alright, so i get in my 4runner this morning and i usualy turn it on and leave it running for about 30 seconds to get the oil going around the engine. well i look down and i notice that the oil gauge hasnt moved at all. its still on low, just like it is when the engine is turned off. I lift up the hood to see if I hear any funny noises, and I hear a scratching noise, not really a tapping or anything like that, but it sounds like gears grinding. im pretty sure it makes that noise every time i start it up on a cold morning, but anyway, i didnt drive it at all today, and im a little concerned. whats the best way to check and see if the oils pumping? it could be the sensor. any help would be great.

 

Hook up an oil pressure sensor where the sender is. You will have to remove the sender first of course. But a little work and a few dollars now is worth a ton later!

 

whats your oil level??? did you let it drop too low???

 

Just to chime in on this thread, i'm having similar problems, and can't wait to hear some answers. (oil pressure sensor, check)

 

I've gone through several sensors on my 22RE (senders). There seems to be different types that may or may not work with your cluster. Toyota shows 2 different senders for my 88, not counting the "switch" version.

With my old motor, I'd show pressure, but just below the "normal" range. I thought this might be correct for a motor with almost 200k on it.

The motor I just rebuilt, I used a high pressure DOA oil pump. You can do the same thing by using the modification by-pass kit that LC sells. Anyway, I should have more than enough oil pressure.
Because the stock gauge sucks *cough*, I decided to add an oil pressure gauge.

On a turbo application, I *have* to know air fuel, boost, and fuel pressure.. This doesn't leave a lot of room for other gauges, so I got creative based on something I saw on pirate, plus I don't want a mechanical fuel pressure gauge as I don't want to run hot oil into the cab or risk cutting one of those plastic lines - the result would be a major oil leak. Here's what I did:

I installed 2 senders (from JEGs) - Basically I bought a single oil pressure gauge setup (electrical) and an extra sender. The block is pre-tapped for an oil feed just behind the passenger side motor mount. You should use a metric to NPT adapter, and a 45 degree 1/8 NPT fitting, and a 1/8 NPT extension.

I took the extra oil pressure sender and drilled out my fuel rail, tapped it for 1/8 NPT also.

I feed both of these back into the cab and run a small 2-way switch at the gauge. I can monitor fuel pressure and oil pressure at the same gauge.

It might be easier for most people to run a "T" at the existing oil pressure sender and pull oil pressure from there.





Result with new motor and DOA pump? Dang factory oil pressure gauge reads exactly the same.
Digital gauge reads 60-70 psi of oil pressure, 40 psi fuel pressure...