Running on 2.5 qts of oil? WTF? (1 Viewer)

[topherbecker]

89 FJ62 with about 160k miles...

So my oil pressure gauge spikes the other day to high. I knew I was in need of an oil change based on mileage and my oil has been pretty black for months. So I change the oil, and my pressure is still high. I hook up a mech gauge/tester and it reads 55 psi at idle and 65 at 2500 - 3000 rpm. This is same as I measured last year so I figure my pressure sender has bit the dust and leave it unhooked (took the opportunity to install an aftermarket gauge with actual readings).

Here's the kicker. I pull the catch pan with dirty oil from under the truck and it feels WAY light. I pour it into the containers I just filled from and holy crap, I only drained 2.5 qts of oil - i maybe spilled a half qt or so so let's call it 3.5 qts max came out. Mind you I just filled with about 7 qts of fresh and am just below the F mark on the dipstick.

Now I'm not the best mechanic, but I do check my oil every other fillup at a minimum and it's always been fine including my last fillup about a week ago. Never leave spots at my office garage or in the driveway at home. No, the oil galley plug has not blown. MPG is 10 in the city 16 on hwy running 33's on stock gears.

So a few questions...
Did the low oil make my pressure sender crap out?
Any ideas how I've burned or lost 4 qts of oil and not notice it?
Have I done any damage?

Thanks
chris

 

[Pighead]

I got a question. Why don't you drain the oilpan before you take it off?

 

[topherbecker]

Sorry. That should have read catch pan.

 

[Jcos]

Have you looked at the oil galley plug with the engine running? I know you say it's not leaving puddles, but it's an easy thing to check.

 

[klinetime574]

When was the last time you adjusted the valves? My FJ60 gets 13mpg. Fi should get better than 10mpg.

 

[RockDoc]

10 city 16 highway pulling 33s on stock gears is good.

 

[klinetime574]

I guess it is haha. I guess I expect more from fuel injection. But not in a 62 haha. I seemed to read over 16mpg highway also. Thanks Rock Doc

 

[Kurtis]

62s suck something awful on gas. Unless you drive it like a 90 year old woman the best I could do was 11 in town and 12 on the highway at 80mph with a 110k perfectly maintained 3fe. Fuel economy was the same with 29" tires or 33s after correction for size.

 

[The Phoenician]

what's the color of the smoke coming out the tailpipe?

 

[Jcos]

OK Chris, inquiring minds want to know... any findings/resolution to this??

John

 

[topherbecker]

Findings are that you can run your 3FE for some period of time on only 3 Qts of oil! I haven't noticed any change in the way she runs. There is zero smoke from the pipe that i can see so i can only guess I'm dripping more than i realize. The oil pressure sender bit the dust - not sure if that's because of the low oil level or if it was just it's time to go.

I still don't get how it got so low on oil when I check the dipstick every fill-up or so.

 

[cruiserfj45]

I have been down to 2 qt and only noticed a slight movement of my oil pressure gauge. These things are tough. I know I have a leak and I am planing an fixing it soon.

 

[Jcos]

The really HOT weather???
Yeah, just its time on the sender, it doesn't care if it's 0 or 70 psi, it just reacts... until it fails!
Keep an eye on that plug, I just happened to be looking at something else with the engine running, plug wires I think, & I noticed the oil oozing out around the plug. A substantial leak but not yet catastrophic & i had not noticed excessive oil puddles. Of course every other orifice on the motor was also leaking at that time, so probably not surprising I didn't notice.

John