ncpaladin

Well, I finally drove the damn thing a little distance for the first time since buying it. I noticed a couple of things maybe someone out there can give me a heads up. First, the oil pressure gauge pretty much stays in the bottom quarter of the scale. This is an automatic trans 4Runner, so I tried gunning up the rpms to see if it would rise to half scale or more like my 85 22r truck would show. Nope, it popped above the quarter mark for just a bit, and it sounded like the valve train was less than happy above 4000rpm. I checked the oil level and found it to be about a 1/4" above the full mark, the previous owner had the Great Satan (Walmart) change the oil before I got it with 10w30. Looks like more oil in there than I would put in... And when I pull the dipstick out, it has in the oil a few tiny black specks. They don't appear to be able to be picked up by my magnet. The engine has about 173,000 miles on it. It does not seem to be in bad running shape. It has good power for what it is, no obvious signs of burning oil. No smoke at startup, no smoke when under hard acceleration from a stop. The PO stated that there is a replaced exhaust manifold stud where he thought was a leak, and I found the exhaust system to be loose where there used to be a cat. At idle, top rear of engine bit of knocking? or valve clatter? PO says he adjusted the valves not long ago. Note on PO, the guy looks to be a half ass mechanic, as other repair items on the truck says "This guy is nuts/clueless." I am no mechanic, but I like to do what I can. And where I live, the only Toyota specialist is the Dealer, OUCH! I don't care to give them the money they would like to rape me for to look at the truck. Any advice appreciated.

ncpaladin

Bump.

javadoody

could be a weak oil pump. also might be worth your time to drain the oil and see if those specks you saw are anything big (strain it).
and for grins look down the timing chain and inspect guides. if those are an issue you can throw in a oil pump at the same time.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Typical reading for a 1st gen 4Runner oil gauge IMO.

Targetnut

get a test guage and check the actual oil pressure.

misterzee

When you first start it from cold, can you hear any rattling in the engine for the first 1-2 seconds after it catches, before the oil pressure picks up? The low pressure could be from loose bearing clearances.

ncpaladin

No, no particular noise at startup to indicate oil starvation. I'm thinking of doing an oil change soon with a flush agent first, and replacing the oil pressure sending unit at the same time. I have a new valve cover gasket, so I'll get to do some inspection of the valvetrain and timing chain then. Tomorrow I'm working on my 85 2wd base truck with the 22r. I have the Weber 32/36 on it now, I'll be putting on the Offenhauser single plane intake, emissions blocking plates, and LC Engineering billet air cleaner. It will be nice to eliminate most of the B.S. tubes and unidentifiable crap on that engine.