Oil Pressure Light

[kingfish108]

A few weeks back, about 1K after the 35K maintenance, my oil pressure light came on while idling in traffic. I rode it to the dealer, where they "confirmed" that the oil pressure sensor was going bad and replaced it. Two days later on my out of town, the light came on again while waiting at a stop light. I rode it back to the dealer. The service writer checked the oil level (which I had done at home before leaving) and found that it was OK. He and a technician said that that the replacement sensor was probably bad out of the box and as long as the oil level was OK and it was not making noise to go ahead and take my trip. While riding, I would keep the RPMs up a little bit when stopped to keep the light off. Long story short, a week ago I got caught in traffic, the light came on and the top end got noisy. After a couple blocks, I was able to pull over and shut it down. Being a Sunday before a holiday, I let it cool down for about 45 minutes. When I started it back up, the oil pressure light went off and the engine sounded OK. The next morning on my ride back home everything was normal. Now the light only comes on when it supposed to. I am just about 500 miles from the 40K service. Don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I will keep you posted on what they have to say at the dealership.

My trike is a '17 TriGlide.

 

[rhino 2]

A few weeks back, about 1K after the 35K maintenance, my oil pressure light came on while idling in traffic. I rode it to the dealer, where they "confirmed" that the oil pressure sensor was going bad and replaced it. Two days later on my out of town, the light came on again while waiting at a stop light. I rode it back to the dealer. The service writer checked the oil level (which I had done at home before leaving) and found that it was OK. He and a technician said that that the replacement sensor was probably bad out of the box and as long as the oil level was OK and it was not making noise to go ahead and take my trip. While riding, I would keep the RPMs up a little bit when stopped to keep the light off. Long story short, a week ago I got caught in traffic, the light came on and the top end got noisy. After a couple blocks, I was able to pull over and shut it down. Being a Sunday before a holiday, I let it cool down for about 45 minutes. When I started it back up, the oil pressure light went off and the engine sounded OK. The next morning on my ride back home everything was normal. Now the light only comes on when it supposed to. I am just about 500 miles from the 40K service. Don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I will keep you posted on what they have to say at the dealership.

My trike is a '17 TriGlide.

I don’t know if I will wait another 500 miles sounds more like your oil pump is ready to go out ...?

 

[ultrafxr]

I've had a somewhat similar experience. Last year at the 3 Wheel Rally in Deadwood my riding buddy's 2018 TG had the oil pressure light come on while riding the Needles Highway. We were riding, not idling. Anyway I checked the codes (forget exactly what it/they was/were) and cleared them. Has not happened to him again. He never took his in to the dealer.

Then a couple months later the exact same thing happened to me - the light came on while riding. I cleared the code(s) and it did not come back on. But I took mine in to the dealer and they replaced the oil pressure switch/sending unit (whatever it is called) and the light has not come back on and I've put probably 15k on it.

In any case good luck getting it sorted and sure hope you oil pressure was not low and no engine damage occurred. Can't recall but does your 2017 have an actual oil pressure readout? My 2018 just says 'OK' but does not give any number.

 

[rhino 2]

I've had a somewhat similar experience. Last year at the 3 Wheel Rally in Deadwood my riding buddy's 2018 TG had the oil pressure light come on while riding the Needles Highway. We were riding, not idling. Anyway I checked the codes (forget exactly what it/they was/were) and cleared them. Has not happened to him again. He never took his in to the dealer.

Then a couple months later the exact same thing happened to me - the light came on while riding. I cleared the code(s) and it did not come back on. But I took mine in to the dealer and they replaced the oil pressure switch/sending unit (whatever it is called) and the light has not come back on and I've put probably 15k on it.

In any case good luck getting it sorted and sure hope you oil pressure was not low and no engine damage occurred. Can't recall but does your 2017 have an actual oil pressure readout? My 2018 just says 'OK' but does not give any number.

My 17 also just said. Ok ..The top end noise would bother me ..

 

[Jack Klarich]

IMO, I would have the dealer check the pressure with a test gauge

The early M8 engines have gone thru at least 4 oil pump upgrades

 

[luzierg]

IMO, I would have the dealer check the pressure with a test gauge

The early M8 engines have gone thru at least 4 oil pump upgrades

I was returning from Sturgis (about 1500 miles to home) when mine (2017 triglide) starting making noise. The oil light was not on. The local Harley dealer in Gillette, Wy changed the lifters and said everything was OK. The engine started making noise again before I got home to Ohio. My local Harley dealer in Ohio tore the engine down. Both cylinders and pistons was scored. They also replaced the oil pump to the latest revision. The motor had 31000 miles to date. They never offered me an excuse as to what happened.

 

[ultrafxr]

I was returning from Sturgis (about 1500 miles to home) when mine (2017 triglide) starting making noise. The oil light was not on. The local Harley dealer in Gillette, Wy changed the lifters and said everything was OK. The engine started making noise again before I got home to Ohio. My local Harley dealer in Ohio tore the engine down. Both cylinders and pistons was scored. They also replaced the oil pump to the latest revision. The motor had 31000 miles to date. They never offered me an excuse as to what happened.

It's a Harley. They all do that, lol. Seriously did you have any sumping issues? Wonder what the root cause of the problem was. Lifters in the Twin Cam, especially the 110" motors, were very problematic. But I've not heard of any lifter problems with the M8s.

 

[DK Custom Products]

I don’t know if I will wait another 500 miles sounds more like your oil pump is ready to go out ...?

My 17 also just said. Ok ..The top end noise would bother me ..

Sending unit being bad is one thing. Oil light on and engine rattle does not sound like the sending unit...sounds like an oil pump going bad or some other serious issue.

Kevin

 

[kingfish108]

A few weeks back, about 1K after the 35K maintenance, my oil pressure light came on while idling in traffic. I rode it to the dealer, where they "confirmed" that the oil pressure sensor was going bad and replaced it. Two days later on my out of town, the light came on again while waiting at a stop light. I rode it back to the dealer. The service writer checked the oil level (which I had done at home before leaving) and found that it was OK. He and a technician said that that the replacement sensor was probably bad out of the box and as long as the oil level was OK and it was not making noise to go ahead and take my trip. While riding, I would keep the RPMs up a little bit when stopped to keep the light off. Long story short, a week ago I got caught in traffic, the light came on and the top end got noisy. After a couple blocks, I was able to pull over and shut it down. Being a Sunday before a holiday, I let it cool down for about 45 minutes. When I started it back up, the oil pressure light went off and the engine sounded OK. The next morning on my ride back home everything was normal. Now the light only comes on when it supposed to. I am just about 500 miles from the 40K service. Don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I will keep you posted on what they have to say at the dealership.

My trike is a '17 TriGlide.

Took Sherman in to the dealer for the 40K maintenance on Saturday. We talked about the oil light issue and possible lack of oil pressure. They checked for codes and found none. The tech and service writer didn't seem to be concerned about it. I have 16 months left on my warranty, so I am going to continue to ride.

 

[MDO]

I didn't know you could get the light without it generating a code.

 

[kingfish108]

I didn't know you could get the light without it generating a code.

I was surprised that there were not any codes, because I saw the light a lot. For now, I am just going to keep on riding. If something happens, I still have warranty.