01 Camry - No Oil Pressure, 105k Miles

[Jen]

Hi, I'm new to the forum.

The oil light on my Camry came on when I was driving home from work Monday night 2/11 (13 mile drive). Checked the oil level - it was full. Took the car to my mechanic Tuesday morning. The oil light flickered on and off and then stayed on during the 2 mile drive to his shop.

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

On Wednesday, he dropped the oil pan to see if the tube to the oil pan is plugged. Then he flushed the strainer that goes to the oil pump and rechecked the oil pressure. It has 90 pounds of pressure at idle.

So he replaced the strainer and the oil pan and said the engine didn't appear to have any damage. We picked up the car on Friday night. On Saturday morning, the oil light came on again, flickered off, then stayed on. My mechanic said to bring it back in, he would have to replace the oil pump and if I heard strange engine noises to stop and have it towed to him. I heard a little ticking or pinging as I arrived at the shop. It was an 8 mile drive.

A coworker told me about there being an sludge problem in some toyotas and I found some information online yesterday. The mechanic is waiting for parts to come in and I sent him the information I found on the oil gel settlement.

I'm just not sure what to do next. Should my mechanic still replace the oil pump? (He was going to do the timing belt and water pump at the same time too.)

Or should I have it towed from his shop to a toyota dealer in whatever state it is currently in?

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

[DFBonnett]

How was the oil pressure checked? With a mechanical gauge? I am very skeptical about that 90# figure. Way too high.