Oil light just came on....

[Mason Dixon]

Last fall I noticed I could smell burning oil when I parked the truck. Found out it was my valve cover gaskets leaking. I figured since the leak around the gasket was minor and I wasn't having to add oil that I could drive around with the leaky gaskets until the weather warmed up this spring.

Well, now the oil light is on. I just replaced the oil/filter and pcv valve and the light is still on.

This is not a daily driver. I have only driven it maybe 800 miles per year the past 5 years. I really like this truck, just had it painted over the winter.

What are my options to fixing this? Thanks.

2000 4runner

 

[BrianSD_42]

Well how much oil is in it?

Not to ask an obvious question but did you ..... check the dipstick?


Where is it at when warm?

 

[Mason Dixon]

Well how much oil is in it?

Not to ask an obvious question but did you ..... check the dipstick?


Where is it at when warm?

No problem with oil level. I checked it with a warm engine and it was on the top bead.

 

[jeremyc74]

No problem with oil level. I checked it with a warm engine and it was on the top bead.

The oil light is typically an indication of low (zero) oil pressure. I'd put a mechanical gauge on it and verify that you actually have oil pressure, and then if you do replace the oil pressure sending unit. If you can't get your hands on a gauge you could swap out the sender and see if that's all that's wrong with it. They're only about $10-12, and there have been more than one threads here where people had bad ones.

If it were me I wouldn't run it much like that until you figure it out. If you actually do have an oil pressure problem it will do damage very quickly.

 

[Mason Dixon]

The oil light is typically an indication of low (zero) oil pressure. I'd put a mechanical gauge on it and verify that you actually have oil pressure, and then if you do replace the oil pressure sending unit. If you can't get your hands on a gauge you could swap out the sender and see if that's all that's wrong with it. They're only about $10-12, and there have been more than one threads here where people had bad ones.

If it were me I wouldn't run it much like that until you figure it out. If you actually do have an oil pressure problem it will do damage very quickly.

Thanks, looks like I'll pick up a mechanical pressure tester from autozone tomorrow.

Just to make sure, the oil pressure sending unit is to the upper drivers side area above the oil filter? I just have to unscrew the OPSU and screw in the mechanical pressure tester and then start the truck?

 

[LittleCaesar]

That is how I did it. I think there is one located closer to the front of the engine.

Any rod knock or strange noises from the engine?

 

[Mason Dixon]

That is how I did it. I think there is one located closer to the front of the engine.

Any rod knock or strange noises from the engine?

No rod knock or strange noises...i realy think its the oil pressure sensor gone bad...should be able to update this thread in a few days to confirm