Had my grandson bring the 1999 4runner over and he stated it needed oil. I asked him if he brought any and you know the answer to that. Searched the garage and found a quart of conventional oil. Looked at the dip stick and no trace of oil. Pored in the quart, and still no joy on the dip stick. Found a 5 gallon jug left over from my last Bimmer change, and put another 2.5 quarts and still no trace of oil on the dip stick. At this point I made sure I had the engine dip stick in my hand and that I had actually removed the engine cap where I was pouring oil. Called my granddaughter who had done an oil change last September on this truck while I was on vacation and asked how much oil she put back in. Answer- a quart and a half! I put over another quart in and filled it back up to the fill line. I asked my grandson if he was having problem with this truck and he said it just took a little longer on start up. I think it's a testament to the Toyota designers that this truck has been running on only a quart and a half of oil for the last 4 months and didn't grenade.
How much oil can your car work on?
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thezentree
Senior Member
Good lord.
LittleCaesar
New member
For the millennials and beyond, Suri will be changing their oil....
That is nothing. I once drained out a Civic crankcase with oil that had been run 41,000 miles, or since it was driven off the lot. All that was in there was enough to fill a Solo cup 3/4 full. The dipstick was bone dry, and had been for some time.
That is nothing. I once drained out a Civic crankcase with oil that had been run 41,000 miles, or since it was driven off the lot. All that was in there was enough to fill a Solo cup 3/4 full. The dipstick was bone dry, and had been for some time.
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Damn!!
Sounds like someone needs a little lesson on oil changes [emoji23][emoji43]
Sounds like someone needs a little lesson on oil changes [emoji23][emoji43]
I just service this car, not sure if it has a low oil light. Between all my kids and their cars, I service 10 cars, so hard for me to keep up. My granddaughter has been with me at many of the oil changes I have done, but had obviously not paid much attention when I was filling them back up.
phattyduck
Elite Member
The Toyota dealer I worked at in college (maybe 2000 or so?) would about once a week or two have a 'new' car come in with a seized motor around 40-60k miles. These cars never had a history of oil changes. The owners were generally quite surprised to find out that Toyotas needed maintenance... They thought they were reliable!
-Charlie
nevada
Senior Member
wow.
though, im not too surprised.
I personally have encountered something very similar. im certain I have been down to 2 quarts(maybe slightly less) and still maintained proper oil pressure. when you hit the brakes hard, and the oil light flickers...its down at the 2q or less mark lol.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
I had that experience once too, a bad oil filter seal let all but 2 or so quarts out on the freeway. Once I realized it I limped home to fix and all was well, but it was scary.
The idiot light only came on when stopping or starting driving from a stop, I believe it's level-related, not pressure. Not sure tho.
cblock406
Member
Most cars I've had are pressure, not level. Anyone confirm on the 4runner? I'm sure it's easy to find searching but since it came up...
LittleCaesar
New member
I would have hoped someone would have told them to get the oil changed before they drove off the lot.
My neighbor almost bleeds Toyota, he loves his little mamby pamby first gen Highlander. When it recently needed a new tensioner, because his original one had seized up, he went into denial until the new belt he put on was tossed off on the Interstate.
I dated the girl for over a year. The Civic never missed a beat. I think I used Castrol GTX in it. She then bought a 330i; hoped she got that oil changed.....
19963.4lsr5
New member
It's pressure. When you stop or start the oil moves away from the oil pickup and you get the low pressure light/alarm.
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
Makes sense that it would be, which is why the light never went solid
nevada
Senior Member
correct. a quick stop forces the oil forward and away from the pickup tube. never noticed it on take off, only a fast stop. a gentle stop it wouldn't flicker.
"oh, the oil must be low" so you add a quart, still doesn't read. another quart, still nothing. sonofa..
another quart. finally, only a 1/2 quart low!
had I known at the time, I would have just drained it and changed the filter before adding the first quart. lol.
never would I have suspected it would still have pressure being that low.
19963.4lsr5
New member
Your lucky you didn't cook the oil you had in the oil pan from overheating the oil. Fortunately the 3.4 has a oil cooler and only runs around 190.
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nevada
Senior Member
yes, it could(should?) have been a bad day.
oh, I forgot, this was on my 85 2runner with the 22RE. the one in my avatar. still runs/drives, this happened nearly 20 years ago...
