Where is my oil going!? No smoke, no leaks, just changed it, half full!!?!

[deputy865]

Car: 1991 Turbo MR2

Oil: Mobile 1 10W-30, synthetic

Low oil light was popping on, so I decided to change the oil.. Figured this was a good move anyways because it was the only thing left on my list for a full tune up. Also, when I got the car, the previous owner had changed the oil. Since I've had the car, it has only idled and never driven, yet the low oil light would come on anyways.

Filled the oil, 3.8 quarts, let the car idle for awhile because I was adjusting some things with it.. It has maybe, 2.5 miles of driving on it since the oil change.. Checked the dipstick after a 1 mile drive (low oil light popped on during this), HALF FULL!

I'm not leaking, I'm not smoking (I think I, or my friend, would have noticed it smoking).. I'd assume it would smoke like a chimney if I'm missing that much oil with only 20 minutes of idle time and 2.5 miles of driving. Compression is at 150-155psi in ALL cylinders, perfect compression would be 162psi.

The low oil light comes on after the car has been running for about 5 minutes. Never fails. It will shut off and stay off when the car is off, but come right back on again in 5 minutes. I don't see any oil dripping on the ground, or puddles and there isn't any oil coming out of my BOV or any place it shouldn't.

Shane

[MR2Jedi]

1st off, '91 MR2 Turbo holds 4.5 qts of oil. So you didn't fill it to start with.

2nd, the OIL LEVEL SENSOR in the oil pan is probably cracked or has failed. Common for our old cars.
My oil level light used to come on sporadically, but I knew what it was(thanks to this forum). When I did my rebuild, I found part of the sensor had cracked off and the missing piece was nowhere to be found. It probably went out with an oil change before I ever bought the car.
Toyota wants $260.00 for the part. I said " nah" and just disconnected the wire plug.
I check my oil frequently anyway.

[deputy865]

Originally Posted by MR2Jedi

1st off, '91 MR2 Turbo holds 4.5 qts of oil. So you didn't fill it to start with.

2nd, the OIL LEVEL SENSOR in the oil pan is probably cracked or has failed. Common for our old cars.
My oil level light used to come on sporadically, but I knew what it was(thanks to this forum). When I did my rebuild, I found part of the sensor had cracked off and the missing piece was nowhere to be found. It probably went out with an oil change before I ever bought the car.
Toyota wants $260.00 for the part. I said " nah" and just disconnected the wire plug.
I check my oil frequently anyway.

Well that saves me a lot of heartache.. Only issues is, I'm not sure what year motor my car is, it was swapped in by the previous owner. I have no idea where I got 3.8 quarts from... but I read it.

Shane

[MR2Jedi]

Originally Posted by deputy865

Well that saves me a lot of heartache.. Only issues is, I'm not sure what year motor my car is, it was swapped in by the previous owner. I have no idea where I got 3.8 quarts from... but I read it.

Shane

Well, the MR2 with the 5sfe holds 3.8 liters. You may have used that spec by mistake.

[toyotaspeed90]

#3.....

a functiioning catalytic convertor will help burn off a lot of the oil smoke that would otherwise come out the tailpipe.... so if you are filling it correctly your cat is probably burning the smoke off before it exits the tailpipe.

[deputy865]

Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90

#3.....

a functiioning catalytic convertor will help burn off a lot of the oil smoke that would otherwise come out the tailpipe.... so if you are filling it correctly your cat is probably burning the smoke off before it exits the tailpipe.

I have a straight turbo back exhaust. No cat.. I don't have strict emissions in my state.

Shane