[Djanai]

I have a 2017 CF500. In less than 7mos/14hrs of riding, we were in extreme heat...as engine heated up, it shut down...Oil Pressure light came on.  It sat for awhile and started just fine.  I read online that extreme heat causes oil to have to compress to move.. Suggested synthetic oil since
it handles extreme heat better....Brought to authorize repair place and they couldn't tell us anything . They tried to recreate but of course it isn't that hot.  Anyone know more about this? Any experience Does extreme heat and oil problem make sense?

Thank you

[NMKawierider]

The only thing heat does to oil prior to burning is make it thinner. In cases where the oil pump is warn or other parts have higher clearances, this can cause the pressure to drop...some..but it shouldn't cause it to shut off unless it has a system in place that will do that upon the oil light coming on...and I didn't think CFM had any such thing.As long as the engine is operating in its designed heat range the oil should never get hot enough to cause a problem anyway. Is the fan coming on? How many bars does it show on the pod's coolant temp?

[doug80638]

can you verify what oil is being used (brand and type) and what its viscosity is? 

[REDRIDER]

are you sure the oil light just didn't come on because it stalled and the key was on? Did the oil pressure light come on before it stalled? Is it possible it just stalled randomly? Were you able to start it back up and no lights were then on?

[Djanai]

Oil Pressure Light came on when it stalled while in motion.  When we tried to start it again, the light stayed illuminated.  After sitting it in a shaded area for 45mins - 1hour, it started just fine and the oil pressure light was off.  This happened about 4 times.....The area we were riding in was 107degrees/feel like 113 and we could feel the high heat from the engine on our legs.....When I did an internet search, this is what I found: Higher oil pressure subsequently creates increased OIL TEMPERATURE, because the oil is being forced to compress as it flows through the galleries. Air temperature can also affect oil temperature. ... Synthetic motor oil holds up better in higher temperatures and provides better engine endurance under extreme heat....from THE TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES OF RACING - MOTOR STATE DISTRIBUTING.....Is this how it works with all engines? Could it affect the CFMOTO 500HO ?

[Djanai]

can you verify what oil is being used (brand and type) and what its viscosity is?

.....We are picking it up today.  That will be the question.  In my reply to all (I hope you can see it) I copied info I found that mentioned synthetic oil is better in extreme heat....

[REDRIDER]

Oil Pressure Light came on when it stalled while in motion.  When we tried to start it again, the light stayed illuminated.  After sitting it in a shaded area for 45mins - 1hour, it started just fine and the oil pressure light was off.  This happened about 4 times.....The area we were riding in was 107degrees/feel like 113 and we could feel the high heat from the engine on our legs.....When I did an internet search, this is what I found: Higher oil pressure subsequently creates increased OIL TEMPERATURE, because the oil is being forced to compress as it flows through the galleries. Air temperature can also affect oil temperature. ... Synthetic motor oil holds up better in higher temperatures and provides better engine endurance under extreme heat....from THE TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES OF RACING - MOTOR STATE DISTRIBUTING.....Is this how it works with all engines? Could it affect the CFMOTO 500HO ?

The first part of the quoted comment is true for anything under pressure, more pressure = more heat as it makes the molecules vibrate faster and of course air temp can contribute to some oil temp increase. The problem with correlating this statement to your oil light coming on is that the oil light coming on is from a loss of oil pressure, not a temp light or an over pressure light. Yes the warmer engine oil gets the thinner it will become and result in some drop in oil pressure. If you are running the correct weight of oil it simply should not be coming on. As NMK asked was the engine temp normal? no more than 3-4 bars on the temp gauge? Synthetic doesn't break down as much with heat as I understand it and is a superior oil so switching isn't a bad thing as long as you are out of break in period but I highly doubt it will help with an oil pressure problem.

[NMKawierider]

At a max of about 60/70psi there isn't much heat made by pressure like there is in 2-4000psi hydraulic systems and if the light comes on, its either a bad sensor or the pressure has dropped below what..8psi? In that case there is a real problem that needs addressed before a catastrophic failure. Someone needs to just test the pressure cold and hot. Guessing.. won't cut it..facts will tell the story.