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4runner ****
Joined: 25 Mar 2009 Posts: 340 Location: Aberdeenshire
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 15:26 Post subject: oil level warning light |
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in the last month the oil level warning light on the LC has occasionally come on within first 5 mins for driving off somewhere, it only stays on for 5 seconds.
it happens even on flat roads
oil level is near top mark on dipstick
anyone else had this behaviour?
i suspect the sensor may be a bit dodgy?
changed oil and filter in march/april _________________ -------------------------------------------------
Andy Cook
2013 Hilux Invincible
Subaru Forester XT
D4D Yaris |
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 15:26 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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MisterCruiser ***
Joined: 07 Oct 2013 Posts: 187 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 0:37 Post subject: |
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This has started to happen on my 90 series Colorado, When I first start it up I notice in the last few days the yellow oil can light stays on for a few mins, and today after the light went out as normal with the other lights when I was driving over the road 2mins later the light had come back on.
My oil level seems to be fine, up at the full mark, anyone got any ideas why its doing this? Faulty switch perhaps, can someone tell me where the switch is? |
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DaveWall ******
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 967 Location: Gloucestershire
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 6:32 Post subject: |
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What oil filters are you using? (What oil too)?
Sounds a bit suspect, just wondering if oil pressure, also triggers the light.
If your running a cheap filter I would be tempted to quickly un-screw and wind a Toyota one on there (if the oil is newish).... |
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Roger Fairclough *******
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1619 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 13:56 Post subject: |
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This isn't exactly normal, it's a combination of certain factors. You start the motor on a cold day. The cold oil is sluggish and doesn't flow so well so it has a tendency to stay at the top end of the engine. This creates a low oil level in the sump and the switch activates. As long as the oil level is at the max. and the light only stays on for a mile or so, don't worry about it. On my KZJ70 I modified the switch so that it sits lower in the oil. Saying that I am a pedantic old fart
Roger |
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DaveWall ******
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 967 Location: Gloucestershire
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 16:05 Post subject: |
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I agree with what Roger says - that being said, it does hint towards bad filter/wrong oil/marginally low level
I would be pretty confident this should NOT happen if you have a good oil (for the right climate) and a good filter, certainly never had this on mine, even a few years back parked outside in -10....
I guess you could prove this putting say 250ml extra oil in... |
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MisterCruiser ***
Joined: 07 Oct 2013 Posts: 187 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 20:33 Post subject: |
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I've a motor factors filter on it, can't remember the make but its been on there since I serviced it this time last year along with their 10W40 oil. I'm intending to service it in the next week or 2 anyway as its been a year but I've only put about 5000 miles on it in that time.
Before I service it, I'm going to throw in 250ml of oil as suggested, was thinking of that myself as well actually, so ill do that first out of interest if nothing else. Anyone else find the dipsticks on these 90's a little awkward to read sometimes, it seems tight in the tube on the way in/out sometimes, it does smear up the back of the dipstick with oil, can still read the front obviously the part that matters but I had a celica gt4 before and actually bought a new dipstick for it due to similar scenario. |
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Roger Fairclough *******
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1619 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:52 Post subject: |
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Mitsubishi had the same trouble on their 3.2 litre diesels. Their remedy was to supply a new dip stick with the markings set to allow an extra 500ml of oil in the sump.
Roger |
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DaveWall ******
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 967 Location: Gloucestershire
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:30 Post subject: |
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LoL.... good idea - just scratch a new line on the dipstick LoL
Saying that, I would be very interested to know if it still did it with a Toyota oil filter, and a top brand oil....???? I suspect not which makes you wonder what else might be effected in the long run..... |
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Roger Fairclough *******
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1619 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 16:53 Post subject: |
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Hi Dave.
I'm very cynical when it comes to OEM parts as many of these parts are bought in by Toyota etc from specialist manufacturers. This includes filters and oils. My engine has done 155,000 miles and doesn't burn oil or use water. The oil pressure is the same as it was when I first tested it at 30,000 miles. I use Blue Print filters---and yes they buy them in from someone else who brands them for Blue Print---and Valvoline Maxlife SAE 10w-40 oil. This oil has a specification well beyond that originally specified by Toyota. I also used BLUE Print filters and Valvoline oil in Vivs Shogun that did 110,000 miles in 13 years.
