Low Engine Oil Level, 2018 Tacoma under 1000 miles

Just throwing this out there, the local dealership hasn't seen this before. At just over 400 miles on truck the low engine oil level warning comes on. Typically happens after driving about 30 minutes. The oil level appears to be normal by dipstick check both by myself and local dealership. Typically clears when ignition is turned off then turned back on after a few minutes. Very repeatable and the dealership has replicated also. Today at 770 miles they replaced the engine oil level sensor, took out for test drive and within 15 minutes the warning came back on for them again. They are keeping truck and contacting Toyota Corporate Monday to escalate issue.

 

Good thing it's under warranty. Hopefully it'll get fixed shortly for you.

 

sounds like wiring to me

 

Was it actually low on engine oil or did the low oil light just turn on ? Incorrect dip stick ?

 

I bet it the oil sending unit relay.

 

Can it be swapped out with another one like it?

 

I had an issue on my 2012 suburban. Full of oil and light came on. Easy, cheap fix for me. Hopefully that's all it is or computer related.

 

Maybe oil isn't draining back from the top end fast enough. Does the light come on with a lot of revs?

 

Engine oil level on dispstick is normal, no leaks noted by myself or dealership. When its happened its been at low revs or at idle(sitting at a stop light), very similar time frame for me, usually around 30 mins with engine running but dealership today said after sensor change it happened in 15 minutes during their test drive. Prior to them changing the sensor they had it somewhat torn down in the service bay and were able to replicate it, not sure what they were doing but they had dropped the skid plate and had some access to the sensor itself, thats when they wanted to do the sensor first. I hope its a relay or module. I have faith in the dealership, they've been treating me good so far other than the first time in when the drive up attendant just checked the dipstick and sent me on my way. The first time it happened was the morning after I had picked up the truck new, it had 11 miles on it in Santa Fe, NM, it was the exact build I wanted so for time sake I gave them permission to drive it up from NM to Colorado instead of waiting a week or more for a trailer shipment. Truck had just over 400 miles(about right for Santa Fe to Colorado Springs) when I got it, next morning was first time the warning came on for me.

 

I had this same notification pop up right after I bought my truck. All levels were good, ran fine, etc. I took it to the dealership to have it noted in case anything did happen.

Shortly after my CPS failed like many other people on the forum. How the two could be related-I have no idea. But after I got a new sensor I never had that warning light again

 

RedBull, I'm new to the Tacoma, what is the "CPS"?

 

Crankshaft Position Sensor. There were some that were bad for 2016 and 2017MY trucks.

I originally had the low oil light flick on while I was in BFE rescuing my buddies during a horrible snowstorm. Kind of had no other option than to check the oil level and press on and pull my buddies out. It may have flicked on briefly one more time. Shortly after the sensor malfunctioned, and once I got a new one I haven't seen the low oil light. That was 2.5 years ago

Really it could be a couple different things, or sensors, that are throwing a false code. It'll be up to the dealer to figure it out. You can tell them what people on here are telling you, but they have their own protocols and will most likely do things their way. When my CPS failed I told them that it was definitely the CPS but they had to run through a bunch of different things anyway

 

Crankshaft position sensor. There have been a few cases where they've failed and it leads to weird symptoms. Not sure how it could relate to the oil level sensor though.

I'm glad the truck has the oil level sensor in the first place. Good to catch a problem before something catastrophic happens. No idea how the engineers snuck it by the bean counters.

 

It was one of my symptoms, weirdly. If you look at OP's picture his truck has less than 1,000 miles. It's definitely a bad sensor somewhere. It sucks but bad sensors sometimes make it out of Denso and into our trucks

 

Yes, I know how it all works so to speak, I do maintenance in my career, Semiconductor(computer chips) and I know how sensors and everything that ties into them can go wrong. I'm sure the service tech was pissed to high hell when that warning came on 15 mins into the test drive after he spent about 6 hours changing it out.

 

Any chance the 3rd generation Tacomas have a coolant level sensor? I wish my Tacoma had one and agree about the bean counters.

 

I'm sure your 3rd brake light leaking + Entune is causing your low oil light to come on....

 

Its tied to the low washer fluid light....

 

I don't believe so unfortunately.

 

Thanks Redbull I appreciate all the info!