Low oil light

While I was 4 wheeling last week I had the low oil light come on several times.

It was while on an incline or decline for an extended amount of time and would turn off once we leveled off- has anyone else experienced this and is there a remedy for this?

photo included for an image of the approximate angle that I’m talking about.

 

Normal for a 3rd gen. Did you notice any smoke coming out of the exhaust?

 

No, nothing like that - I have an idea of the issue being a oil pickup that doesn’t reach as far down into the pan as these angles require. (Maybe?)

 

Hi OP..It’s a known issue. I tried using a catch can but that only delayed the inevitable. Mine was accompanied by pinging and smoking.

My oil light only came on if I was flexing to the drivers side.

Finally resulted in an oil hydrolock.

I was lucky in that the truck was still under warranty and Toyota covered the repair.

My remedy was to sell the truck and wheel with something that doesn’t have this design flaw.

 

How steep was it OP? Did you max out the truck’s inclinometer?

 

Prayers sent on your inevitable cracked valve…according to TW atleast

 

The grade was MILD by my standard - steep enough to use 4low on a loose rock hill climb or decline - but definitely not at 30° - maybe 20/25°.

 

You just had to do it. Didn’t you?

By the time this thread is over, OP will either be keeping the truck for ever, because 3rd Gen is the best Gen. Or be afraid to ever start the truck again.

Now, I’ll sit back and watch all the bickering that’s sure to follow.

 

That’s unfortunate to hear. I am aware of the steep incline issues but hypothesized that you would be safe if you didn’t exceed the range on that gauge.

 

It’s when you stop for pics in an incline when bad Smokey things happen on the 3.5. For real

 

Lol.

It’s an issue. You wheel these trucks long enough under the right conditions you’ll encounter it.

I’ve been very careful not to badmouth the truck. I owned two of them and I enjoyed them. There’s a lot I’ll put up with and not complain…but this issue was a dealbreaker for me.

Oh…and while they were replacing the cylinder head..they found that the timing cover had sprung a leak.

Let the forum Karens chew on that!

 

It’s a combo of grade and angle…there’s a sweet spot.

 

It’s a keeper. Just an unfortunate discovery

 

I’m really estimating bc I had my eyes on the road - it WAS steep, narrow, and loose - the low engine oil caught my eye (obvs) with a little warning beep that accompanied it. I could have been 30°+ but it didn’t seem excessive compared to where I’ve been with other rigs, including a Toyota (last gen pickup).

 

My wife took this pic - and this photo was merely included to give an idea of the angle that the truck may have been in when the warning came on. It didn’t actually happen here.

Fortunately no smoke - but the warning came on at two different times and very briefly each time.

 

There's an oil level sensor in the oil pan so no doubt it 'sees' low oil at certain angles. This is a car engine after all.