How to check oil pressure
 

I recently purchased a 1988 XT600. I would like to check the oil pressure. Is there an easy way to do this?

Thanks,
Mark

i can tell you if the Pump works good....
 

right hand side of engine ( as you sit on bike) there is a cover with 3 screws or bolts, on the top of that cover is a 8mm bolt....... warm engine up, 10 minute ride should do, Park on an old sheet or some poly sheet.... then let it tick over and undo the 8mm bolt on top..

if oil gushes out the oil pump is good, a quick rev to say 2000 should make it fountain out!.

switch off, put 8mm bolt back in, clean up oil.

:thumbup1:

Martyn

i havent found any easy places to take a measurement of but am going to fit an oil preasure switch in the system probably in one of a few places the oil filter cover, or a new adapted bolt for the transfer pipe. but i would rather measure closer to the cam as this is what im more concerned with. I surpose you could adapt an oil pump cover to a preasure guage if you wanted.

Thanks all!

Martynbiker, I'll give it a try as soon as it quits raining around here.

Mark

The oil pressure in XT's is not high (I'm basing this on my 2003 model). The engine is mainly (I understand) rolling element bearings (ball, roller bearings) which do not create high back pressure. The pump is a low pressure unit. I checked my pressure by fitting a long poly tube (around 5mm bore) to the bolt on top of the filter housing. There was about 10 ft of this tube which I attached to the rafters in my garage. You're only looking for a few psi. so a manometer like I made should be adequate. The oil worked its way up to my rafters (around 8ft) and I called it good enough and turned the engine off, so I never found out how much further it would have gone).
A typical gauge reading up to 100 psi etc would not be sensitive enough to give you good information. Others may have a different view.

i know it cant be high preasure but must have some preasure behind it as the cam runs straight on the alloy of the head so would need some preasure to lubricate the cam. when i get my project up and running i will measure the preasure i have two guages one for measuring high and one low about 30 psi i think.

Oil Fountain
 

I warmed up my bike for ten minutes and took the 8mm bolt out of the oil filter cover. I had quite the impressive oil fountain. I pretty sure my oil pressure is good.

Thanks for the help.

Mark

I know this instrument doesn't display Oil Pressure but it does display Oil Temperature...moto-detail Motorcycle Oil Temperature Gauge

Just to let you know.......
 

According to the workshop manual the oil Pressure on My XT600 (1989 2KF) should be........wait for it.... 1.8psi !!!! YES One point Eight! Not a lot is it?

Martyn