No oil pressure, I need your help!

Z1000 · 03-27-09, 05:23 PM

I just changed the oil, which I do every spring before I start to ride. I changed the oil filter (Kawasaki brand) and put 3 quarts, 20 ounces of Mobil1 Racing 4T 10W40 oil in my Z1000.

I started it up and the oil light would not go off. I ran it for close to a minute and turned it off. I unscrewed the filter and it had no oil in it. I thought maybe the filter was defective so I got another brand new filter and changed it out. I started it and let it run for 30 seconds or so and the light still did not go out. I waited a few minutes and let it run for 30 more seconds. It still has not gone out and the new filter is empty.

The bike only has 3,600 miles on it and still looks brand new. Does anyone have a clue what might be going on with it?

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Martin64 · 03-27-09, 05:25 PM

Did you put oil in the filter before installing it?

Z1000 · 03-27-09, 05:27 PM

No, but I never have before and it has only taken maybe 10 seconds for the light to go off. I don't fill the filter because I have to turn it sideways to install it, so I'd lose most of the oil anyway.

Mike

Martin64 · 03-27-09, 05:37 PM

Sometimes a filter will have like an air-lock (like a bubble) and it won't accept the oil. Mine goes on sideways too and I never lose any. If you put oil into the filter to the top (where you see the threads on the inside) and stop, the oil will soak into the filter....that will be enough to work. Just let the filter set for a minute or two and don't add anymore oil to it, it'll be fine...you'll see the oil level will be a little lower. Of course if you "lolly-gag" around while putting the filter on it will drip out. Even though mine doesn't drip, I still keep a rag or pan under until I get the filter on all the way (barely snug + 1/4 turn).

Think of it like priming a pump (which is really what you'll be doing)

ozzyflash · 03-27-09, 05:40 PM

I've been there and done that. On this forum there are others who've been down this path.

What's happened is you lost the prime on your oil pump when you changed the oil. If I had to guess.... I'd say you drained the oil and removed the filter, then waited a while (more than 5 minutes) before you installed the new filter.

The way I handled this problem was I very loosely screwed on the oil filter leaving a gap between the filter and the engine block so that air could escape from the oil lines while I started the engine and let it idle for a moment.

Leaving this escape route for the air keeps the oil filter from essentially pressuring and keeping oil from working its way through the pump.

it shouldn't take more than 5 or 8 seconds of idle before you begin seeing oil leak from the gap left between the filter and engine block. Once you see oil leaking you can go ahead and tighten up the filter.

masalma · 03-27-09, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzyflash

I've been there and done that. On this forum there are others who've been down this path.

What's happened is you lost the prime on your oil pump when you changed the oil. If I had to guess.... I'd say you drained the oil and removed the filter, then waited a while (more than 5 minutes) before you installed the new filter.

The way I handled this problem was I very loosely screwed on the oil filter leaving a gap between the filter and the engine block so that air could escape from the oil lines while I started the engine and let it idle for a moment.

Leaving this escape route for the air keeps the oil filter from essentially pressuring and keeping oil from working its way through the pump.

it shouldn't take more than 5 or 8 seconds of idle before you begin seeing oil leak from the gap left between the filter and engine block. Once you see oil leaking you can go ahead and tighten up the filter.

Yep, have to do that with every oil change, just loosen the filter, turn on bike, and the second see any oil just tighten it up.

Jason 306 · 03-27-09, 05:51 PM

+1 my bike lost oil pressure when I went down. I started the bike up, unscrewed the filter a little bit until some oil started to shoot out, tightened the filter back up and went on to wreck another day!

Z1000 · 03-27-09, 05:54 PM

That worked. Thanks guys! I just hope I did not ruin my motor. With all my screwing around and experimenting, I bet it idled for a total of three minutes without oil pressure. I did have synthetic in it before, so I hope that helped save the cylinders.

I will take it for a spin. I'm sure I will know if I have killed the motor.

