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The pressure gauge I got has a 5' hose so I should be able to do it myself. After looking it over today I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with the oil pump. The noise it makes is a loud metallic buzzing/whine that increases with rpms. If the pump failed I doubt I'll be able to replace it here. It'll cost the same in labor to have a used engine installed. I don't think I drove it hard enough with low/no oil pressure to cause any internal damage. I cleared the code and it didn't come back while the engine idled but the noise is louder and constant now. It used to make the noise at start up only for a few seconds.
I cleared the code and it didn't come back while the engine idled but the noise is louder and constant now. It used to make the noise at start up only for a few seconds.
I'm sorry to hear this. I haven't looked, but I assume the oil pump is not an easily accessible unit? It's hard to believe that with only 139K on the engine, you had this type of failure. I guess it's possible, but I'm just surprised..
I think to do the oil pump it requires basically a timing belt service plus lifting the engine and dropping the oil pans. Basically a long weekend worth of work with the correct tools.
Well, I fixed my oil pressure problem:
It's an '05 Sport with the ML package. 158k miles. Picked it up for $4700. Needs timing belt service, brake sensors, and the 2 front lock actuator motors. All parts already ordered for about $225.
This buys me some time to sort out where to fix my other one. Found a used engine for $600.
Well, I fixed my oil pressure problem:
It's an '05 Sport with the ML package. 158k miles. Picked it up for $4700. Needs timing belt service, brake sensors, and the 2 front lock actuator motors. All parts already ordered for about $225.
This buys me some time to sort out where to fix my other one. Found a used engine for $600.
WOW....great find for that price. Sad though that prices are going to really start to drop on our LS soon. Great for the buyer....sucks for the seller.
In all fairness the car I picked up isn't perfect. Aside from the aforementioned issues it also has minor hail damage on the hood and roof and a tear in the passenger seat cushion. It was listed at $5500 but I talked him down due to the timing belt and hail damage. I'm doing the timing belt and whatever else I can get done this weekend. I don't know how long I'll have this car as my father in law told me to keep looking for another one- for myself. He wants this one.
Just an update for those subscribed and those finding this thread in the future. I finally got the car home to where I can work on it. I called a Lexus specialist in town and he said he has NEVER put an oil pump on a 3uz engine. He recommended replacing the oil filter to see if that fixed the issue. He said the anti-drainback valve could have failed. I installed a Bosch filter to replace the Napa Platinum extra capacity filter (Napa # 41516) I have been using since I bought the car. I then installed an oil pressure gauge (Harbor Freight) with a metric (M1.0) adapter where the pressure switch normally resides.
I started the car and immediately the oil pressure shot to 70 psi. I let the car warm up to operating temperature and the pressure slowly dropped as the oil came to temp. Fully warm the pressure at idle was 20 psi which is well above the minimum of 4.3 psi called for in the service manual. The manual also says that at 3k rpms the pressure should be between 43 psi and 85 psi. When I reved mine up the oil pressure shot up and then started dropping until it settled around 10 psi. Obviously I have an oiling system issue. Here's a video of the test at operating temp.
