Bad oil leak, no oil light

[jayoldschool]

Got home from work, and immediately noticed the oil on the driveway from when I left. Opened the hood, and oil was dripping fast off the filter. Think it's a bad oil pressure switch. Only leaks when running with pressure. Checked the dipstick, dry. Added a little Syntec 5 30 I had, about a litre, and it didn't even show on the stick. No low oil pressure light! It doesn't illuminate on start up, either. Perhaps a function of the bad oil pressure switch? I'll find out tomorrow.

No noise from the engine, it's running fine. Thankfully, I used the higher capacity GT filter on it, AND had overfilled it to the correct level of the "new" dipsticks. That may have just saved my engine.

Reading the searches shows that a few others have dealt with leaking pressure switches.

[gtv237]

Did you make sure the filter was tight? It could also be damaged. I've seen them drip from pinholes caused my manufacturing defects.

[vibrologist]

Sometimes the gasket of the old filter does not come off and you end up with 2 gaskets. That will cause a leak as well.

[jayoldschool]

Yes, filter's fine. It's a factory Toyota piece, and it's been on there for at least 7 months (yes, I run synthetic). No double gasket, I've been doing oil for over 25 years. I'll update when I swap the sender tomorrow. Doing oil and filter, too. Had to get the short filter, they didn't have the GT one in stock. Got a good one, though.

[ColonelPanic]

It does sound like you're on the right track with the sender. It has created large leaks for others as well.

IIRC the sender supplies ground, if disconnected the oil pressure light will be off during key on/engine off. So if the sender is dead, I can see something similar going on...

Do you have to use any thread sealant tape/etc when replacing these things? Mine is on its way out, it barfs out a tiny amount of oil onto the filter over the course of the oil change. I probably should replace it before it dumps out all the oil.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[jayoldschool]

I bought the Delco part, it has sealer on the threads, so I would definitely use sealer if you get a parts store one (or are re/re a used one).

[jayoldschool]

Fixed. New sender in, no more leak. Also, my oil light now works. Happily, when I started the car, the light went out, so I may have just barely dodged a bullet. I'm going to start a new thread to tell everyone to check the function of their light. If the sender's bad, it may not work.

[ColonelPanic]

Good deal! Thanks for the input. I'll be ordering the AC Delco version, sounds like that is the way to go.

[Nasmfell]

Is this affecting all years of the 1st Gen if you know?

[jayoldschool]

Oil and filter changed. Fresh Mobil 1 in, good filter on. Overfilled, to the TSB dipstick height (make sure you do this!). Seems to be running fine, no noise. OIl that came out looked ok, no particles, no metallic sheen. I might cut open the filter to check it, but I think I might be ok! Hope the drive to work tomorrow goes ok.

[lannvouivre]

I might cut open the filter to check it

Do it!

I'm going to have to do it on my car. Regardless, you won't be able to beat our "new" Tercel's pretty poop-colored oil that was filled with bearing dust. Been tearing the 3A-C down and it looks good for 400k+ miles, but there is fine material embedded in every bearing and big pieces of metal were stuck on the strainer. Not super-huge, just the size of a grain of the clumping cat litter clay, but still not ideal. It wasn't knocking (yet).

If you get a knock, you can try pulling the pan and looking at the rod bearings (immediately, of course). If they are trashed, you can feel the con rod journals with a nail and see if it's scored badly enough to need sanding or something. If it's still smooth, there was a guy on matrixowners that just slapped new bearings on like a proper shade-tree and has had no issues for something like 10k miles. The bearings don't cost much, but you will need new rod bolts (TTY). May be worth the try if it comes to it. The 1ZZ is a sick puppy of an engine with the abuse it will put up with.

[ColonelPanic]

jayoldschool -- do you happen to have the part number for that sender?

I was checking around and found two options from AC Delco on rockauto

ACDELCO E1805A {#88924478} Professional
WITH LIGHT
$15.17

ACDELCO D1802C {#94859102} GM Original Equipment
$21.79

The cheaper one lists a lot of applications on Toyotas, the GM OE just lists the Vibe/Prizm. I'm inclined to go with the more expensive OE one, but not really sure what the difference is between the two...

[jayoldschool]

Believe it was the bottom one. I've got the box/invoice out in the garage, I'll check.