Engine Sputter and Low Oil Warning

Hey all, 2005 Taco, 207k miles... she's been a dream.

Tonight, despite my better judgement I decided to go through a carwash... Too much road salt. That said, its only in the 20's out there, so still very cold.

Washed her, and as I was driving home, I got a random 'low oil pressure warning'. Kids in the car and other obligations pushed me to keep moving. Pulled over, and checked oil level. Surprisingly seemed a bit high. Coolant and other fluids good.

Kept pushing and the engine made some unusual clanking, tapping, and cluttering, but nothing horrible... just definitely abnormal. Decided to baby it home.

Got home, put it in warm garage and later tonight I started it up and drove it a bit after confirming oil level was good (back down to normal range). Started fine, no oil warning lamp. However, it sputtered on acceleration a few times.

What are your thoughts on what's going on? My theory is that the cold water from the carwash caused the oil not to flow well after rapidly cooling the engine??? I've heard the oil pumps on these things virtually cannot go bad, but is that out of the question? Take it in to the shop?

 

Is there an engine code? Car wash won't harm the engine, it's impossible... Unless you sprayed water into the intake

 

No engine code,just the low pressure warning.

 

Low oil pressure is bad news, wouldn't recommend driving with it, you'll break stuff. Get it towed to a shop

 

The car wash shouldnt affect the engine, 20/-6c isnt THAT cold

That said you shouldnt drive it, I'd tow it to a shop. Best you can do is make sure the oil pressure switch is connected.

Found this pic. (ignore the supercharger belt, its the same engine)

 

Pretty sure it would give off a code if this was the case and you'd have all the lights on your dash go on

 

No, it would just leave the pressure light on, 2nd gens are pretty rudimentary. The 3rd gens trigger more warnings, but 2nd gen just the one light.

 

Did you wash the engine bay?

 

Good advice. I'll check

 

No. Just a basic $10 wash. Nothing special.

 

That OP switch uses ground as part of it's circuit path, it wouldn't be the first time water has affected a sensor's reading. The associated clanking noises are concerning and aren't at all typical for the issue I'm describing. Despite that I'm still leaning towards Car wash water temporarily shorting the sensor to zero ohms causing a false low op indication. If it's a true low op situation the damage is already done.

 

Well, here's to hoping I'm not too hosed. I'm gonna change the oil this weekend, and hope for the best. She's been good to me, but everything falls apart eventually.

 

Alright @all... I hate it when threads don't close... So for anyone out there and all of you kind enough to chime in... Here's how things progressed... I left it parked for a day, checked fluids - totally fine. Oil looked normal, dark, but nothing abnormal. I took it for a short drive... Sputtered a bit on acceleration. Repeated this the next day... Still sputtering and hesitation.

I went ahead and did two things (this is a bit controversial, so I'm hesitant to say all is well just yet). I bought some engine flush and seafoam (hail Mary play here). I figured it couldn't hurt. Followed their instructions, etc etc. Drained the oil, changed the filter. Oil was totally fine - had a smell, but given the dipstick didn't smell when I checked it earlier (I sniffed), I attribute it to the flush/seafoam. Checked the oil filter and oil. Both were totally normal. No shavings, sprinkles, or anything on the drain plug. Gave it a totally thorough drain. Added new oil, new filter, and for good luck threw a few oz of Seafoam in the crankcase.

Started up fine, and ran fine. Let it cool (it's cold out). Took it for a drive - no problems at all, no noises at all. So, is it fixed? Time will tell. Did the flush or seafoam do it - honestly, I don't know, nor do I want to call them miracle products. All I know is it is working a-ok again.

One thing I will note, there was 'peanut butter' under the crankcase cap... a bit yellowish. It's not abnormal for the Taco to get a little bit. Normally brown. So maybe something was at play? I'll also say, I have been taking VERY short trips in the cold lately (kids to the bus stop, etc) - not really letting it warm up each time. I'm thinking that contributed, but I'm not a mechanic. I welcome others' thoughts, but so far so good. I'll report back if more issues arise. Maybe dodged a bullet, maybe I'm lucky... who knows?

 

I like seafoam and had great results from a SF flush @ 150K. Nothing controversial about it, crankcase flush it's one of the stated uses for the product. It's not snake oil, the product has been around years and it works excellent at it's other prescribed uses and also as a crankcase flush IMO.

 

Yeah. Whatever it was, it worked... And that's what counts in my book.