car trouble...help me

eLiu

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2001
6,407
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the car:
1992 Toyota Previa
4 cylinder, 1.2 litre (she thinks it's 1.2)
~110,500 miles

Ok, my mom said the oil low light came on when she started the car up this afternoon (comin home from work). Thing is, she has over 1000 miles left before the standard oil change (eveyr 4k miles for this car). There isn't any oil visibly leaking onto the ground.

Anyway, she says she's never had the oil light come on before, even when she drove well more than 4000 miles between changes.

Uh, she just got home, so when the thing cools down, we'll go outside and check the oil level...see if we can see any leaks or other obvious problems. Other than that...she'll prolly take it to the dealer 2maro

On a side note, the thing was making odd noises this morning. It was like a whirring noise, kind of the sound you hear when u board the plane (idling engines, on a jet). But not quite as loud...dunno how else to describe it.

any ideas? thanks :)

-eric
 

911paramedic

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
9,448
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metal to metal noise?? Perhaps she should have stopped when the WARNING ( they do call it that for a reason) light came on.
 

eLiu

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2001
6,407
1
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metal on metal? i don't know...my mom isn't really sure either.

Oh, and the sound happened twice...one when she started it, then it stopped. Started a few minutes later, and stopped.

well, the manual said what she should probably do is add some more engine oil, and that it isn't a big problem until/unless the light flashes.
 

goodoptics

Platinum Member
Aug 18, 2000
2,652
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<< cylinder, 1.2 litre (she thinks it's 1.2) >>

It's 2.4 litre.

Anyway, you don't have to wait until the van cools down to check the dipstick. I'd recommend you to go check the oil level now before even attempting to start that van up again. You don't want further damage to be done to the engine.
 

eLiu

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2001
6,407
1
0
She says she'll check the oil level 2maro morning. If it's low, she'll go to Kmart to get some more (we have another car) before taking it to the dealer