Low Oil Pressure warning on Toyota Corolla 2007

appukuttan

Hi, Yesterday morning, while I start my Toyota Corolla (2007) to drive from home to office, tires went down into snow and I had to put so much effort to get it off. For moving the car out of the snow, I tried to get full throttle with hand brake ON. Then the "Handbrake On" message displayed on the car gauge and it was immediately replaced with "Low Oil pressure" message. So I parked the car and tried to start it evening but the error message didn't appear. As the snow as heavy, I didn't try to drive the car. This is the second time I am getting the error message. The first one was two months back at the time I purchased the car. An oil and filter change rectified the issue at that time. It would be very helpful, If some one would help me to investigate further on the issue as I heard it is very dangerous to drive the car after getting this message.

Foxhole Norman

Have you checked the oil level?

appukuttan

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Have you checked the oil level?

Forgot to mention. The oil level is perfect.

irish bloke

It could just be a dodgy oil pressure sensor.

You should take out the oil pressure sensor and get a pressure gauge connected up to it - Googling will tell you what pressure your engine should be at.

If pressure is OK the sensor is probably faulty.

CJhaughey

Toyota VVTI oil pickups can clog with particles, you should get the sump dropped and clean the pickup I bet the pickup will have a lot of debris in it reducing the oil flow and giving the error message.

irish bloke

CJhaughey wrote: »

Toyota VVTI oil pickups can clog with particles, you should get the sump dropped and clean the pickup I bet the pickup will have a lot of debris in it reducing the oil flow and giving the error message.

This can happen to a lot of cars for sure - Unfortunately have first hand experience of it:)

I would check the oil pressure/sensor functionality firstly though as this is a quick and cheap test as opposed to dropping the sump and frankly should be the first check completed

colm_mcm

I seriously think you have an issue with your car, isn’t this your third thread in about a month? I think the trader friend you bought it from is fobbing you off. you had a low oil pressure warning over Christmas, and instead of fixing it, he’s just changed the oil?
If he’s a friend and as great a seller as you make him out to be, he’ll refund on what is not a good car.

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

I seriously think you have an issue with your car, isn’t this your third thread in about a month? I think the trader friend you bought it from is fobbing you off. you had a low oil pressure warning over Christmas, and instead of fixing it, he’s just changed the oil?
If he’s a friend and as great a seller as you make him out to be, he’ll refund on what is not a good car.

At that time, he drained the oil completely and refilled and reset the warning light. Today evening I had a drive and their was no warning message... Very weird

colm_mcm

There is still something wrong though. Draining the oil is only a temporary measure, and you can’t just rely on a warning light being permanently on to tell you there’s something wrong. The longer you leave this, the more potential damage is being done, and the less chance the seller will actually do something about it.

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

There is still something wrong though. Draining the oil is only a temporary measure, and you can’t just rely on a warning light being permanently on to tell you there’s something wrong. The longer you leave this, the more potential damage is being done, and the less chance the seller will actually do something about it.

The previous smoke issues I posted earlier was due to water condensation only. The car was not using for almost 3 months at the time of sale. That may be the reason for the first time oil pressure error. The oil drained had some clots as well. I have to make sure that the issue still exists before talking with the seller. But not able to replicate

colm_mcm

With respect, you don’t have a lot of mechanical knowledge, going on your previous threads. Sitting a car up for a few months doesn’t make the oil go lumpy, not does it usually cause the burning smell, smoke, or oil pressure lights. Your car was most likely neglected and the oil wasn’t changed, it is possible the oil was topped up repeatedly instead of being changed.

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

With respect, you don’t have a lot of mechanical knowledge, going on your previous threads. Sitting a car up for a few months doesn’t make the oil go lumpy, not does it usually cause the burning smell, smoke, or oil pressure lights. Your car was most likely neglected and the oil wasn’t changed, it is possible the oil was topped up repeatedly instead of being changed.

The burn smell waa due to the dirt clotted in the brake pad and it was rectified. And regarding the oil change, I have all the service history of last 3 years. He was doing all the services regularly. So that might not be a problem...

colm_mcm

When did it last get an oil change? Is he an actual mechanic, like does he have a premises?

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

When did it last get an oil change?

The last one was on Sep 2017(at the time of low oil pressure) and the previous one was Dec 2016 with exactly 10000 kms gap

CJhaughey

irish bloke wrote: »

This can happen to a lot of cars for sure - Unfortunately have first hand experience of it:)

This problem isn't unique to the VVTI engine but the pickup design lends itself to clogging more so than others due to its design where debris that enters the pickup isn't able to come out again easily like some designs where the oil washing back and forth can flush it away.
For sure check the sensors but to me knowing the design of the engine and having seen more than a few suffering the same problem and failing I would seriously consider dropping the sump and cleaning it, it isn't a big job, just the subframe needs to be dropped.

