oil pressure light on 1994 Camry 4 cyl

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Donald

Donald

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On way to work today (super cold morning) the oil pressure light came on, so I pulled over and turned off the engine. The oil level was low but was still between the add and full, although closer to add than to full. So I added about 3/4 QT of oil and went on my way. About 10 minutes latter the oil pressure light started flickering again. Pulled over, turned off the engine and checked the oil level and it was full. Decided to go back home and swap cars. The oil pressure light only flickered a few times ont he way home. Saturday I will hook up a manual pressure gauge. The oil pressure light only flickers at high speeds (60 MPH) and not at lower speeds. I am perplexed as the oil pressure light has only come on once before and it was again low on oil. The problem seemed to have started when the oil level was low, but am not sure what the problem is.
 
run a couple of rounds of AutoRx to see if it can clear any oil passageway's clogs, partially stuck oil pressure relief valve and/or questionable oil pressure (idiot light) switch.
 
The engine runs fine and I am not hearing odd noises. I need to resolve the problem before I would have time to run any AutoRx through the engine. The manual says bearings or worn oil pump if the oil pressure is good. I just feel it has got to be related to me being low on oil yesterday. But I cannot believe I ruined the bearings in the 20 or 30 seconds it took me to notice the oil pressure light and to pull over. The oil is Amsoil ASL.
 
I would also check the oil pressure switch. It is a simple low pressure detection switch and could be defective. W/ no other signs of low oil pressure, this is a possibility.

good luck
 
Quote:

I would also check the oil pressure switch. It is a simple low pressure detection switch and could be defective. W/ no other signs of low oil pressure, this is a possibility.

good luck

Click to expand...


I agree. If it's a 4 banger, the sender is in the front of the motor by the oil filter which is easy to remove and hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge and see what's happening.
 
OK, another (non problem) is I poured 3/4 of a QT of very cold oil (temp was down to 0 to 5F that morning) into an engine that was warmed up. But what choice? Never heard of anyone having a problem with pouring in cold oil, only cold water.
 
Quote:

I am perplexed as the oil pressure light has only come on once before and it was again low on oil. The problem seemed to have started when the oil level was low, but am not sure what the problem is.

Click to expand...
How low was the oil level, The 1st time the light came on?
 
Its a 93 4 cyl, do not see a sender near the filter, but I do see a sender on the upper right side (looking at the engine) just below the head, but it cold be the temp sender.
 
No matter what you find replace the sender. It's a wear item and is cheap enough. But you are on the right path. The qt of cold oil did not hurt anything. Don't worry you will figure it out because you understand enough to get to the problem weather or not you can fix it.
 
OK, I found the oil pressure sender, but does anyone know if the threading is metric or NPT? The nifty oil pressure test gauge (from Harbor Freight) came with 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8 adapters. No metric. However the instructions listed all American and foreign cars and the normal oil pressure one would expect.

I did find that I slightly overfilled the oil when I was quickly doing it on the side of the highway. Its maybe 3/8" higher on dipstick than it should.
 
looks like the threads on a Toyota are 1/8 but are British Standard Thread rather than NPT. I assume I will not find that adapter at a Home Depot in the plumbing isle.
 
I could not just replace the switch without knowing what was really going on. (Or an excuse to buy another tool??)

So I got my handy MAC oil pressure kit (from EBAY, looks new) and connected it to my Toyota. Started the engine and looked and the oil pressure seemed to stay at 15 lbs, did not go up when engine was rev-ed, which seemed odd. So I thought, maybe I did not look carefully and the gauge did not start off at 0, but rather at 15 and I really have no oil pressure. Turned engine off and pressure went down to 0, waited a few seconds and started engine again and this time oil pressure goes from about 20 to 50 depending upon RPM (50 lbs at 3000 RPM).

Not sure why the gauge stayed at 15 when first started. Now this gauge has not been used in 10 or 15 years if ever, so maybe it was a little sticky at first and having it go from 0 to 15 to 0 loosened it up?

So I assume its the oil pressure switch, and little chance the screen is clogged or pump is worn??
 
sounds like you have a sticky oil pressure relieve valve on your pump assembly.

This is a rarity unless your valve bore is filled with crudd that would stop the pistons from moving freely, otherwise, this should not happen at the first place.

Also: a clogged pump intake screen would cause similar troubles also (and the only way to verify is to undo your oil pan and inspect).

Goodluck!
 
The car has been run on synthetic oil all of its 164K life. I do do extended oil changes, but nothing abusive. The last oil change at 158K was analyzed and the oil was reasonable.
 
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