Quick Oil Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JMSports · 10-26-2008, 01:03 AM

I bought my Camry at 152k miles and now it has 154k. Thing is, i never asked when the last oil change was, however the car starts right up every time.

Recently i noticed the Oil light staying on after all the other lights go out, and it stays on for about a second after all the other lights go out after i start it up. Im wondering, with the cold coming, should i change the oil?

I know what filter it is, and obviously it would be easy to get, but how do you drain the oil when the filter is mounted upright at 45 degrees. Im a nub at changing oil in foreign cars. So used to the filters and drain plugs being on the bottom, but im lost on my camryZILLA. Oh and what Oil is best for say Long Island, NY weather?

Kthx.

Jimnist · 10-26-2008, 01:34 AM

When the oil light comes on, it means there is low pressure. Might not have enough oil or the oil has broken down and has thinned.

So you're saying it stays on for a second or two after starting it, right? And all other lights are off by that time? yeah, you should change it. Mine does that as well, and it's overdue as well. I think by 1k km's.

Drain the oil via oil sump plug bolt, it's under the car, facing rearwards near the exhuast pipe underneath. Don't know what conditions are like in NY, but i use Castrol GTX2 10w-40. But then again, it never snows around here in Aussie town.

atobe · 10-26-2008, 03:12 AM

sounds ok to me but if you want to change the oil you should go for it...so you know when the next oil change is due... mine stays on for a few seconds too.. but that's normal.. when you start the car there isn't oil cirulating throughout the whole system takes a lil bit for it to get to the head and that's where the sensor it... if the oil light comes on when you'r driving then you have a problem

JMSports · 10-26-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atobe

sounds ok to me but if you want to change the oil you should go for it...so you know when the next oil change is due... mine stays on for a few seconds too.. but that's normal.. when you start the car there isn't oil cirulating throughout the whole system takes a lil bit for it to get to the head and that's where the sensor it... if the oil light comes on when you'r driving then you have a problem

Never had the light come on while driving, just a quick second after all the other lights go out, and then it goes out. Never noticed it do that before. It snows here in NY, and it gets easily below 30 degrees here, sometimes as low as 0 with wind chill.

Ive only had a problem with it one time at 8:30 in the morning, it was about 30 degrees, all the windows had frost on them, and the car took only a bit longer to start up. Normally i turn the key and the car is on right away.

Thanks guys. Saving up some money to drop the car down.

Mike Gerber · 10-26-2008, 06:14 PM

Yes, change the oil. You don't know when the last time was that it was changed and you already put 2000 miles on it. In my experience, most people who are going to sell a car soon ignore the routine maintainance. Pardon me for asking the obvious, but have you checked the oil level? You never said. As far as what oil grade to use, check the oil cap itself. Most of the original Toyota oil caps state right on them what oil grade is recommended.

Mike

cbaileyevo · 10-26-2008, 06:23 PM

oil type should be 5w30 unless 5w20 is on the filler cap. as far as removing the filter if it is the one im thinking of under the exast manifold. i put a drain bucket under it. make sure the car is cool because it could easily burn your wrists trying to remove it. then i grab it with both hands and turn it to the left. then i clean the mess with brake clean then jack the car up and drain the oil procally a 17mm plug. fill it up with about 4.5 quarts and start it up and turn it off to prevent damge then check the level again

bigfootbryce · 10-26-2008, 09:07 PM

Just let the car sit for about 20 minutes. Most of the time, the oil goes back down and minimizes the spill on your filter.

Ironheadziggy76 · 10-27-2008, 12:35 AM

My 90 model has a 14mm head on the drain plug, and calls for 10w30. As far as what brand of oil, that is one of the biggest debated issues on the net. I have used Valvoline in mine since new, and I switched to Valvoline Max Life when it came out. Mine leaks about a pint between changes due to a leaky oil pan gasket, but I can't really complain considering it has over 270,000 miles on it.

zppeacock · 10-27-2008, 10:01 AM

All Toyota Drain Plugs are 14mm. Be sure to use a new Drain Plug gasket also. It holds 4.1 quarts 5w30.

P.S. I work at a Toyota Dealership

JMSports · 10-27-2008, 10:18 AM

Also says to start the car up and soon after change the oil so the oil flows better when its hotter.

EDIT: Oil level is low so im definitly gonna change it during the week. Whats the best brand to use? I heard Royal Purple?

And thats 4.5qts + the filter? Or do u just rub oil on the gasket and let the filter fill up?

JMSports · 10-27-2008, 12:18 PM

Just changed the oil, cost me 25 dollars.

4.1qts 5W-30 Castrol GTX
and i put a Fram oil filter on it.

and the tranny fluid was low, so i added some. How often do you change the tranny fluid + filter in the car?

white90dx · 10-27-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSports

Just changed the oil, cost me 25 dollars.

4.1qts 5W-30 Castrol GTX
and i put a Fram oil filter on it.

and the tranny fluid was low, so i added some. How often do you change the tranny fluid + filter in the car?

I generally would avoid Fram filters - go stock Toyota, Purolator, Bosch, etc...

Did you use the correct method to check your transmission fluid level? Drive for 4-5+ miles to warm up the transmission, while stopped, run through the gears slowly from Park down to L, then back to park, then check the level through the dipstick while the engine is still running?

-Charlie

Mike Gerber · 10-27-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zppeacock

All Toyota Drain Plugs are 14mm. Be sure to use a new Drain Plug gasket also. It holds 4.1 quarts 5w30.

P.S. I work at a Toyota Dealership

I believe all generation 1 4 cylinder 2SE engines and early generation 2 4 cylinder 3SFE engines (I think only 1987) used 19MM drain plugs.

Mike

Mike Gerber · 10-27-2008, 02:14 PM

"and the tranny fluid was low, so i added some. How often do you change the tranny fluid + filter in the car?"

I would suggest changing the tranny fluid every 30,000 miles.

Mike

GregElliott · 10-27-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white90dx

I generally would avoid Fram filters
-Charlie

Why's that?