I no longer have the switching problem as I modified my switch to sit approx. 10 mm lower into the sump. I suppose that if the level dropped to near the minimum level the switch would operate which is exactly what it is supposed to do.
Manufacturers are reticent to guarantee that their engines wont burn oil and most will cite maximums of a litre per 1000 miles. Certainly I would not be happy if any of my engines did that but I suppose that some drivers with little or no mechanical sympathy could wring the necks of their engines by thoughtless driving styles and then a switch set to operate in this way might save them an engine.
It's good that someone has noticed the switch operating and has asked the question why. I hope that the answers will alleviate any fears they may have had.
Roger |
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DaveWall ******
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 967 Location: Gloucestershire
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 20:31 Post subject: |
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I did exactly the same - bought blueprint filters, far cheaper, BUT having dismantled a few filters I would say there is definitely a difference in
a) the surface area of the filtration medium (always bigger in the genuine filter)
and b) the quality of the construction of the internals (the end caps and the bypass valve in particular).
I doubt these differences make ANY difference whatsoever on a day to day basis (certainly probably doesn't justify the additional cost), but when there is pressure from somewhere else (my wife's driving/contamination/low level etc) I do wonder if they give a little extra protection and do pay....
I ran Subaru's for ages and there is LOADS of talk/comparison/experiments about their filters on the highly strung boxer engines, pretty much every conclusion is that the genuine Subaru Filter is the best (excluding possibly a couple of very costly performance alternatives). |
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Roger Fairclough *******
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1619 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 20:44 Post subject: |
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Point taken about quality.
As a matter of interest, does anyone know the name of the original filter manufacturer? As I don't have to service the Shogun again---I p/x it for a new Audi Q3---I may check out a Toyota oil filter next time around.
Roger |
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trooperman ****
Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 260 Location: Rotherham
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:11 Post subject: |
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When I've used aftermarket oil filters the light would take ages to go out on start up, I have to say it never came back on while driving though, but I always use a genuine filter from Mr T now and the light goes out instantly, they're not that expensive either |
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MisterCruiser ***
Joined: 07 Oct 2013 Posts: 187 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 1:30 Post subject: |
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Topping up with oil seemed to have stopped the light flickering on.
I serviced it today with a genuine filter and castrol 10W40 oil. Only 7 litres drained out of the cruiser, I believe the manual states it should take 7.5litres when changing the filter. Anyway, the old oil seemed very thin and watery but I suppose 10w40 oil is thinny by nature and it was in it a year but still its only done about 5 or 6000 miles. AcDelco i believe is the old oil I had in it. |
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Roger Fairclough *******
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1619 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 18:35 Post subject: |
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Ac/Delco make filters, amongst other things. I wasn't aware that they did oil but if it was marked as such I will assume that it is purely a branding exercise.
Roger |
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Juddian ****
Joined: 31 Jan 2015 Posts: 374 Location: Homeboy
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 19:40 Post subject: |
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I'd be very worried if an oil light didn't go out immediately and stay out till i next stopped the engine.
Would want to see an oil pressure gauge on the vehicle if it was mine, and wouldn't be happy until i'd seen the pressures for myself for a period of time.
The problem here may be nothing to do with oil, but i relay this short tale to you.
All oils are not equal, i won't name the make though its a regular household brand, but some years ago my 4ish year old (3 litre Collie engined) KZJ70 sounded like a bag of nails only 1000 miles after i'd serviced it with this normal and correct spec Diesel engine oil and genuine filter, the Toyota dealer tech advised that the engine was foo barred and required full rebuild, to be fair it did sound like mains/big ends rumbling hence he sort of confirmed my initial fears, but a run over to Collyweston (sadly now gone) for the real Landcruiser mechanic to listen to it soon put that theory to bed.
He told me in no uncertain terms to drain out the (insert your own choice four letter word here) that was in the sump and put some proper oil in...i did as suggested and from that moment the engine returned to its previous sweet tone and never missed a beat for the next 5 or more years i kept the vehicle, a phone call from the chap who bought the write off (another story) waxing lyrical about the sweetest engine he'd ever heard confirmed things.
A valuable lesson indeed, and one i shall never forget, though the oil light never did come on once started even with that death rumbling. |
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