97 GSX Displays 'Low Oil' but has oil in tank???

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm brand new to Seadoos. Grew up with boats and water skiing and finally bought my first SeaDoo, a 1997 GSX, last week. 1st impression... Love It!

The guy I bought it from is a buy/sell guy who had used it only one w/e over 4th July before selling to me. Everything was working normally the first 1/2 hour, or so, on the first day out. On the 2nd day I've run it about 3 hours (little less than 2 tanks of gas) and think I might have a problem.

The Info Ctr started flashing LOW OIL while riding, and when I returned to the dock it flashed MAINT when I started to put it on the trailer. The oil tank is about 1/2 full, and I couldn't tell just by looking at it that the oil level had even gone down any while riding. Is this normal?

The seller had put a gallon of the Quicksilver oil from Walmart in the tank (Wrong oil, TC-W3 -- I know, after I started doing some research on this forum after the weekend). What should I do now? Any help, or response, is greatly appreciated!

 

[Opformark]

Did you empty out that oil I hope? I have the exact ski and even though mine is over 3/4 full of oil it sometimes will light the warning light especially when we are riding hard and fast. After slowing down it usually goes out. I'm pretty sure it's just a level warning light and not an oil injection malfunction.

 

[Dr Honda]

Welcome.

Drain the system, and refill it with a FULL SYNTHETIC API-TC oil. Quicksilver makes an oil that can be used in your ski... but most wal-mart's don't have it. Also, change the filter, and bleed the system. TC-w3 oils can be the death of a seadoo 800 engine.

As far as your issue... it's normal if the tank is 1/2 or a little lower... and you ride very aggressive. It will bounce the float, and trip the light.

As far as guessing if the oil system is working... just mark the tank with a sharpie marker while it's on the trailer... and check it after you are done for the day. If you were riding hard... you will burn a quart of oil for most of a tank of fuel. BUT... if you are idling around, and running at low throttle settings... you will burn less oil

 

[Ben_Jamin]

Thanks for the quick replies! My closest SeaDoo dealer is about 30 miles and I plan to go pick up the XP-S oil there this week. I will purge all the old and replace with the new before my next ride. Thanks again for the help!