Losing oil and other issues

[Crimzon]

Hi, for starters I have a '96 5sfe Camry with about 182k miles on it

Since I bought the car last summer, I smell burning oil every time I get out. So I obviously have a leak somewhere.. hot? Maybe dripping onto my exhaust pipe? I don't know for sure, but I really should get down and check where it's coming from (hopefully not the rear main). I'm also really bad about replacing the oil that leaks out. A couple of times, when I checked the oil level, my dipstick came out nearly dry. Hopefully I haven't ruined my car... So, my first question is

1) If my car were to get dangerously low on oil, wouldn't my oil light come on? Beacause it hasn't. And it's not burned out..?


And while I'm at it, I had a couple other issues-

2) At low RPM's, and *especially* when it's cold, my engine sounds pretty rough. Kind of a rumbling grinding sound as I accelerate. But at about 2500 RPM or so, there's like a cutoff where the rough sound stops and it sounds smooth and tight. Just wondering if that's normal

3) Also, in first and mybe second gear, at higher RPM's, if I have my windows down I can hear a high pitched whirring sound that ceases whenever the tranny changes gears. It's been bugging me. My only guess is maybe the fan belts slipping?

Thanks

[mailforjon]

could be wrong, but i believe the oil light on the camry is an oil pressure night, not an oil level light. so even though the level is low enough that you dont see it on the stick, it might not be low enough to cause the pressure to drop too low. then again, you might just have a burnt out bulp on your dash light =)

[Pineapple]

When the low oil light turn on, you need to stop and tow the car.
I've a leak on main seal and the oil eat the timing belt and the thing is all crack up. Check everything before the belt snip.

[Crimzon]

The bulb isn't burned out, it's still functional when I put my key in... I really hope it senses oil level as well as pressure. But, wouldn't low oil level severely lower the pressure anyways and cause it to turn on?

Also last time I checked, my timing belt looked fine, I don't think it has oil leaking on it

[96CamrySport]

I think it is an oil pressure light, too. However, I've got a similar leak issue and whenever my oil level drops, the light stays on longer at startup. I'm talking about nearly off the dipstick low. My suggestion: 5w40 oil, keep a spare quart in the trunk, two if you're really bad about checking oil level, and start saving for a better fix.

[MadDawg]

check the valve covor... my camry has an oil leak somewhere, and when i park it onto a steep incline, and leave it there for a few minutes, and i go back to start it up, it smells horificaly of burnt oil... so take it into toyota..

[Mike Gerber]

mailforjon is correct. The oil light is an oil pressure light, not an oil level light. The only way it will come on if a car is low on oil, is if the oil level gets so low that it falls below the level of the oil pickup in the bottom of the oil pan. That means you have no oil pressure. If that light ever comes on while driving, stop the car and shut off the engine immediately. Then have it towed to a shop. Don't drive it. It takes about a minute (maybe less) with no oil pressure to destroy the engine.

Mike

[mljs1996]

I have the same engine 1996, 110k mi. and problem. I had both c/v boots replaced, timing belt, all drive belts, cam and crank seals changed at about 81k mi. Then had valve cover gasket and dist oring replaced at 89K.

I seems my leak is up fairly high on the left side rear. I have oil on the lower intake manifold bolts. The area around the belt pullies seem dry. The oil drips on the exhaust and causes quite a smell. This seems to have started rather suddenly. Have gone from no leak to leaking a quart a month in teh span of about 4 months.

The right side rear is dry and the front is fairly dry although there is dried crud under the exhaust manifiold. I was thinking of replacing the valve cover gasket again. Any other thoughts? Wher can I get a good diagram of what's on the back of the I4 5S-FE?

[terrastrife]

when teh oil pressu relight comes on, its TOO LATE

[felkajamine]

yea like everyone else is saying, if you see the oil light (also called an idiot light lol) turn the car off, and then get it towed, so you dont get any serious damage done to it....also about your oil.

-are you getting it changed often?
-what kind of oil are you using (wieght and brand)
-when are you checking your dip-stick? after it's been off for awhile? or after its been running for a while?

if you've been checking it after it's been off for awhile, then your problem might be there, cause the oil has all soaked down to the bottom and therefore wont show up on your stick except for the tip of it.

[felkajamine]

also have you tried parking on a smooth, dry, surface over-night to see if/where it's leaking, doing that will help you find the location of the leak some.