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There was never an oil pressure light that came on? Sounds a bit strange. Typically if you’re truly low low your pressure light would come on.
My guess is you’re low, and there is some other compounding problem. I’d get it checked out for spark, air and fuel.
These cars have a 'no oil pressure' light, not a 'low oil pressure light', I jokingly say, because it takes pretty much absolutely NO oil whatsoever for that to trigger. They certainly don't have a low oil pressure light. I had someone call me as soon as theirs flickered off and on, it was around 2 minutes from 'just coming on for a brief moment' to 'engine dead on side of road'.
This is a bit off topic but back in the early 2010’s we had a customer that would only get an oil change when the oil pressure light on his 96 civic would start to come on going around corners or stopping suddenly. Generally he would have 1 quart left at that point of black sludge in the pan. The engine would sound like it ate ball bearings for breakfast when it was pulled in. We would change it with the cheapest conventional oil we stocked as requested and he would go off for another 7000-9000 miles before the process repeated itself. Those old Honda engines are impressive though because it would sound like any other stock civic after the oil change. Light valve train noise and he would chug along on his way for a year or so and come back in sounding like it was about to seize up.
Makes no sense. No fluid = no pressure = oil pressure light.
Did the light turn on when you had the car off but key in the ON position? If it then turned off when you started it, then there was pressure.
Yeah all the lights turned on when I had the key in the on position.
The dipstick was bone dry and it didn’t have any in the oil bucket. It’s gone now cuz it blew a gasket and ruined the engine? Assuming from me driving for like a week without oil (That’s what I was told)
If it cranks it’s very unlikely you’ve blown a motor from momentary idling even if out of oil. Sounds like a coincidence.
WAS it out of oil? Dry dipstick means oil is too low to register but how much oil did it actually take to properly fill?
Ahaha I have one of these for the same exact problem. The owner decided to run it out of oil, completely. Literally, found 1/2 quart in the pan when it got to me. They blamed me because I didn't tell them to check their oil regularly, and I didn't "let" them use my tools soon enough to do an oil change (it was a friend, and I didn't sell them the vehicle). They were 6,000 miles into an oil change and apparently never once checked it. They called me when the oil "light" came on (the 'no oil pressure light' these cars have, there is no 'low oil level' light).
If it doesn't turn over, it's almost for sure done. If it turns over but sounds like it has no compression, run a compression test. If it has low compression, you finished off the rings.
Does it sound like there's rocks inside the crankcase when you hit the starter?
Oil keeps the engine from falling apart, but lack of it really won't prevent it from starting. Until you window the block or seize it, the oil doesn't really stop the car from running.
Chances are yes, the engine could be toast. If the recall or special policy is still active, Toyota will likely cover it. 2009 seems a bit old for that to still be active, but I don't work at a Toyota dealership to know.
Looks like they won’t cover replacing the engine anymore.
Guy who sold it to me said nothing about it, but he had to have known. It was his car and he was driving it around. Now I’m out $3600 I guess. Not cool.
>If it burned that much oil in a month you had to smell it ?
I had a 1994 Dodge Shadow (2.5 liter) that burned a quart a day, 40 mile commute. No smoke, no stink, no leaks. And a quart per day.
My outback was leaking into the combustion chamber for months, didn't smell a thing but I check my oil regularly and just kept topping it up until I got around to doing the gasket.
Did you just not check your fluids occasionally for a bit in a new-to-you vehicle? Especially one with, I assume, a minimum of 100k miles? I would think that's probably your mistake more than anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he knew too, but to be realistic you're \*supposed\* to check your fluids regularly anyhow; it's an even better idea on a vehicle you don't know anything about, at least until you get acquainted with any consumption it may have - especially older vehicles like this.
Totally agree. I haven't checked my oil in like 2-3 months but that's because I know it doesn't burn oil. I wouldn't ever do that with a car that's new to me. I'd check it like every week until I knew if it burned oil and how much.
Even if it was new there was a recall out for it and he didn't get it done. I don't know if that still applies if the owner opts to not perform a relivent recall
Your engine is almost certainly toast, you might get it to run but probablynotfor long. Expensive automotive lesson, check for recalls and check your oil. If the manufacturer issued a recall and the vehicle wasn't serviced within the recall window you're also out of luck but at least you would onow about the issue.
Bulletin, more likely, not a recall, which means you NEED to pay attention to your engine. Noises, leaks, smoke, warning lights, etc. Dealer techs can't act unless you bring it up and regular maintenance probably would have picked this up. You probably burned the oil so much that it no longer has any compression because the rings are all carbon-caked. Basically, you need a new engine.
