Testing oil level switch

[kicker]

I am changing my oil lines and cleaning my tank on my 96 GSX, and thought I would test the oil level switch. I dont ever run that low on oil for the light or warning to come on, I just want to make sure that it will in the event that I run it low on oil

I am not exactly sure how it works. I put the meter on it and get no reading when it is in the upside right position, when I turn it upside down I get a reading of .4. I plugged it into the ski (not installed in tank) it the ski gives me a low oil warning whether it is upside down or upside right.

Does that sound like it is working? I don't understand why I have a low oil warning when it is not in the tank.

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[Dr Honda]

it sounds like the sender is working.

Try shorting the wires together in the ski, and see if the light goes out on the gauge.

Was the light on before you pulled it from the tank?

Finally... sometimes... for some reason... on a seadoo... the switch needs to "Soak" for a while for the light to go out.

 

[kicker]

No I have never seen the light on, cause I dont think I let the oil go that low.

I did short out the wires and the light warning turns off on the ski, so I think we are good to go.

Thanks for the help Doc.

If I got some time between games this weekend Ill shoot you a PM

 

[68ragtop]

You should be able to plug the float into the ski & assume its installed position. Then move the float by hand & see what happens.
Sounds like your good though.

I like the fact that it is a closed loop indicator. I think the temperature switch should be that way too. Closed when normal, open when there is a problem. That way the light comes on if the wiring loop is broken.

Nice meter by the way. I remember a rep years ago saying, "you know fluke is a good test equipment when other mfg's use them to repair their own meters". Not sure if thats true, it just always stuck in my head.....

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

soak

it sounds like the sender is working.

Try shorting the wires together in the ski, and see if the light goes out on the gauge.

Was the light on before you pulled it from the tank?

Finally... sometimes... for some reason... on a seadoo... the switch needs to "Soak" for a while for the light to go out.

The reasoning is so that the light doesn't go on/off 200x a minute as your bouncing around the lake

it takes in oil, and holds it a bit, so that it's an on/off thing not on/off/on/off/on/off

although mine will often show the light when my XP is on it's side and I'm in the water

same thing my Tahoe does with the temp sensor... garage is 55, outside is 35, but it takes a while to get there... it only adjusts 1 degree per 30 seconds (or so)... else the display would bounce from 32-33-34-32-33-34-35-33 while you watch it... accurate, but kinda goofy.... the computer slows it down to make it less annoying.

 

[kicker]

Ok, now I understand a little better how it works. The white cylinder does not actually slide up and down with the oil level, which confused me a bit. The actual float switch is inside that cylinder. That would also explain the holes inside the cylinder to allow oil to flow in and out at a slower pace then if the oil was bouncing around inside the tank.

So just to be clear, I should have resistance on my meter when the oil level is up and no resistance when it is low?

 

[Guest_User]

Ok, now I understand a little better how it works. The white cylinder does not actually slide up and down with the oil level, which confused me a bit. The actual float switch is inside that cylinder. That would also explain the holes inside the cylinder to allow oil to flow in and out at a slower pace then if the oil was bouncing around inside the tank.

So just to be clear, I should have resistance on my meter when the oil level is up and no resistance when it is low?

the correct way to test it would be place it in a suitable container as if it were installed in the tank and submersed in oil... let it stand for a while as it absorbs/lets the oil flow in... measure your resistance with the meter... remove, let drain again, and measure... on a working sender those will be your 2 different numbers...

from what I understand the sensor, senses liquid in the area of the white unit. Notice where in the tank that white part sits, that would be your low point to trigger the light/alarm...

you guys are correct in saying it`s designed so the sloshing oil does not affect the "switch" itself...

The yamaha`s used a 2 part float set up that yielded different values, combined it would tell the ecu where the level was...

 

[kicker]

Thanks all for the help, I did put the sender in a container with oil and did get a reading, then did the same process with the container and hooked it to the ski wire and got a low oil warning on the gauge. All is good.