Warning Light - Engine Oil

homerj742 · 10-16-2007, 10:38 AM

I received a warning light this morning. It kept going on and off, it didn't stay consistently on. Upon arriving at my location, I checked the manual and it said that it was either

Low Engine Oil, or Low Oil Pressure (DO NOT DRIVE or it will ruin the engine).

I have the Platinum Warranty (100k).

Question is, should I have it towed to the dealer? Will they try to rip me off even though it is under warranty?

Any advice, or past experience stories would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

richard schumacher · 10-16-2007, 10:48 AM

Of course you should have it towed to a dealer. What else are you going to do with it? Powering it up even one more time could indeed destroy the engine.

drifty1955 · 10-16-2007, 10:54 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homerj742 @ Oct 16 2007, 10:38 AM) [snapback]526326[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I received a warning light this morning. It kept going on and off, it didn't stay consistently on. Upon arriving at my location, I checked the manual and it said that it was either

Low Engine Oil, or Low Oil Pressure (DO NOT DRIVE or it will ruin the engine).

I have the Platinum Warranty (100k).

Question is, should I have it towed to the dealer? Will they try to rip me off even though it is under warranty?

Any advice, or past experience stories would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
[/b]

Hi,
I'm very new to this forum but I read about so many people who see warning lights and continue to drive.....until bad things happen in a big way. From what little I know of this car when you get a warning light pull over and check it out. When this car throws a trouble code its not kidding. Warranty does not cover running the car with no or low oil. Your Platinum covers free towing. I hope you didn't run your motor out of oil as Toyota might not honor your warranty. You never posted if you checked the oil?

homerj742 · 10-16-2007, 11:14 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Oct 16 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]526340[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hi,
I'm very new to this forum but I read about so many people who see warning lights and continue to drive.....until bad things happen in a big way. From what little I know of this car when you get a warning light pull over and check it out. When this car throws a trouble code its not kidding. Warranty does not cover running the car with no or low oil. Your Platinum covers free towing. I hope you didn't run your motor out of oil as Toyota might not honor your warranty. You never posted if you checked the oil?
[/b]

I got an oil change 2000 miles ago, from a Midas shop. I still have the receipt...

dogfriend · 10-16-2007, 02:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homerj742 @ Oct 16 2007, 07:38 AM) [snapback]526326[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Any advice, or past experience stories would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
[/b]

Pull the dipstick and make sure the oil level is between the two dimples in the dipstick. If not, add oil to bring it up to that level.

If the oil level is low, look on the underside of the engine for oil leaks, particularly the oil filter which is located next to the air conditioning compressor (the A/C compressor has an orange cable running to it). If you see leaks, don't drive it very far without getting it fixed.

If the oil level was ok, then have the car towed to the dealer where they can check the oil pressure with an external gauge.

galaxee · 10-16-2007, 02:11 PM

whatever the problem with the oil system is, if the engine isn't getting enough it WILL die. best to not drive it.

now if it's somehow the fault of the oil change place, you'll have to take it up with them because that's not on the dealer's/toyota's tab. but if something internal has failed not due to abuse/neglect, the warranty will pick it up.

homerj742 · 10-16-2007, 02:16 PM

Thank you for the information dogfriend, I will check everything as soon as I get home from work!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Oct 16 2007, 02:11 PM) [snapback]526447[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

whatever the problem with the oil system is, if the engine isn't getting enough it WILL die. best to not drive it.

now if it's somehow the fault of the oil change place, you'll have to take it up with them because that's not on the dealer's/toyota's tab. but if something internal has failed not due to abuse/neglect, the warranty will pick it up.
[/b]

Thanks for the insight, I will keep that in mind when the dealer takes a look at it...

that brings up another question, best to take it to the dealer, or back to the place that did the oil change?

The car had 30K when I bought it, got the oil change at 35K, and now at 37K I got this warning light...

fairclge · 10-16-2007, 02:28 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(homerj742 @ Oct 16 2007, 02:16 PM) [snapback]526450[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Thank you for the information dogfriend, I will check everything as soon as I get home from work!
Thanks for the insight, I will keep that in mind when the dealer takes a look at it...

that brings up another question, best to take it to the dealer, or back to the place that did the oil change?

The car had 30K when I bought it, got the oil change at 35K, and now at 37K I got this warning light...
[/b]

keep us posted please... I would like to know if the oil level was low do to the tech.

richard schumacher · 10-16-2007, 03:27 PM

I'd take it to a dealer first for diagnosis. The oil change place might try to cover up. (Of course, having read too many horror stories about monkeys and weasels working at oil change places, I would not use one in the first place.)

Just to re-enforce this: since you have already gotten the warning light, don't turn it on again until it has been diagnosed. Have it towed, don't drive it.

tochatihu · 10-17-2007, 03:01 AM

From past experience (Honda Civic) driving a short distance with the oil warning light can lead to tragedy. Prius may be different, but caution seems appropriate here.

Other Prius system warning lights do indeed get 'driven on' with no ill effects in many instances. But that oil light is a different matter. Anyway, I'm glad you saw it because it is not quite 'alarming' enough for my tastes.

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10-16-2007, 10:38 AM	#1
homerj742 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 23 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I received a warning light this morning. It kept going on and off, it didn't stay consistently on. Upon arriving at my location, I checked the manual and it said that it was either Low Engine Oil, or Low Oil Pressure (DO NOT DRIVE or it will ruin the engine). I have the Platinum Warranty (100k). Question is, should I have it towed to the dealer? Will they try to rip me off even though it is under warranty? Any advice, or past experience stories would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

10-16-2007, 10:48 AM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Of course you should have it towed to a dealer. What else are you going to do with it? Powering it up even one more time could indeed destroy the engine.

10-16-2007, 02:11 PM	#6
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	whatever the problem with the oil system is, if the engine isn't getting enough it WILL die. best to not drive it. now if it's somehow the fault of the oil change place, you'll have to take it up with them because that's not on the dealer's/toyota's tab. but if something internal has failed not due to abuse/neglect, the warranty will pick it up.

10-16-2007, 03:27 PM	#9
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	I'd take it to a dealer first for diagnosis. The oil change place might try to cover up. (Of course, having read too many horror stories about monkeys and weasels working at oil change places, I would not use one in the first place.) Just to re-enforce this: since you have already gotten the warning light, don't turn it on again until it has been diagnosed. Have it towed, don't drive it.

10-17-2007, 03:01 AM	#10
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	From past experience (Honda Civic) driving a short distance with the oil warning light can lead to tragedy. Prius may be different, but caution seems appropriate here. Other Prius system warning lights do indeed get 'driven on' with no ill effects in many instances. But that oil light is a different matter. Anyway, I'm glad you saw it because it is not quite 'alarming' enough for my tastes.