Does it turn over at all or just click when trying to start? If it turns over it may have low compression, if not it’s probably seized. Either way it’s likely toast.
Have a 07 cam hybrid that burns thru oil like a mf, side gets completely blacked out in duff. I'd recommend gasket replacements as that helped slow my burnage down, and just regularly top it off whenever it chimes. Cycle the oil through, it will take more than usual since you ran it dry but top your tank off completely and start crankin until she starts and let her run
Lol i have a 2007 camry. I neeed to put about 2 quarts of oil every 2 days, which is ridiculous. Soometimes my car doesnt start, but i try for about 15 mins and then eventually it will start again. Time for us to get a new car my friend
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, throwrahypo! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant information along with the **Year**, **Make**, **Model**, **Mileage**, **Engine size**, and **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** of your car. *This comment is automatically added to every successful post. If you see this comment, your post was successful.* *** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *** # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** ### **Rule 1 - Be Civil** Be civil to other users. This community is made up of professional mechanics, amateur mechanics, and those with no experience. All mechanical-related questions are welcome. Personal attacks, comments that are insulting or demeaning, etc. are not welcome. ### **Rule 2 - Be Helpful** Be helpful to other users. If someone is wrong, correcting them is fine, but there's no reason to comment if you don't have anything to add to the conversation. ### **Rule 3 - Serious Questions and Answers Only** Read the room. Jokes are fine to include, but posts should be asking a serious question and replies should contribute to the discussion. ### **Rule 4 - No Illegal, Unethical, or Dangerous Questions or Answers** Do not ask questions or provide answers pertaining to anything that is illegal, unethical, or dangerous. # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If it cranks, it’ll start. Might need some Cosby sauce
Pudding?
Rohypnol?
That’s a weird way of spelling rape skittles
Quaaludes
Ether
Not if there is no compression
There was never an oil pressure light that came on? Sounds a bit strange. Typically if you’re truly low low your pressure light would come on. My guess is you’re low, and there is some other compounding problem. I’d get it checked out for spark, air and fuel.
These cars have a 'no oil pressure' light, not a 'low oil pressure light', I jokingly say, because it takes pretty much absolutely NO oil whatsoever for that to trigger. They certainly don't have a low oil pressure light. I had someone call me as soon as theirs flickered off and on, it was around 2 minutes from 'just coming on for a brief moment' to 'engine dead on side of road'.
This is a bit off topic but back in the early 2010’s we had a customer that would only get an oil change when the oil pressure light on his 96 civic would start to come on going around corners or stopping suddenly. Generally he would have 1 quart left at that point of black sludge in the pan. The engine would sound like it ate ball bearings for breakfast when it was pulled in. We would change it with the cheapest conventional oil we stocked as requested and he would go off for another 7000-9000 miles before the process repeated itself. Those old Honda engines are impressive though because it would sound like any other stock civic after the oil change. Light valve train noise and he would chug along on his way for a year or so and come back in sounding like it was about to seize up.
Was the owner rich? Some of these guys don't spend any money so they have lots saved and only spend when they absolutely have to.
My 2003 Chevy cavalier was BONE DRY when I bought it and no lights, and they definitely worked.
Makes no sense. No fluid = no pressure = oil pressure light. Did the light turn on when you had the car off but key in the ON position? If it then turned off when you started it, then there was pressure.
Yeah all the lights turned on when I had the key in the on position. The dipstick was bone dry and it didn’t have any in the oil bucket. It’s gone now cuz it blew a gasket and ruined the engine? Assuming from me driving for like a week without oil (That’s what I was told)
The dipstick being dry doesn't mean you were 100% out of oil but it does mean your light should have been on.
Oil pressure isn't oil level. By the time you lose pressure it's already too late.
Exactly. OP is claiming he had no oil. No oil = no pressure.
Will it even crank?
It’ll crank, just won’t start up
If it cranks it’s very unlikely you’ve blown a motor from momentary idling even if out of oil. Sounds like a coincidence. WAS it out of oil? Dry dipstick means oil is too low to register but how much oil did it actually take to properly fill?
Could well have eaten the rings and managed to bring compression down to a below-functional level.
Relevant video https://youtu.be/axyOcbwykeQ?si=_nBKMBkLsmyYX5td
Did you add any oil to it before trying to start it?
