Engine oil Level Low add or replace warning

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Jama707, May 29, 2022.

  1. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    I’m getting this warning. The oil level is correct just below the top indicator but well above the low indicator.

    Is it bad oil pressure/level sensor? Where it will be on gen 4?

    Thanks
     

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    #1 Jama707, May 29, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what car , year, miles?
     
    #2 bisco, May 29, 2022
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Even though it says low level, AFAIK the associated sensor detects just oil pressure. Even though your oil level is ok, maybe there IS a problem with pressure.

    New enough to be covered by power train warranty? Either way, I would take it serious, call dealership before driving further, see what they suggest.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, May 29, 2022
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Ditto to what @Mendel Leisk said. I've never seen that message or even heard of it happening, so I'm only guessing that something is starving the oil pump, resulting in occasional brief low pressure conditions or else the pressure transducer is flaking out. If the oil level is near the top mark on the dipstick on level ground, I would have the dealer check it.
     
    #4 jerrymildred, May 29, 2022
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  5. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

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    Good luck getting it fixed. It makes me happy that these warnings are built into the screen that way. Much better than a check engine light or a light on the dash that would be easy to not notice right away!
     
    #5 robsnyder20, May 29, 2022
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  6. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    It’s 2016 has 320k miles and I just bought it from an auction with help of a licensed friend.


    My reasoning for buying this high mileage because I already had an 2019 engine that I bought for 3rd gen swap but never materialized. My mechanic said he can’t/didnt want to do that after I brought him the engine.
     
    #6 Jama707, May 30, 2022
    Last edited: May 30, 2022
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  7. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

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    Wow that's some serious mileage. Have you pulled a history report from carfax or somewhere to see what kind of service history it's had? Any accidents? I'd be surprised any car has made it that far without something wearing out. Do you have a trouble code reader?
     
    #7 MalachyNG, May 30, 2022
  8. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Wrong oil weight perhaps?
     
    #8 CooCooCaChoo, May 30, 2022
  9. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    I replaced the oil and filter with 0w20.
     
    #9 Jama707, May 30, 2022
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's gotta be the pump or sending unit
     
    #10 bisco, May 30, 2022
  11. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    Based on carfax it had regular oil change until 160k and had a minor accident report. I’ve run the techstream health check and didn’t get anything related to the engine or its sensors.
     

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    #11 Jama707, May 30, 2022
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe a computer glitch?
    i can't believe toyota would display a warning message and show no codes on tech stream (n)
     
    #12 bisco, May 30, 2022
  13. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    Maybe… it doesn’t come up right away the engine starts. It comes up after driving a 2-3 miles. And I press the back button comes back up after a while.
    There is an intermittent problem, I guess.
     
    #13 Jama707, May 30, 2022
  14. ahmad zunba

    ahmad zunba New Member

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    Please till me what was the problem and how you solve it, because I have the same problem in my vehicle.
     
    #14 ahmad zunba, Aug 31, 2022
  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I'm curious, too, @Jama707. Did you ever get it sorted out?
     
    #15 jerrymildred, Sep 1, 2022
  16. Jama707

    Jama707 Junior Member

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    Yes. Based on what my mechanic said - the engine had an oil leak and pressure was too low. And also I saw he replaced the engine control module (ECM) that’s next to the hybrid inverter. He got it from a donor car from Rancho Cordova.
     
    #16 Jama707, Sep 1, 2022
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