oil light coming on

Well I'm pretty upset! Just got this bike running and riding. It's been sitting for almost 15 years I've put about 150 miles on it and now my oil light is coming on. I'm running 10w30 valvoline motorcycle oil did notice the petcock diaphragm is leaking a little the last couple of days and it appears to be over full a little in the crankcase and oil does smell like gas. Could the oil being diluted cause the oil light to come on? Is there any way to run a guage and what pressure should it have?

Yes, there are aftermarket gauges with the fittings around. I have one for my 750 twin. You need to change that oil IMMEDIATELY since it is diluted with gasoline. You can seriously damage the engine running that. The oil light means the oil pressure is dropping below around 8 PSI typically.

10-30 is the wrong oil for old Kawis, should be 10-40 or maybe a 50-50 mix of 10-40 and 20-50 for summer use.

Not sure on your year and model, but i would change the oil and filter first off. Make sure the wire isnt loose or corroded. On the 900 and 1000 there is a test port that unscrews on the right side of the motor. A gauge can be screwed into there.

The carbs neeed to be serviced too if you are getting fuel overflow. Set fuel levels with clear tub. Clean/repair the float and needles. Clean the fuel system and install filters.

I would not run the engine at all with gasoline contaminated oil. It will cause excessive wear. Fix the petcock leak, change the oil & filter, then see if the oil light remains on. Ed

As Bountyhunter mentioned, I thought all KZ's used 10W40 at the minimum.

It's an 82kz1000k w roughly 5k miles on the bottom end and a fresh top end. This is the first time the oil light has ever came on while running as long as I've owned it. The carbs are fresh as well but I did run it out of gas yesterday which may have caused some trash to get into the diaphram o-ring. (Shouldn't have considering the tank just got a new liner) would the thinner oil and the intro of gas in it cause the pressure to drop enough to cause the light to come on? There is no knocking from the bottom end but there has always been a considerable amount of rotation noise since the first time I got it started

Climber manuel. ???

I have a factory manual that covers your model. The oil you used is not on the list of recommended weights.

KZ1000/KZ1100 Pg 2-4. Table 2-2. Engine oil. SAE 10W-40, 10W-50, 20W-40, & 20W-50.

Edit: 1981-83 KZ1000/KZ1100 Kawasaki Service Manual (pdf). Part #99924-1026-03. I tried uploading it to the filebase for 1981 - no luck.
KawiWorld - KZ1000/KZ1100 pdf

I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I'm very interested in doing things right. Hope u guys don't get aggrivated w me I'm a Brent! What do u mean set the level w a clear tube? Thought u had to set them by measurement w the bowl off. Newby. Not a brent

Ok found a diagram for the clear tube setting!

OK,

Step 1. Install the Clymer manual in the outhouse for emergency use only (and I don't mean for working on bikes ) and buy a Kawasaki Service Manual.

Step 2. Find and fix the petcock leak.

Step 3. AFTER fixing the petcock leak, change the oil & filter using the CORRECT oil. This will be oil that carries the JASO-MA certification; and it will NOT be 10w30. Kawasaki recommends 10W40.

DON'T start the engine until you have completed the steps above.

Ed