2001 solara sle oil pressure light - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mbeaudry45 · 04-29-2011, 11:07 PM

hi I am new to the forum hope I am doing this right. took my solara out of winter storage april 1st and noticed my oil light coming on sometimes steady other times flickering at all speeds changed the oil pressure switch still the same installed a mechanical gauge 75lbs colg 20 lbs hot at idle and 15 lbs in gear oil light still coming on. bought the car in 04 with 42000 miles now 85000 always changed the oil and filter regularly
need help!

***eyeball96*** · 04-30-2011, 05:57 AM

to TN

I moved your thread to the proper forum.

I'm sure one of the members here will chime in with an opinion about your issue.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 05-01-2011, 07:14 PM

not too sure what the recommended oil pressure is from the manual, but my cold oil pressure is closer to 100psi- this reading is at my oil filter relocation kit though, and around 20 or so at hot idle and def goes way past 15 when in gear and under load.

from the sounds of it, I would think that the oil pump is failing

does your oil pressure go up with load?

mbeaudry45 · 05-01-2011, 07:47 PM

I don't know because I did not road test the car with the pressure gauge all I know is that the oil pressure dropped 5 lbs when in gear as opposed to neutral. I assumed it was normal because of the rpm drop.Curiously on my way to toronto from montreal (360 miles) the oil light came on for 1 minute or so 30 minutes outside montreal and it went off, later on a few minutes after a half way pit stop it came on again for less than a minute and no more for the rest of the trip alltogether over 700miles (1200kms)
normally I would think that if the oil pump was failing the lifters would become noisy at 2500 rpm. I am stumped thank you for your interest

Chris Crash · 05-01-2011, 08:51 PM

I would check out the pump and gaskets...don't want a blown engine!

Also the range of PSI's is ridiculous on these cars...IIRC at idle >4psi and at 3k RPM between 17-70 PSI.

mbeaudry45 · 05-01-2011, 09:09 PM

do you really think I would have been able to drive 700 miles with a failing pump?
my next move is to replace the oil filter even if it was replaced before storage and less than a thousand miles since.
I am wandering if it could block the oil flow intermittently.
when trouble shooting I always start with the easiest and least expensive.
I am on my way to Indianapolis this summer 1800 miles return and I want to make sure I make it there and back