jgrosey

A little background: 2000 Lexus ES300 in good working condition, never had any major issues. It has been about -20 day and night here for the last week, and a few days ago my car popped the low oil pressure light. It goes off if I accelerate or rev higher. The next morning in addition to the light, it made a tapping sound for about 20 seconds, then it was fine.

I am wondering if this could just be a problem with the oil thickening up because of the cold?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mythotical

Using 5w30? If so you have the right oil but if you have a sludge problem, cold weather can make the oil return to the pan slower and the sump can run dry. Pull your front valve cover and look for sludge!

jgrosey

I am using 5w-30, I'll pull the valve cover and look for sludge.

jgrosey

I'm not gonna be able to do that until tomorrow at least though... any other common culprits this could be?

Bdub215

iTrader: (1)

nope. Motors are prone for sludge. Check your oil. check for sludge.

jgrosey

How difficult is it to pull the valve cover? I don't have a ton of tools, is it very mechanically intensive?

jgrosey

UPDATE: got my oil changed, figured I might as well just for the heck of it to see if it fixed the problem. Well, so far so good, no light and no noises, it's running great. I will try it again later today from cold start but it just seems weird that an oil change would fix this.

Is it possible that my filter was clogged or something like that?

Mythotical

Not likely, a plugged oil filter would just push the filters built in bypass open, provided it is not a fram filter. A fram filter would just cave in internally.
Pulling the valve cover is easy, somewhere here in CL is a how to post.
Lots of luck, hope your engine is OK.

310V6

How long did you have the oil in there for?

jgrosey

I had 2800 miles on the oil... also last time I changed the oil I did it myself. And I used seafoam treatment, so maybe that knocked some chunks loose or something?

Mythotical

You really need to pull that valve cover. All you need is a 5mm Allen, a 10mm deep socket, a 3" 3/8 drive extension a ratchet, and a carefully calibrated elbow. Oh and some place warmer than the Big Sky Garage. I work in a large heated "T" hangar converted into a truck shop, but a garage will do.

310V6

Ive heard of that happening to someone else. The sea foam did it's job.