Oil light on start up - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JesusJones · 10-19-2011, 12:50 PM

Pretty simple question. Any one else have there oil light turn on for about 1.5 seconds when they first start there car in the morning??

It won't do it after you've driven around and parked for only a short time. Just in the morning after it has sat for a long time.

Any opinions, solutions?

P.S. I may as well add that it's not a cheap fram filter causing the problem...

speedy25 · 10-19-2011, 08:48 PM

Its a common occurence for oil pressure senders to fail.

The BEST thing to do is hook up a mechanical gauge to confirm you do have proper pressure. After that change the sender.

-SP

beantickler · 10-19-2011, 08:54 PM

My bet is the screen on the oil pickup has sludge on it making the clearance for oil to make it through a little tighter causing the light to come on. Once the car warms up the oil thins out and flows better.

mvftw · 10-20-2011, 08:37 AM

Just curious....what filter and weight are you running...

JesusJones · 10-20-2011, 09:52 AM

I've run valvoline max life and currently running castrol syntec all 5w-30 as for filters napa gold and economy (my current filter). I've done 2 oil changes since I noticed the oil light phenomenon.

Yea I would like to hook up a oil pressure gauge but I don't have one and would rather buy one before paying a mech to do it for me and I currently don't have enough funds to be buying tools. It is something on my list of things to do (eventually) though.

But as for my question. Does this happen to anyone else after the car has sat for a few hours, does the oil light turn on for 1-2 seconds once the engine begins running?

Some more info that may be useful is the fact that one morning I pulled the oil filter off and it was empty.

TheNightWolf · 10-20-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JesusJones

I've run valvoline max life and currently running castrol syntec all 5w-30 as for filters napa gold and economy (my current filter). I've done 2 oil changes since I noticed the oil light phenomenon.

Yea I would like to hook up a oil pressure gauge but I don't have one and would rather buy one before paying a mech to do it for me and I currently don't have enough funds to be buying tools. It is something on my list of things to do (eventually) though.

But as for my question. Does this happen to anyone else after the car has sat for a few hours, does the oil light turn on for 1-2 seconds once the engine begins running?

Some more info that may be useful is the fact that one morning I pulled the oil filter off and it was empty.

Mine does what your talking about, doesn't bother me a bit though.
I just watch it make sure I get pressure and drive.
I may end up wiring in a gauge for it cause I was used to it on my old car.

itreflop117 · 10-20-2011, 07:01 PM

hey man, i've been having the same thing happening to me. i'm from the chicago area, so i'm assuming our climates are pretty much the same about now with rain and chilliness. but yea, during start up it stays on after for like a second and turns off. I take the expressway in the morning to go to school for about 10 miles and then when i get back my car after six or seven hours of school it does the same thing and i drive back the 10 miles. but i don' think it's that much of a problem. my car hasn't broken down or anything. i'm assuming it's probably some sensor like someone else mentioned above. if anything see if you have a friend who could help ya out that way they won't overwhelmingly charge you.

otherwise i wouldn't worry about it. start worrying about it once you start feeling or hearing problems with your car. otherwise just keep an eye out on all your gauges. hope all goes well for you!

yamahaSHO · 10-20-2011, 07:13 PM

It's fairly common for oil to drain out of the passages along with cooler, thicker oil to take a little longer upon cold startup. Unless this is a new issue, as in it wasn't happening previously, I wouldn't worry.

JesusJones · 10-20-2011, 11:23 PM

Wicked that's what I wanted to hear. It probably has been doing it since I bought the car I just never noticed it until more recently. And once I noticed I kept watching for it every time and then it started to bug me. My car has also never given issues and like all of use I want to ensure it stays that way.

Thanks for the replies everyone, now I can stare at something else for a change when I start my car

Cheers!

speedy25 · 10-21-2011, 10:18 PM

Sheesh! JUST CHANGE THE SENSOR! I've run across this for 20 years. The sensor ages and stays switched on at a higher pressure than its designed. If it was REALLY an oil pressure problem that 3-5 psi its supposed to be on at wouldnt be enough to keep your engine from self destructing on a drive around the block.

-SP

Bitter · 10-22-2011, 10:52 AM

run 5w-30 and changer sender

JesusJones · 10-22-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamahaSHO

It's fairly common for oil to drain out of the passages

This is what is happening. When I removed my oil filter it the morning it was EMPTY. The sender comes after the filter to measure actual lubricating pressure at the components. It takes time for the oil filter to fill and pressure to reach the sender. It's not an oil pressure or sender problem its just the fact that it takes time to fill the oil passages and build pressure which is what I am seeing.

This morning I pulled my oil filter again and it was EMPTY. Logically the oil pump will need to fill the filter and oil passages that it emptied through before any pressure will build.

This may not be normal and maybe something is horribly wrong with my car's oiling system. But it's not the sender. It's also possible that all 3 oil filters I have had (2 napa golds and an economy napa filter) were defective and drained backwards, but it's highly unlikely.

I already stated that I am running 5w-30. And this topic isn't about the oil light staying on wild I drive around. It's about why the oil light stays on for 1-2 seconds right after the engine begins running after it has sat for hours.

Bitter · 10-22-2011, 08:34 PM

try using a different filter, the filter should have a drain back valve. I like the Purolator PureOne filters.

speedy25 · 10-23-2011, 11:02 AM

I dont know where the drainback check valve is in the Toyota engine but it sounds like yours has failed. I've never had an empty oil filter.

Sounds like you have actually found an issue that isnt the sender.

-SP

Bitter · 10-23-2011, 07:31 PM

the drain back valve is on the filter. Not all filters have them, not specified for all filters.