dropped. Or maybe you have a bit more in yours. Others here have usually been around the 20-30lbs on idle.

I get about 80 under a load too and about 20 to 30 at idle too. I made 2 of those gauges one is on my bike the other is on Wendy's. The parts should be easy to get I just mentioned J&P because that is where mine came from. The odd double banjo bolt is probably the worst of the stumbling blocks. I realize most guys don't have a lathe to spin one. I used a chrome 10mm banjo fitting with an AN3 fitting on it to accept the end of the braided stainless brake line. Then and AN3 adapter to change to 1/4" pipe then a chrome elbow and the gauge into that. An easier way might be to run the line from where the oil sensor is now since that is already a threaded fitting. Put a T fitting there and you could still keep the oil light too. My oil light still works too since I went off the banjo that is on top of the trans. I just don't want to depend on that oil light.