FZJ80 Oil pressure gauge on steep trails

[LC492]

Hello,

i wanted to ask for your guys' expertise in regards to the oil pressure gauge on the 80 series. On a recent offroad trip, we did a local trail that had some steep climbs but nothing too crazy, maybe 45-60 degrees steep. At some points on the trail, i would be on my brakes or in park while waiting for the rest of the crew to climb/take pictures with the engine on. I noticed that if i parked too long on the slope, my oil pressure meter fell and my light would come on. This had me a little cautious.

I know the 80 series has a common oil pressure gauge sensor issue from what i read on the forums. My 80 does have this issue as well because when i drive on normal roads it'll read high, but at idle it's completely normal again. However, i've never had it read low with light on because the trail was steep. The engine/drive felt completely normal the entire trail and the pressure read normal once i was on level ground again.

i wanted to know if any other 80 owners had this issue while on a offroad trail climb at steep angles? is it common? or should i be looking for fixes?

Hopefully i get some feedback from you other 80 owners or techs! thank you

 

[Greenbriar]

Dumb question, but is the oil level full/correct? I've had mine bound up pretty steep a few times, and not had issue...

 

[LC492]

Yes, the oil is full/correct. Might be the sensor itself? It only acts up when I’m driving or when I’m in a steep slope climbing slowly

 

[jonheld]

The dash gauge and light are 2 separate sensors.
The gauge is oil pressure.
The light is oil level.

If you are concerned about oil pressure, then fit a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Specifications for oil pressure can be found in the Toyota FSM for your year.
I find it hard to believe that your oil level would be correct if the oil light comes on at an angle. The pan is very large, holds 8 quarts, and is well baffled to prevent oil starvation at extreme angles.

 

[LandLocked93]

Hello,

i wanted to ask for your guys' expertise in regards to the oil pressure gauge on the 80 series. On a recent offroad trip, we did a local trail that had some steep climbs but nothing too crazy, maybe 45-60 degrees steep. At some points on the trail, i would be on my brakes or in park while waiting for the rest of the crew to climb/take pictures with the engine on. I noticed that if i parked too long on the slope, my oil pressure meter fell and my light would come on. This had me a little cautious.

I know the 80 series has a common oil pressure gauge sensor issue from what i read on the forums. My 80 does have this issue as well because when i drive on normal roads it'll read high, but at idle it's completely normal again. However, i've never had it read low with light on because the trail was steep. The engine/drive felt completely normal the entire trail and the pressure read normal once i was on level ground again.

i wanted to know if any other 80 owners had this issue while on a offroad trail climb at steep angles? is it common? or should i be looking for fixes?

Hopefully i get some feedback from you other 80 owners or techs! thank you

Ok, so a 45 degree angle is extreme. A 60 degree angle is not climbable by any vehicle.
In fact you'd be hard pressed to physically crawl up 60 degrees on hands and knees.
So, if in fact you managed to get your 80 to 60 degrees, you were beyond the designed limits of the lube system of the engine. And possibly caused some oil starvation to parts of the engine.
There is no fix. Other than a new driver. Or new logic computations w/i the existing driver. lol

Otherwise, you were low on oil.

 

[flintknapper]

Yes, the oil is full/correct. Might be the sensor itself? It only acts up when I’m driving or when I’m in a steep slope climbing slowly

You might want to pull the oil level sensor and clean it well. Inspect to see that the float is not sticking in any way.

The float on the sensor....(as installed) is situated roughly parallel to the oil pan but works in a perpendicular fashion (float moves up and down). When your vehicle is level and the oil pan full....it is working at its best. IF you were on a 45 ° angle (100% grade) which is doubtful, then there is some amount of friction the float against the shaft must overcome. IF there is build up on the float/sensor shaft then that could be your issue.

As already mentioned......45°-60° certainly qualifies as 'extreme' and I imagine you are just missing your guess on the true angle.

Few vehicles can climb (constant slow speed) a true 45° angle (in off road conditions) and certainly not 60°. Mercedes G-Wagon can do 45° angle under test conditions. Not to labor the point.....just saying a 100% grade (45 slope) is pretty damn steep.

Your oil seal for the level sensor is probably leaking if it has never been changed....so this might be a good opportunity to pull the sensor, give it a good cleaning and install a new seal.

 

[LC492]

Hi guys,

thanks for the responses! i might've had my angles all wrong lol, but i appreciate all the feedback. My oil levels appear fine every time i check the stick. i dont think it was due to starvation. When i was parked on the slope, the light came on and my gauge red low, but it never fell below the 1/4 mark. on flat ground, the light is off and gauge read in middle.

I'll take a look at oil level sensor. thanks for the tip!

 

[LandLocked93]

When i was parked on the slope, the light came on and my gauge red low, but it never fell below the 1/4 mark. on flat ground, the light is off and gauge read in middle.

What/which gauge showed these indications?

 

[flintknapper]

What/which gauge showed these indications?

He is saying his 'pressure' gauge showed as little as 1/4 value (which is higher than most anyway) instead of its normal (for him) 1/2.

Additionally, his oil 'level' light came on (the only sensor than can cause a dash light) which is not to be unexpected at severe angles or if the sensor float is sticky (which many are).

 

[ChaseTruck]

i might've had my angles all wrong lol...

Not necessarily - from inside the truck, everything always feels twice as steep as it really is