Oil light on at idle

It's a JDM motor said to have 70000. No doubt light came on for the low oil level. Gonna do oil change and new sensor and check pressure. Hopefully it's not hurt .
 
LittleCaesar said:
Did you connect a pressure gauge to the block to get pressure at warmed up idle?

+1 in changing out the gasket under the filler cap but it would not cause the light to come on....
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No it won't, but it will contribute to the oil loss that caused the low oil pressure.


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The next step is hooking oil gauge up. My leak came from cracked vc. My fault for not checking level the few months it was dripping. I'm hoping it's easy fix. I have new oil and filter plus will get new sending unit. We shall see. Like I said there was no loud rod knock and motor sounded like it did before this ordeal. Just worrisome that the light is still coming on. I have said in previous post that the light came on over winter with this new motor . Had it checked and new pressure sender put in and it was fine.
 
And hopefully it is just the sender. But use the gauge just to be sure. I think 5 psi or less at hot idle means trouble but someone would need to verify that number.
 
After doing some more research - this is why I don't post often due to medicine (sigh). It won't work for our 4Runner's due to from what I'm understanding we have just a 'switch'. I'm looking through the FSM as I type this to see if I see something differently.

I apologize for any mis-leading and i'll edit my post, but according to the FSM on PG 891 under the EM-79 area showing we just have a switch. :(
 
Kotrin said:
After doing some more research - this is why I don't post often due to medicine (sigh). It won't work for our 4Runner's due to from what I'm understanding we have just a 'switch'. I'm looking through the FSM as I type this to see if I see something differently.



I apologize for any mis-leading and i'll edit my post, but according to the FSM on PG 891 under the EM-79 area showing we just have a switch. :(
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Try swapping the sending unit switch first. It's the easiest and cheapest possibility. Or attach an actual gauge. Think auto parts store will rent one out to you for free


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LittleCaesar said:
And hopefully it is just the sender. But use the gauge just to be sure. I think 5 psi or less at hot idle means trouble but someone would need to verify that number.
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Manual say 4.3 psi at idle, 36-75 at 3,000 rpm. So almost nothing idling. I'd guess pressure switch. If it had zero pressure you'd hear a knock likely.

Good luck
 
I'm wondering if you have a lazy PCV that isn't closing when your truck drops back to idle.

Stuck closed would give excessive pressure, will a lazy sledged up valve cause these issues? I'm not sure just thinkin of valves or other parts attached to the motor that open to atmosphere.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I just ordered a switch. Also have everything for oil change. Might even add aftermarket gauge . I worked all day yesterday and haven't even messed with it. Goin to Jamaica this week and may just wait till I get back from vacation. Luckily I have another vehicle to drive.
 
Ok back from vacation and finally did my oil and gauge.
Oil was dark but didn’t see any metal in it . I put Mobil 1 like usual but also added Lucas oil additive. Gauge was pretty straight forward . Upon start up engine seemed a little noisier than before. Once warmed the pressure looked to be at about 4 lbs at idle. Around the neighborhood I got on it a bit and it went to 30 and was still climbing. So it seems ok I guess. My buddy who is a mechanic helped me . He said there is no rod knock but engine has some kind of noise. So I’m just gonna keep driving it. It’s not my daily driver anymore. So I feel somewhat relieved.
 
Bigmd said:
Ok back from vacation and finally did my oil and gauge.
Oil was dark but didn’t see any metal in it . I put Mobil 1 like usual but also added Lucas oil additive. Gauge was pretty straight forward . Upon start up engine seemed a little noisier than before. Once warmed the pressure looked to be at about 4 lbs at idle. Around the neighborhood I got on it a bit and it went to 30 and was still climbing. So it seems ok I guess. My buddy who is a mechanic helped me . He said there is no rod knock but engine has some kind of noise. So I’m just gonna keep driving it. It’s not my daily driver anymore. So I feel somewhat relieved.
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Dark oil; how many miles since your last oil change? You can always put a magnet on a stick into the drained oil overnight to see what you find.

After an oil change and until the new oil has circulated/filled the oil galleries, and bled out any air from the "system" it's not unusual for an engine to sound different - it's also a potential white-knuckle moment, which is why engine builders usually manually prime the oil system rather than start up dry and hope for the best.

4psi at idle is probably fine, as long as it's not starved for oil. I doubt any mechanical oil gauge is 100% accurate at that range.
25psi at 1,500-2,000 RPM is about average for most v6/v8 engines, and if you get on it, you will see higher pressure.
As long as the oil can return to the pan, and you've not go an issue with sludge you should be fine, but if you start to see the oil pressure gauge blip while driving then worry.

There is a distinctive sound quality, noise if you will, to the 3.4L v6 engine, so unless your mechanic friend works on a lot of 4runners it might seem unusual.
 
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It’s been a while since oil change I’m ashamed to say lol. Probably winter time. It’s not my daily but I do use it .
 
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