Rav oil light

[tesa]

Hi

I have an early Rav4 with a 3SFE 2 litre motor. Two questions I would like to ask.

The first is why does the engine oil light take so long to go out when the motor is not started for a long period. I spoke with toyota and they told me to buy a genuine oil filter and that would cure the problem as it has a non return valve which stops the oils draining from the oil filter. Well the toyota oil filter at $22 was worse than the RYCO. Anyone else have the same problem, is it normal, is there some way to improve the situation? I am a bit concerned about the time the engine runs without oil pressure.

My second question is tappet noise. Is toyota the only people that can adjust the valves as I am told that shims are need to adjust them.

Any help on these would be greatly appreciated. I live in Brisbane north

Tesa

[michaelb]

Hi Tesa

With regards to the tappets any good mech will be able to adjust the tappets for you . Shims are only thin slivers of brass or steel inserted to take up the wear (and in industry can be puchesed as a sheet and cut as required). So I would find yourself a good mech and save yourself $

With regard to the oil light time is relative, if its taking 10-20 sec to go out after sitting around for two or more days you proberly dont have a problem as such but if its after 2-3 hrs you could start with your oil type around Brissy a 20 to 40 grade oil would be the better option if this did not fix it then your oil pump may have exsessive wear and need to be looked at (again a good mech ) hope this gives you some help Michaelb

[David the Viking]

With regards to the tappets any good mech will be able to adjust the tappets for you . Shims are only thin slivers of brass or steel inserted to take up the wear (and in industry can be puchesed as a sheet and cut as required). So I would find yourself a good mech and save yourself $

michaelb- it appears that you have never seen what the shims look like in the S series motors. They are about the size of a 20cent coin and cannot be made/cut out of sheet metal as the cam acts directly on them, they are made from hardened steel. A mechanic would most likely be ablle to service the valve clearances but will most likely need to check-measure-and order new shims in in order to carry this out.

The first is why does the engine oil light take so long to go out when the motor is not started for a long period. I spoke with toyota and they told me to buy a genuine oil filter and that would cure the problem as it has a non return valve which stops the oils draining from the oil filter. Well the toyota oil filter at $22 was worse than the RYCO. Anyone else have the same problem, is it normal, is there some way to improve the situation? I am a bit concerned about the time the engine runs without oil pressure.

Another thing to check is the actual oil pressure switch. It is located in the head just to the right of the exhaust manifold.

[tesa]

With regards to the tappets any good mech will be able to adjust the tappets for you . Shims are only thin slivers of brass or steel inserted to take up the wear (and in industry can be puchesed as a sheet and cut as required). So I would find yourself a good mech and save yourself $

michaelb- it appears that you have never seen what the shims look like in the S series motors. They are about the size of a 20cent coin and cannot be made/cut out of sheet metal as the cam acts directly on them, they are made from hardened steel. A mechanic would most likely be ablle to service the valve clearances but will most likely need to check-measure-and order new shims in in order to carry this out.

The first is why does the engine oil light take so long to go out when the motor is not started for a long period. I spoke with toyota and they told me to buy a genuine oil filter and that would cure the problem as it has a non return valve which stops the oils draining from the oil filter. Well the toyota oil filter at $22 was worse than the RYCO. Anyone else have the same problem, is it normal, is there some way to improve the situation? I am a bit concerned about the time the engine runs without oil pressure.

Another thing to check is the actual oil pressure switch. It is located in the head just to the right of the exhaust manifold.

Thanks for the help. It take about 3 to 4 seconds in the morning for the oil light to go. the motor doesnt seem to rattle during this time but the engine sound changes when the light goes out. I will try a mechanic who was trained on toyota vehicles for the tappets, he now runs his own business. They are just noisy when the motor reaches operating temperature but dont cause any trouble. The vehicle as a whole is noisy from road, engine and tyre noise anyway.

What brand of oil filter do you recommend and do you suggest 20W40 oil for the egine, its done about 180K

Tesa

[Keisari]

With regards to the tappets any good mech will be able to adjust the tappets for you . Shims are only thin slivers of brass or steel inserted to take up the wear (and in industry can be puchesed as a sheet and cut as required). So I would find yourself a good mech and save yourself $

michaelb- it appears that you have never seen what the shims look like in the S series motors. They are about the size of a 20cent coin and cannot be made/cut out of sheet metal as the cam acts directly on them, they are made from hardened steel. A mechanic would most likely be ablle to service the valve clearances but will most likely need to check-measure-and order new shims in in order to carry this out.

The first is why does the engine oil light take so long to go out when the motor is not started for a long period. I spoke with toyota and they told me to buy a genuine oil filter and that would cure the problem as it has a non return valve which stops the oils draining from the oil filter. Well the toyota oil filter at $22 was worse than the RYCO. Anyone else have the same problem, is it normal, is there some way to improve the situation? I am a bit concerned about the time the engine runs without oil pressure.

Another thing to check is the actual oil pressure switch. It is located in the head just to the right of the exhaust manifold.

Thanks for the help. It take about 3 to 4 seconds in the morning for the oil light to go. the motor doesnt seem to rattle during this time but the engine sound changes when the light goes out. I will try a mechanic who was trained on toyota vehicles for the tappets, he now runs his own business. They are just noisy when the motor reaches operating temperature but dont cause any trouble. The vehicle as a whole is noisy from road, engine and tyre noise anyway.

What brand of oil filter do you recommend and do you suggest 20W40 oil for the egine, its done about 180K

Tesa

1-4 seconds is fairly standard. 10 or longer would be a bit concerning.

I personally wouldn't use any filter other than genuine Toyota. At least they designed the engine, so they would hopefully know a thing or two about oil filters appropriate to the application.

20W seems to me a little thick. If you used 10W or 15W the oil light, in principle, should remain on for a shorter period of time since those grades are less viscous at startup. If your engine had 300,000k +, 20W might be a more appropriate choice.

[michaelb]

Hi Tesa

The time you have given for the oil light to go out seems to be within resanable limits.

The Ryco flter is as good as if not better than the Toyota filter so either is an option.

Oil grade, min 15 max 20 for the Ks you have stated.

If you are getting a lot of noise into the cabine have a look at your tyrs Tread style/wear pattern