Oil light comes on at idle...

First of all, I have been reading all the great advice on Tacoma World for sometime now. All the info on this site is GREAT and I don’t have to go anywhere else to find answers. This is just my second post and I hope I can get some good info once again. I took off my oil pan on my 03 Tacoma with a 2.4 engine. Cleaned the pan and it pick up tube (the pick up tube was caked with dried sludge, even after changing my oil every 5000 miles). Before I cleaned the oil pick up tube and screen the truck would tick, tick, tick when you started it up along with the oil pressure light was on. I did not drive the truck when it was in this condition. After I got all of it cleaned and put back together when I started it the ticking was gone and the light was off. Now about three days later when I’m at idle the oil light will come on, put the gas a little and the light goes off. I have had the truck since it was new and have kept it serviced. The truck now has 401,000 miles on it and the engine and tranny sounds and works great. Any thoughts on the oil light coming on at idle would be well appreciated. One other thing, the oil pressure switch was changed about a year ago. Thanks so much

 

Would a new oil pump help after 400,000 miles?

 

I would 2nd that one.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have got a new one but I’m not sure if I have the ability or now how to replace it. My mechanic that I use wanted $700.00 just for the labor cost. It that too much to pay or does that sound right?

 

I've experienced the same exact issue you are having but not with a Toyota. Motor had sludge as well when I pulled the pan. Oil pump was the culprit. Replaced it and everything was good. No more light.

 

I guess I will be replacing the oil pump! One mechanic told me today that it’s ok to drive when the light is coming on at idle, as long as it goes off when accelerating, it that true? Thanks for the info.

 

@Billmorrow0714

I'd kind of agree with your mechanic, but remember, while the increased RPMs are raising the pressure enough to clear the light, your pressure may still be lower than optimal for lubrication of the entire engine, so the sooner you get that pump replaced the better.

Definitely minimize/eliminate any extended idling periods, like driving in heavy traffic. Me personally, if I had the means to do so, I'd probably quit driving it until I got it replaced.

 

I second what was stated. I don’t know the specs on Toyota oil lights but I know most others don’t come on until the oil pressure is less than 10psi or so. That’s too low in my book to run a engine even if it’s only idling.

 

the "standard" is 10 psi per 1000 engine rpm.
The light on at idle all depends on how long it idles. If there isnt enough pressure at idle for the lower end there is probably zero oil getting to the top end.
Thicker oil might help.
Replacing the oil pump is just nuts and bolts and does not require and "special" tools. If she is your daily driver you might be better off paying someone to do the job, if she is your play car you can take your time and save some money.

 

Get another quote. That’s several hours shop time. I don’t think an oil pump is that complicated on that engine.

 

If you had Sludge you cleaned out for the tube and so forth,
don't you think the oil pump would have sludge also, bet the screen was clogged also.
If you don't know how to change the oil pump, then have some one perform that labor.
Check out other mechanics if you think $700 is too much.

 

Could be if he's 4x4?

 

An ‘03 with a 2.4 is probably not 4x4.

 

Thank you all for such great information. I did call a mechanic and he quoted me 250.00 to replace the oil pump. He’s going to do it this weekend!! Hooray, no more oil light..

 

I think everyone covered this, but def a new fuel pump all day. That’s what I would put my money on. I’ve read about this exact issue and fix a couple times before. Goodluck!

 

Thank you so much!! Just for the heck of it, how much did you charge to put it on? Thanks again and have a great day!!

 

Thanks to all the pros on Tacoma World for the great advice!! To give an update on my problem. I did get a friend of mine who is a Master Mechanic at Toyota who is charging me $200.00 to put the oil pump on. The only problem is he can’t put it on until next week so I went some advice to put a higher weight oil in. After I changed the oil and filter to 20w 50 drove the truck for about an hour and stopped several times NO OIL LIGHT at idle!! Thanks once again to all that helped.....

 

Also before i put a oil pump on, I'd put a mechanical oil pressure on it to actually see what your oil pressure is, there's a reason their called idiot lights.

 

Thank you for the info. I want your opinion on one other thing if that’s ok. I have it lined up to have the oil pump put on next week, he’s only charging me $200.00 for his time. I thought that was a great deal. But in the mean time I took another’s advice and wanted to see if you agree with it. He told me to put in a heavier weight oil. I put my truck on ramps today and changed the filter and oil. I put in 20W 50, drove the truck for about an hour or so then stopped several times (maybe 10) and each time I stopped I had no light come on. I did get a oil pressure tester but I could get the darn sensor off to check it. I think I need to get a special deep socket. Please let me know about the heavier oil and if you know “why it worked”? Thank you for your time.

 

The heavier weight oil boosted your oil pressure up high enough to turn off the idiot light, lets say the oil is thicker which takes up the clearance in the bearings which produces your oil pressure. With a high mileage motor you start to lose the proper clearance in your main and rod bearings, they become bigger. Bigger clearance lets the oil go where it shouldn't, the thicker oil stays put. It could create a little cold start rattle in the bearings when colder weather hits.