How do you get the Oil Level Check to work

[AngryCar]

Got a low oil warning the other day coming home from work. I had just pulled the car out of winter storage 2 days before and thought it was odd that I got that warning because I only have 3000 miles on the car since the last maintenance (33K total). I check for traces of oil leak, none at all on floor or in engine bay. I then checked the maintenance receipt and see they filled 6L of oil, but the car takes 6.5L, so ok lose another .5 and now you’re a quart/Liter down. So, I researched what oil I needed and what standards it should be certified for, ACEA C5 and API SN. Picked a couple quarts the next day, (last Saturday morning), and put in one quart.

I start the car and the warning is gone. I take it for a 45 minute drive, park in my garage on level surface, try to run the oil level check, it goes to 16% and stops, try again, 16% and stops. I figure whatever, warning is gone, I'm good.

Car sits overnight, start it up next day (Sunday morning), warning comes on immediately. I drive 15 minutes, get gas, drive 15 minutes back, about 5 minutes into my drive back the warning goes away, I figure maybe it needs another 1/2 quart, so I park in my garage on level surface run the oil level check, it goes to 16% and stops. Try again, goes to 16% and stops.

I let it sit for 30 minutes, start the car and the warning is back. I go for a 40 minute drive, about 15 minutes in, the warning goes away. I park in my garage on level surface run the oil level check, it goes to 16% and stops. Try again, goes to 16% and stops.

I research online, read the manual, do everything that is said to be done, check still will not run. The check gets to 16% and stops.

I check later in the day (Sunday evening), no low oil warning. I drive to the store the next day no warnings. Next day I drive for 40 minutes, then 40 minutes back, no warnings. Drive the next day, same trip, no warnings. So, I guess I'm good, no warnings since Sunday morning.

On every drive over 30 minutes I try the oil level check, and it goes to 16% and stops. How the heck do I get this oil level check to work?

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[Beamerboy]

What year? If it’s a 2020 or 21 I’m gonna say you need the updated oil pump.

 

[AngryCar]

What year? If it’s a 2020 or 21 I’m gonna say you need the updated oil pump.

It's a 2020. Has 33k miles on it. What's the updated oil pump? Was that a recall or something?

 

[itzTang]

No it wasn’t a recall. People were doing it under warranty

 

[Beamerboy]

It's a 2020. Has 33k miles on it. What's the updated oil pump? Was that a recall or something?

The earlier models used an oil pump with plastic internals. Updated one has metal internals. Early signs of failure are being unable to measure engine oil and eventually oil pressure issues and then worst case total oil pump failure. There’s a lot of similar posts on here with the same issues, some say oil level sensor fixes it but with yours being a 20 and the winter weather id bet it’s the oil pump. I just went through this with Toyota. Mines a 2021 and I couldn’t measure engine oil. They first replaced oil level sensor, then the oil control valve and finally replaced the oil pump which fixed it. Tech confirmed my vehicle had plastic inserts. Covered under Toyotas factory powertrain warranty

 

[AngryCar]

Ok, thanks for the info. I have less than 3 months left on my power train warranty, guess I better call the dealer.
So, do I just tell them that the oil level check fails and then they'll just figure it out or should I mention I read online it could need the upgraded oil pump or new sensors?
If that's it and they replace the oil pump, would they replace it with the same plastic one or is only the metal one available now?

 

[lucky phil]

Ok, thanks for the info. I have less than 3 months left on my power train warranty, guess I better call the dealer.
So, do I just tell them that the oil level check fails and then they'll just figure it out or should I mention I read online it could need the upgraded oil pump or new sensors?
If that's it and they replace the oil pump, would they replace it with the same plastic one or is only the metal one available now?

Tell the dealer its a well known issue with the oil pump and it's failure mode anyway but they won't believe you. They'll want to replace the oil qty sender unit first and when that doesn't fix the issue then they'll go with the pump. Just the way it seems to work with dealers, ignore the historical data and work their way up to the real issue.
Phil

 

[itzTang]

Ok, thanks for the info. I have less than 3 months left on my power train warranty, guess I better call the dealer.
So, do I just tell them that the oil level check fails and then they'll just figure it out or should I mention I read online it could need the upgraded oil pump or new sensors?
If that's it and they replace the oil pump, would they replace it with the same plastic one or is only the metal one available now?

they dont care whats online. just let them know your issue and let them go from there lol

 

[Beamerboy]

Ok, thanks for the info. I have less than 3 months left on my power train warranty, guess I better call the dealer.
So, do I just tell them that the oil level check fails and then they'll just figure it out or should I mention I read online it could need the upgraded oil pump or new sensors?
If that's it and they replace the oil pump, would they replace it with the same plastic one or is only the metal one available now?

The new pumps part number supersedes the old one so dealers can only order the updated one. I didn’t mention anything about online stuff even though I knew the oil pump would fix it I just let them do there thing.

 

[Import111]

I was having same problem, 2020. Did some research and turns out the oil can be too hot to measure as well as too cold. I had to turn my car off let it cool for a bit, then turn it back on and it worked just fine. I thought I needed a new pump or sensor but nope, all fine.

 

[AngryCar]

I was having same problem, 2020. Did some research and turns out the oil can be too hot to measure as well as too cold. I had to turn my car off let it cool for a bit, then turn it back on and it worked just fine. I thought I needed a new pump or sensor but nope, all fine.

Ya I tried letting it cool, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, didn't help. The start measurement was still available after 30 minutes and it still failed. I tried every suggestion in the manual, in forums, even tried AI. No good. Thanks for the info though.

 

[AngryCar]

Ok thank you everyone who replied. This is the first issue in 5 years and I hate going to the dealer. I've only been to the Toyota dealer for maintenance for the Supra, for maintenance on my 2024 GR Corolla, and for yearly inspections and almost every time I have an issue with them. They only have one guy who was trained in the Supra and he's always busy with other stuff. They also own a Chrysler/Fiat dealer across the street from the Toyota dealer, and I brought my Fiat 500 for all new brakes 2 years ago, then 12,000 miles later they said I needed new brakes in order to pass inspection. When I called them out on it they looked up the records and said oh ya 12,000 miles ago, ya well you still need brakes, or we won't pass you. Brakes don't wear out in 12,000. They are a typical scam dealership, but I live in rural area and it's 45 minutes to this dealer, other dealers are over an hour, up to 2 hours away. Might be worth the 1-1/2 hour drive to another dealer.

But anyway, thanks for all the help and advice, if you guys hadn't helped me, my warranty would have run out and I'd have to pay. I have not gotten the low oil warning again, but the check still will not run. So, I will make an appointment and go from there.

 

[type-964]

99.9% chance it’s a failing oil pump. Mine did the same thing.

 

[kern417]

I was having same problem, 2020. Did some research and turns out the oil can be too hot to measure as well as too cold. I had to turn my car off let it cool for a bit, then turn it back on and it worked just fine. I thought I needed a new pump or sensor but nope, all fine.

it's linked to pressure being too high, not necessarily oil being too hot.

with the new oil pump, it will do a better job of controlling oil pressure so you won't experience the high pressure scenario that puts the measurement system outside of it's tolerance. that's why it fails at 16%. oil pressure gets to high, so it kicks out an error but doesn't actually throw a code.

 

[MacAllan30]

I found this video helpful and just came out a few weeks ago.

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