Oil Sending Unit in 2002 Camry

My oil light came on and our mechanic flushed it and changed the oil and put additive in. It came right back on over the weekend and even started making this sound like a piece of paper stuck in a fan best describes it. I am thinking perhaps if I change the oil sending unit that will take care of the problem. Any feedback greatly appreciated!

Which oil light?
Low oil lever, or low oil pressure?

Which oil light?
Low oil lever, or low oil pressure?
Well it is the oil lamp looking thing. Yes, I'm a female...well changed oil sending unit earlier today and its apparently the oil pump...since thats the only thing left now is the oil pump must be bad we are told which i guess means alot of money. Is there anything else it could be? Thanks so much for replying

started making this sound like a piece of paper stuck in a fan
I don't like the sound of that. It sounds as if you have NO oil pressure, and the noise is damage actually happening.

I don't like the sound of that. It sounds as if you have NO oil pressure, and the noise is damage actually happening.
Do you have yahoo messenger by chance? I need to ask you a few questions if possible. Nurse19732 if you do...thanks so much. The mechanic said the oil pressure fine it was about 7 or 8 pounds and thats ok and he changed oil yet again saying he thought maybe the strainer was getting clogged so he put thinner oil in and yet oil light is still on.

Do you have yahoo messenger by chance? I need to ask you a few questions if possible. Nurse19732 if you do...thanks so much. The mechanic said the oil pressure fine it was about 7 or 8 pounds and thats ok and he changed oil yet again saying he thought maybe the strainer was getting clogged so he put thinner oil in and yet oil light is still on.

Is it a red light, or a yellow light?
7-8lbs @ idle is pretty normal. Toyota's don't generally have much oil pressure idling.


If the red light is on, it's an oil *pressure* problem. That means little oil is circulating & continuing to drive it is going to catch up to you & cause a rebuild sooner rather than later.
(A side note, having the red light come on intermittantly is also bad. It's not reliable. If air enters the system, it will artificially raise the pressure reading.)

The yellow light just means low oil level. In theory, as long as you always had atleast enough oil to have a constant supply, you could drive indefinately with the oil level light on. - Tho you would not want to do so, as anytime you round a corner, accellerate, or come to a stop oil sloshes around & then you're sucking air!



Red light is park it & don't drive it much. Yellow light is keep it topped up with oil.

Thanks so much for your help its been invaluable. Ok bad news it is the red light! Could it be the oil screen is clogged up since the oil pressure was 7-8 lbs and it even got quiet and oil light went off when he put lighter oil weight in for a little but came right back on. Does it sound like the oil pump to you? Thanks again!

ckiser,

You haven't said how many miles the engine has on it. It may still be under warranty. I believe the engine and it's main componets are warrantied for 7 years or 70,000 miles. Check your mileage and then read your owner's manual. If you are within that mileage, I would contact your local Toyota dealer with your mechanic's findings.

Good luck.

Mike

Mike is right - 2002 Camry (Title of the thread). I'd be hitting warrentte work if it's under mileage.
The screen is a little stainless steel wire mesh. Filtration wise it would be identicle to a window screen. It doesn't filter anything, as much as keep really big chuncks of things from being sucked into the oil system. It's rare that they ever actually clog.

Eh, it could be the pump. If it were my car, or I was the mechanic working on it - I would flush it out, then change the oil pressure sensor. Afterwards, if it comes back on - ya it's an oil pump problem.



How often were yall doing oil changes, with what kind of oil (brand / type / weight if you know) & what kind of oil is in it now?

What was in it was Castro 5/30 then mechanic swithched it to casto 5/20 and we change it every 3,000 miles. We did the flushing and changed the oil sensor and still same problem. THanks guys

20 weight is a bit thin. Good for flushing old engines tho. Toyota is just now (http://www.imakenews.com/lng/e_article000463014.cfm?x=b11,0,w) rescently advising 0w-20 on it's newest engines. (As in uncoming engines not used right now). I'd swap it back to 5w-30 & leave it. Change it on the specified schedule (7,500 Miles - 6 Months for a normal schedule, 5,000 Miles - 4 Months if you qualify under Special Operating Conditions).
But ya, let's find out why the low oil pressure light is on. Change it back to 5w30 LoL!


Oil pressure should be a minimum of 4.3psi @ idle, minimum 43psi of 3000rpm.