Hi, I'm new to the forum. The oil light came on when I was driving home from work Monday night (13 mile drive). Checked oil level - was full. Took the car to my mechanic Tuesday morning. Oil light flickered on and off and then stayed on during the 2 mile drive to his shop. We have done oil changes religiously.

He changed the oil then checked the oil pressure. No oil pressure was detected.

Today, his plan is to drop the oil pan and see if the tube to the oil pan is plugged. If the tube isn't plugged, then he is going to check the oil pump next. (He suggested replacing the timing belt and water pump while the engine is taken apart to check the oil pump.)

Any thoughts, advice, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jen
2001 Camry LE, V6 with 105K miles, original owner

My mechanic just called. He cleaned out the strainer that goes to the oil pump and rechecked the oil pressure. It has 90 pounds of pressure at idle.

He said we should replace the strainer and the oil pan. Engine doesn't appear to have any damage. Still checking on getting the parts so don't have an estimate yet.

Jen

It looks like my camry is affected by the oil gel "sludge" problem.

I understand changing the strainer, but why the oil pan? It's not that it's an expensive part. It isn't. I just don't understand why he'd want to change it. It's just ametal pan. I would suggest you change the timing belt and water pump and both other nelt at this time. He's got it half apart already and the belts need to be at approximately 100k miles. Luckily you caught the sludge problem before you did some real damage. Good luck. Hy