Mike

03-27-09, 05:23 PM	#1
Z1000 Up-And Comer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 67	No oil pressure, I need your help! I just changed the oil, which I do every spring before I start to ride. I changed the oil filter (Kawasaki brand) and put 3 quarts, 20 ounces of Mobil1 Racing 4T 10W40 oil in my Z1000. I started it up and the oil light would not go off. I ran it for close to a minute and turned it off. I unscrewed the filter and it had no oil in it. I thought maybe the filter was defective so I got another brand new filter and changed it out. I started it and let it run for 30 seconds or so and the light still did not go out. I waited a few minutes and let it run for 30 more seconds. It still has not gone out and the new filter is empty. The bike only has 3,600 miles on it and still looks brand new. Does anyone have a clue what might be going on with it? Thanks in advance, Mike __________________ Black 2003 Z1000 Mike's Z1000 Page

03-27-09, 05:25 PM	#2
Martin64 West Coast Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: El Cajon, Ca. Posts: 12,518	Did you put oil in the filter before installing it? __________________ ZR-7OA #110 This map is informational only. No representation is made or warranty given as to its content or usability. User assumes all risk of use.

03-27-09, 05:27 PM	#3
Z1000 Up-And Comer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 67	No, but I never have before and it has only taken maybe 10 seconds for the light to go off. I don't fill the filter because I have to turn it sideways to install it, so I'd lose most of the oil anyway. Mike __________________ Black 2003 Z1000 Mike's Z1000 Page

03-27-09, 05:37 PM	#4
Martin64 West Coast Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: El Cajon, Ca. Posts: 12,518	Sometimes a filter will have like an air-lock (like a bubble) and it won't accept the oil. Mine goes on sideways too and I never lose any. If you put oil into the filter to the top (where you see the threads on the inside) and stop, the oil will soak into the filter....that will be enough to work. Just let the filter set for a minute or two and don't add anymore oil to it, it'll be fine...you'll see the oil level will be a little lower. Of course if you "lolly-gag" around while putting the filter on it will drip out. Even though mine doesn't drip, I still keep a rag or pan under until I get the filter on all the way (barely snug + 1/4 turn). Think of it like priming a pump (which is really what you'll be doing) __________________ ZR-7OA #110 This map is informational only. No representation is made or warranty given as to its content or usability. User assumes all risk of use.

03-27-09, 05:40 PM	#5
ozzyflash Up-And Comer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 146	I've been there and done that. On this forum there are others who've been down this path. What's happened is you lost the prime on your oil pump when you changed the oil. If I had to guess.... I'd say you drained the oil and removed the filter, then waited a while (more than 5 minutes) before you installed the new filter. The way I handled this problem was I very loosely screwed on the oil filter leaving a gap between the filter and the engine block so that air could escape from the oil lines while I started the engine and let it idle for a moment. Leaving this escape route for the air keeps the oil filter from essentially pressuring and keeping oil from working its way through the pump. it shouldn't take more than 5 or 8 seconds of idle before you begin seeing oil leak from the gap left between the filter and engine block. Once you see oil leaking you can go ahead and tighten up the filter. __________________ 2003 Z-1000 in Orange Mods: Givi windscreen, Z-billet case sliders, Aprilia mirrors, Mirror extenders, Frame sliders, 3-level dogbones set to 1" higher, and full set of soft luggage for long distance touring.

03-27-09, 05:51 PM	#7
Jason 306 Supreme Being Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newark, Ohio Posts: 1,104	+1 my bike lost oil pressure when I went down. I started the bike up, unscrewed the filter a little bit until some oil started to shoot out, tightened the filter back up and went on to wreck another day! __________________

03-27-09, 05:54 PM	#8
Z1000 Up-And Comer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 67	That worked. Thanks guys! I just hope I did not ruin my motor. With all my screwing around and experimenting, I bet it idled for a total of three minutes without oil pressure. I did have synthetic in it before, so I hope that helped save the cylinders. I will take it for a spin. I'm sure I will know if I have killed the motor. Mike __________________ Black 2003 Z1000 Mike's Z1000 Page

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