Oil level - BE HONEST!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SR5_4WD · 02-27-2006, 06:08 AM

OK I got home from work yesterday. I check my oil every few days, so I waited about half hour after the car was off, and I checked it. Holy shit oil wasn't even touching the dipstick! That freaked me out, so I put in a litre and it is touching it now, but it still reads lower than low. But it didn't tick knock or any of that, it remained quiet and cool. I would have drove it for three days like that

What do you guys think?
And has antone else experienced really low oil levels, and what were the consequences??

burnt03 · 02-27-2006, 10:59 AM

I think the consequences probably depend on the engine. I haven't run the oil down on my 4AFE but have on other engines and they were fine.

Might be more concerned that you have to check the oil every couple days and that it lost 1-2 quarts in that time? I might have misread your post but it sounds like you're going through as much oil as fuel

94_Rolla_Guy · 02-27-2006, 11:56 AM

that sounds like a external leak as its a lot to burn off that quickly, the sr5 4wd has a oil cooler up in front of the rad i would check that for a leak and also just check around to see whats going on...

The oil rings tend to hang up and cause oil consumption but this doesn't feel right!

Cyorke · 02-27-2006, 12:07 PM

Yeah I agree with 94 rolla guy. that seems like an awful lot of oil to be burning it that quickly. You need to be looking for leaks. Are you noticing any blue smoke as you are driving the car. If so that is a good indication that the rings are probably shot.

Are you checking the oil that often because it has a tendency to get low or are youjsut anal enough to actually do what you are supposed to and check it on a regular basis. I dont check mine every few days but once every couple of weeks is about right for me.

I am guessing 1 liter is about 2 quarts, Speak english will you, if so and it is still low then that is getting pretty low. mos of those small 4 cylinder engines only hold about 4 quarts of oil anyway with the filter.

SR5_4WD · 02-27-2006, 01:40 PM

Yeah there's definately no burning of oil, cause I'd definately know if my car was acting like a 2 stroke! I'll have a look underneath and see what I can find.

Cyorke · 02-27-2006, 01:45 PM

well if you arent noticing any smoke then it has to be a leak. start at the top and work your way down. You may even want to degrease the engine as much as possible then drive it for a couple of days or a week and see waht happens. No matter what keep an eye on the oil level. You would hate to be so worried aobut the leak that you end up doing damage to the engine.

SR5_4WD · 02-27-2006, 02:36 PM

ok but I would like to see my engine degreased, but I really cant see it happening. I'd have to pay someone to do it, or it'd remain filthy as fuck

Old Dood · 02-27-2006, 04:33 PM

Well I am surprised you wouldn't see the oil light come on if you were below the dip stick.

Flashmn · 02-27-2006, 05:01 PM

Thats because its not a quantity light, but a pressure light. There was still enough oil to get enough oilpressure.

SR5_4WD · 02-27-2006, 06:16 PM

So then if the oil light came on and you kept driving there would not be enough oil to circulate, frying the motor? I'm glad it didn't get to that point

punter · 02-27-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashmn

Thats because its not a quantity light, but a pressure light. There was still enough oil to get enough oilpressure.

exactally, its kind of an idiot light anyway because by the time it comes on the damage is already done.

94_Rolla_Guy · 02-27-2006, 06:40 PM

buy some engine degreaser then go to a coin do-it-yourself car wash!

SR5_4WD · 02-27-2006, 07:57 PM

What would you use, a pressure washer? Wouldn't that be a bit powerful? Plus my car tends to have problems when the engine is damp so I know this wouldn't help that part
PS Cyorke 1 Litre is 1.05 Quarts !

Cyorke · 02-27-2006, 08:57 PM

well if the car doesnt like the damp then it may be hard. Funny thing about distributors and carbs. About the only thing you can do is maybe spray it down with some kind of engine degreaser and then jsut hose it off with a garden hose. You can cover the distr. the best you can with a plastic bag or something. If you do get water in it take the cap off and spray it out with WD-40. You can go the route of using brake cleaner in a spray can. That would take quite a bit of cleaner though. But you can use the little spray tube so you can direct it where you want it. and of course you can do the pressure washer.

toyotaspeed90 · 02-27-2006, 09:55 PM

the 'low' indicator is one quart. if you're off the dipstic, you could be just over a quart short... i don't like the 4a series dipsticks that much because of that reason.....

my 4age doesn't visibly burn oil out the back from inside the car, but it does burn a quart every month or so....