Oil pressure light followed by Engine shut off on long trip

Forgive me for the long post but I have a situation.

So yesterday I took my Tacoma (2009 TRD Sport 135k Miles) on a long trip to visit a friend in another state about a 9 hour drive. I got roughly 2.5 hours north of Las Vegas and got a low oil pressure light. Drove another 20 minutes (babied it) slowed to about 25mph going through a small town (Lund NV) and the truck shut off. I let it sit about 15minutes checked oil level and it was good, no overheating no engine knock. It fired right back up drove about another 30 minutes no issues and light came back on but I pulled over immediately this time and shut truck off.

I did an oil change about a week ago, I’ve owned truck for about 2 months and it was sitting about 6 months when I bought it so there was some sludge in oil. Monday I have to drive back home I’m trying to take care of any issues beforehand if anyone has had this issue before or can provide any insight I would be very greatful

 

I don't suppose it's s bad sensor....six months would sludge that bad I would think with modern oils.

 

That’s what I’m hoping

 

Your oil pump could be toast. Might be worth dropping the oil pan and having a look. This would also give you a good excuse to clean the sludge out. I'm not sure if you have to move anything to get to the pan or if it will just slip out I'm sure somebody will chime in about that.

You could also check the resistance across the sensor. Im taking a guess at this but max resistance could be @ 0.5 ohm

 

Unfortunately I didn’t bring any real diag tools with i May just replace sensor to be safe and change oil, I put some seafoam in it yesterday to help break up any sludge. Drove it for about 45min today, to a couple fishing spots, and had no issues.

 

First rule of thumb is: If you get an oil pressure light Do Not keep driving the truck. Turn off the engine and stop. If you keep driving with low oil pressure you will seize the engine.

On a brighter note it didn't lock up after you drove for 20 minutes with a low oil pressure light. As stated you need to determine if your oil pump is going out or being clogged at the oil pickup by sludge. Sitting for 6 months is not going to cause sludge. Not doing proper oil changes and burning the oil causes sludge.

I would be afraid to depend on that truck for a nine hour drive.

 

Sounds like the original owner didn’t take care of it.

 

Check the oil level with engine off.

Start the engine and check the level while it is running.

If the level is lower, your oil pump is circulating.

 

Had I not been in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone signal I would have pulled over immediately the first time but I was worried if I did the truck wouldn’t start again

 

If there is a lot of sludge the pick up screen could be blocked as well.

 

Had this happen to me on a used engine. Only two tiny clear spots were allowing oil passage. The size of a pinky finger tip.

A high rpm rev-match down shift and I let the rod knock choir out.

 

As a easy, cheap little bit of insurance, I would buy a filter and a quart of oil. Change the filter and top off the oil, just to eliminate that piece of the puzzle.

 

This gets my vote as well. Pull the lower oil pan and see what it looks like. If the oil pickup tube is getting clogged and you don't take care of it you'll soon be looking for a new engine.

 

Hey @zbumm , you gotta let us know if you made it back and how the truck did (not that I’m advocating for driving with an oil light on)... Good luck

 

6 months of sitting can cause oil to sludge? I would say that original oil that came with the truck probably was in their longer than. 6 months. Could be it was literally the original oil that came with the truck back in 2009.

 

Ok, I thought of this ....

"If" the oil drains from the valve area under their cover is partially blocked with crud or whatever ..... The oil will be slow to return to the oil pan/sump. At an Idol or low RPM it may just increase the time that the oil needs to return to the pan. At High RPM the oil pump may pump faster than the oil is returning. If the oil builds up in the valve covers it may hold enough oil to let the oil drop in the pan until the pump starts to suck air and the oil light comes on.... Running at high RPM in this scenario is not good for the engine but my still supply enough oil to keep the engine from seizing.

The next time this happens - Immediately pull over and check the oil dip stick. If it's below normal or none - the oil my be in the valve cover(s).

JMO

SteveC

 

Your engine will be toast if the oil light came one that long unless the sending unit is bad.

 

Yup.

 

damn..subscribed for a good outcome i hope.