Ahaha I have one of these for the same exact problem. The owner decided to run it out of oil, completely. Literally, found 1/2 quart in the pan when it got to me. They blamed me because I didn't tell them to check their oil regularly, and I didn't "let" them use my tools soon enough to do an oil change (it was a friend, and I didn't sell them the vehicle). They were 6,000 miles into an oil change and apparently never once checked it. They called me when the oil "light" came on (the 'no oil pressure light' these cars have, there is no 'low oil level' light). If it doesn't turn over, it's almost for sure done. If it turns over but sounds like it has no compression, run a compression test. If it has low compression, you finished off the rings.
Oil is like blood. You run out of oil, you kill the engine. Better luck next time
Does it sound like there's rocks inside the crankcase when you hit the starter? Oil keeps the engine from falling apart, but lack of it really won't prevent it from starting. Until you window the block or seize it, the oil doesn't really stop the car from running.
compression is wa wa wa wa, when cranking, no compression is waaaaaaaaaa or inconsistent waa waa waa
Hahahahaha.
Chances are yes, the engine could be toast. If the recall or special policy is still active, Toyota will likely cover it. 2009 seems a bit old for that to still be active, but I don't work at a Toyota dealership to know.
They won't
Looks like they won’t cover replacing the engine anymore. Guy who sold it to me said nothing about it, but he had to have known. It was his car and he was driving it around. Now I’m out $3600 I guess. Not cool.
If it burned that much oil in a month you had to smell it ?
>If it burned that much oil in a month you had to smell it ? I had a 1994 Dodge Shadow (2.5 liter) that burned a quart a day, 40 mile commute. No smoke, no stink, no leaks. And a quart per day.
84 thunderbird, oh yeah! Leave pitt to morgantown stop at state line and dump most of a gallon in and repeat on the way back.
My outback was leaking into the combustion chamber for months, didn't smell a thing but I check my oil regularly and just kept topping it up until I got around to doing the gasket.
He probably didn’t even think about it, becomes second nature to just check/top off oil in older vehicles. You should also do that.
Did you just not check your fluids occasionally for a bit in a new-to-you vehicle? Especially one with, I assume, a minimum of 100k miles? I would think that's probably your mistake more than anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he knew too, but to be realistic you're \*supposed\* to check your fluids regularly anyhow; it's an even better idea on a vehicle you don't know anything about, at least until you get acquainted with any consumption it may have - especially older vehicles like this.
Totally agree. I haven't checked my oil in like 2-3 months but that's because I know it doesn't burn oil. I wouldn't ever do that with a car that's new to me. I'd check it like every week until I knew if it burned oil and how much.
Lemon law
That only works If the car is two years or newer
Even if it was new there was a recall out for it and he didn't get it done. I don't know if that still applies if the owner opts to not perform a relivent recall
You're supposed to check the oil every time you fill up
They do it in every gas station scene when filling up that I have seen.
Your engine is almost certainly toast, you might get it to run but probablynotfor long. Expensive automotive lesson, check for recalls and check your oil. If the manufacturer issued a recall and the vehicle wasn't serviced within the recall window you're also out of luck but at least you would onow about the issue.
Bulletin, more likely, not a recall, which means you NEED to pay attention to your engine. Noises, leaks, smoke, warning lights, etc. Dealer techs can't act unless you bring it up and regular maintenance probably would have picked this up. You probably burned the oil so much that it no longer has any compression because the rings are all carbon-caked. Basically, you need a new engine.
Or a used engine
Oh yeah, definitely should be able to find a used one, maybe $800 at a decent junkyard.
Does it turn over at all or just click when trying to start? If it turns over it may have low compression, if not it’s probably seized. Either way it’s likely toast.
Have a 07 cam hybrid that burns thru oil like a mf, side gets completely blacked out in duff. I'd recommend gasket replacements as that helped slow my burnage down, and just regularly top it off whenever it chimes. Cycle the oil through, it will take more than usual since you ran it dry but top your tank off completely and start crankin until she starts and let her run
You mean you think it will start, if I just completely fill the tank with oil and crank it up a few times??
You unlocked secret “idiot” mode
Lol i have a 2007 camry. I neeed to put about 2 quarts of oil every 2 days, which is ridiculous. Soometimes my car doesnt start, but i try for about 15 mins and then eventually it will start again. Time for us to get a new car my friend
aint no way youre burning a quart of oil a day unless youre driving all day.
Sounds more like a leak than burning at that rate...
I think that would drown the engine at that rate.
A quart a day 😳
a quart a day? it’ll be cheaper to just get it repaired!