Toyota BZ Touring 4AGE blacktop - low on oil??

[brunch]

Hey guys, I have searched but cannot find an answer to my question, so I need your help before asking my mechanic..... sorry for the novel.

I have a 97 BZ Touring wagon done 140kms with a 4AGE blacktop.
Tonight on the motorway, I braked quickly and the oil light came on momentarily. It did it again at the next set of lights too.

I took it to the petrol station, checked the oil (it was low) and added 1L of oil. Now when I put the dipstick back in, it doesn't show any oil (comes out squeaky clean).

I know it sounds basic, but has me worried due to my limited knowledge of cars, and the importance of oil!

I drove about 10kms on a gravel road yesterday if this gives any indication to causes.

Any thoughts?? The car is regularly serviced, the last was about 4kms ago. It doesn't blow any smoke or anything.

Thanks for your help.

[Lloyd]

Leaking oil? If the light is coming on then it could be more than 1L before it shows on the stick. I'd be getting it back up to the mark and checking it very regularly if you haven't got any obvious leaks

[brunch]

No there are no obvious leaks which is why I am nervous, because its never happened before. I will take it straight to the mechanics to check it out. Just wondered if there was any other reason other than burning or leaking oil. Cheers mate

[offensive]

mine did the same thing, no oil leaks, used to haveta get oil change every 5000 kms cos there would almost be no oil left. just kept burning it.

Id floor it and a huge cloud of black smoke would make everything behind me dissapear.

[brunch]

That's what is strange - it doesnt smoke at all!!

[offensive]

neither did mine, until u buried ur right foot

[AceSniper]

make sure the dipstick has no bends also? and prob need more than 1lt of oil if it was so low the oil light came on.... oil light is run off pressure sensor in block so to trigger that the oil pickup in the bottom of the sump has no oil

[matt dunn]

Pretty much all the BT 4AGE's I have heard of use oil,
usually about a whole sump worth between oil changes.

How long since the last oil change / service?

The car is regularly serviced, the last was about 4kms ago.

as is that 4000kms? as it's not uncommon for them to use that much in that time.

You will need to check and top it up between services.

I have a theroy that all the BT run bearing issue's that seem to be so common are down to just lack of oil,
as it will have probably been getting oil surge for a while before the light came on.

I put oil in ours every time we take it out of town on a long trip.

[docTRD]

i agree with matt dunn, 4AGE engines definately use oil , ive had a few over the years and all of them drink oil like its going out of fashion. its pretty much their lifeblood :p keep that oil topped up and they'l keep going. smallport i had and mates blacktop that only had done 60,000ks used a few litres of oil every 1-2 months. its just how they are designed i guess. Oil is cheap compared to fixing a motor!

[Bling]

I've never had my light come on, but its been low before, so i'd hate to think how little you had it yours .

I check / top mine up at a maximum of 1 month intervals. Also agree with your theory Matt as to why they do bearings.

Number 1 rule with the blacktops (IMO) is to check the oil every few weeks, less if you notice it doesn't use much. I have to do this as mine drinks it pretty fast. Though thats my fault due to how I drive it and the lack of servicing it got in Japan. The oil filler shows signs of burnt oil in the head . But yeah, I just religiously top up the oil and it keeps on running

I'd say oil only got on to the dipstick due to the pressure on it when it was running. So you really had f**k all oil in there even after topping it up. Add another 1L and see if anything shows on the dipstick. If still nothing then add another 1L and hope its not too late

[KinLoud]

I recommend thinking seriously about getting your bigend bearings replaced very soon.
4ages in general are very sensitive to low oil leading to damaged bearings.

Ken
Auck
021 408 863

[offensive]

i like to know where all the oil dissapears threw... pretty sure mine ran very rich, maybe suffered borewash? a bad factory tune?

[brunch]

Thanks for all your help guys.

The oil light only flashed on once as I braked heavily, so it must definitely have been getting low. I had no idea they went through this much oil!

Good thing to learn early I guess.
Will keep an eye on it.

Thanks

[sergei]

Thanks for all your help guys.

The oil light only flashed on once as I braked heavily, so it must definitely have been getting low. I had no idea they went through this much oil!

Good thing to learn early I guess.
Will keep an eye on it.

Thanks

They don't go through oil if you don't rev it above ~4.5k rpm (ie drive it like "normal" car).

[AceSniper]

mine uses no oil, and ones iv rebuilt also don't and they used to... Would say its oil ring issues?

[Crampy]

mine uses no oil, and ones iv rebuilt also don't and they used to... Would say its oil ring issues?

you wanna rebuild my one PLEASE!!!

[1I1]

mine uses no oil, and ones iv rebuilt also don't and they used to... Would say its oil ring issues?

you wanna rebuild my one PLEASE!!!

+1 there!

Mine has always used oil since i got it at 90k. Tried driving it normal(ish) and not so nice, same result (just a varying amount of oil)

I have never let it get below half min/max on dipstick though

[frost]

acesniper, your using toda pistons?
that would explain why yours don't use oil, as the toda pistons/rings have very good oil control, im hoping my toda pistons will stop the drinking too.

[AceSniper]

yes im using toda, but the others iv done don't

[frost]

maybe Toyota had a brain fart when deciding on the choice of rings and design for the blacktop,
but that goes against the number one rule in the multiverse "20v's are perfect in every way" witch i live by quite easily,