EPAndlee

I'd be dropping the sump and cleaning the oil pick up. Recently had a Corolla in. He said the oil light was coming on every now and again but kept driving a week or two later the engine went

appukuttan

CJhaughey wrote: »

This problem isn't unique to the VVTI engine but the pickup design lends itself to clogging more so than others due to its design where debris that enters the pickup isn't able to come out again easily like some designs where the oil washing back and forth can flush it away.
For sure check the sensors but to me knowing the design of the engine and having seen more than a few suffering the same problem and failing I would seriously consider dropping the sump and cleaning it, it isn't a big job, just the subframe needs to be dropped.

Do you have any idea, how much the labour cost will be?

colm_mcm

appukuttan wrote: »

The last one was on Sep 2017(at the time of low oil pressure) and the previous one was Dec 2016 with exactly 10000 kms gap

Are you at all suspicious that the history might be fictitious?

I def think dropping the sump is necessary here.

I’m kinda lost here, you said last week that you just got a service done. Did it get an oil change in in September, and again last week? When did you buy it?

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you at all suspicious that the history might be fictitious?

Not thinking so. I didn't ask him for the service history but he gave it and that too was after the purchase.

CJhaughey

appukuttan wrote: »

Do you have any idea, how much the labour cost will be?

I'd say no more than 2 hrs.

appukuttan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you at all suspicious that the history might be fictitious?

I def think dropping the sump is necessary here.

I’m kinda lost here, you said last week that you just got a service done. Did it get an oil change in in September, and again last week? When did you buy it?

Sorry if I confused you. On September at the tine of purchase, the car showed the error messages. At that time, the only part did was draining the oil and changing the filter. And during the last week service, I told the mechanic about the oil change and so didn't consider oil change with the service

honda boi

Drop the sump.
Had the same intermittent oil pressure light on my car.
I dropped the sump and found the pickup blocked with bits of metal.

pablo128

Can I just add, please do not redline your engine immediately from cold. It's probably one of the worst things to do to an engine, and will cause premature wear. My sister in law seized the engine in her car doing exactly that in the snow.

appukuttan

honda boi wrote: »

Drop the sump.
Had the same intermittent oil pressure light on my car.
I dropped the sump and found the pickup blocked with bits of metal.

Planning to do so. Thank you very much for guiding me

irish bloke

CJhaughey wrote: »

This problem isn't unique to the VVTI engine but the pickup design lends itself to clogging more so than others due to its design where debris that enters the pickup isn't able to come out again easily like some designs where the oil washing back and forth can flush it away.
For sure check the sensors but to me knowing the design of the engine and having seen more than a few suffering the same problem and failing I would seriously consider dropping the sump and cleaning it, it isn't a big job, just the subframe needs to be dropped.

With respect, I still think is premature to drop the sump without checking the oil pressure (regardless of the cars history with the oil pick-up screen) - A gauge can be fitted in under 5 minutes and this should be tested firstly. Even if there is partial blockage, the gauge should be able to pick this up by not operating at manufactures specifications.

The VAG 1.8t petrol engine is also notorious for developing a blocked pick-up screen, primarily due to long intervals between oil changes.
I have replaced a faulty pressure sensor on an Audi A4 1.8t for the pressure warning you describe.
The same car 3 years earlier displayed the same pressure warning and the crankshaft shell bearings had to be replaced due to loss of oil pressure caused by a blocked pick-up screen.

Its up to OP what he wants to do, but I know what I would do firstly..

appukuttan

irish bloke wrote: »

With respect, I still think is premature to drop the sump without checking the oil pressure (regardless of the cars history with the oil pick-up screen) - A gauge can be fitted in under 5 minutes and this should be tested firstly. Even if there is partial blockage, the gauge should be able to pick this up by not operating at manufactures specifications.

The VAG 1.8t petrol engine is also notorious for developing a blocked pick-up screen, primarily due to long intervals between oil changes.
I have replaced a faulty pressure sensor on an Audi A4 1.8t for the pressure warning you describe.
The same car 3 years earlier displayed the same pressure warning and the crankshaft shell bearings had to be replaced due to loss of oil pressure caused by a blocked pick-up screen.

Its up to OP what he wants to do, but I know what I would do firstly..

I gave the car for the service today morning and the mechanic will check the pressure and will clean up the blockage if have any. I will post the updates.

appukuttan

appukuttan wrote: »

I gave the car for the service today morning and the mechanic will check the pressure and will clean up the blockage if have any. I will post the updates.

Dropped the sump and cleaned the pickup. Their was some debris clotted in the pickup. The labour was 100 euros. Hope the issue is fix