Engine Tapping/Ticking Noise
 

Hi All

I’m a new Toyota owner. I owned a nothing but Isuzu Troopers the last 25 years. But my last faithful steed has gone to pasture. So I replace her with a 2016 4Runner TRD Pro. But there are new sounds that I’m not accustomed too.

The one I’ve had the most concern about is a light tapping/ticking noise coming from the engine. A Toyota Dealer mechanic told me that it’s fairly common for these engines with 30k+ miles. He said these engines tend to get a varnish build up on the fuel injection and valves but it nothing to be too concerned about.

I’m wondering if there are ways to reduce the noise. I did add Lucas Oil for synthetic oil and it was noticeably quieter. Someone also said I could run Miracle Oil in the oil and engine and that it would help remove the varnish. I talked to a customer service guy for Toyota about it and said using different oil might help too. He said his Tundra runs quieter on Valvoline synthetic oil. Right now I’m running Castro Synthetic Oil.

I’d like to know how many people have had this issue and what you did to get rid of that tapping noise or at least make it quieter.

Thanks

There is another recent thread here discussing engine ticking. Best results I've seen in my neighbor's 5th gen were with Toyota 0W-20 oil which has significantly more molybdenum anti-wear additive than other oils, zero ticking. In the case of my 4th gen which calls for 5W-30, the quietest are Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage.

There's also a large body of testimonial evidence on spiking gas with TC-W3 two cycle oil at 640:1 (1oz to 5 gallons of gas) as an upper cylinder lubricant. I've been doing this on my '07 4Runner for the past 30K miles with no ill effects, idles so smooth you can't tell it's running without looking at the tachometer. Injector tick is nonexistent.

Here's some light reading on the subject of TC-W3 mixing: Been testing Oil

Well the Toyota tech must not know Toyotas. It is common in these engine right from the start. I have had the tick since the day I drove it off the lot. Nothing to worry about. As far as reducing the noise you could add some sound deadening insulation to the engine compartment.

My wife and I both have 2018s and they are both ~20k miles. Both have ticking and mechanical noises I would better attribute to a diesel or some other noisier motor. Definitely not Honda motors or smaller Toyota car motors that whisper or sound like little sewing machines when you pop the hood.

This motor is absolutely NOT a quiet runner but as long as it keeps chugging along for the next 300k+ miles it can tick and clank all it needs to.

I noticed some ticking but only when the engine is cold, once driving the sound goes away. I was thinking the recommended oil weight seemed kinda low 0 -20w ? Normally in my other engines I run 5-30w and 10-30w syn in summer

Wife's 2014 SR5 is pushing 95K miles. No tick. Fairly quiet engine

My engine has sounded like a diesel since day one and I love it. My coworker bought a new Canyon and when he starts it up it ticks, chirps and rattles for about 5 minutes. I make fun of him because of it. Shouldn’t have bought a GMC.

Sounds like little sewing machines! Bwahahahaha. Great analogy. :D

Just to be clear, there should be no LOUD ticks or noises that are CLEARLY a sign of something awry. Valves needing adjusting or mechanical failure of some internal component would be far more evident than anything these trucks normally produce and highly unlikely at such low mileage. These engines dont seem like they are designed with extremely tight tolerances and as such they are inherently more noisy. I listened to 5 different 4 Runners today after work just for curiousity. Not one of them sounded like a civic or a corolla motor and I dont think they were meant to. So with that, no worries.

Thanks Gents for your replies. Much appreciated.

I ran into another 4Runner owner today and listen to his motor. It sounded the same. If I find anything else out I’ll post it here.

I think I heard mine tick a little once. I was at the drive-up bank teller and had the volume turned off on the radio and heater fan wasn't on high. That was 20k miles ago, so maybe it's gotten worse. Or better.

Fwiw, I use whatever oil the dealer puts in it because I got 4 years of free oil changes when I bought it.

What about this? There's a thread in 4Runner.com and the opinions are all over the place. The video is mine.

YouTube

All of my 4.0L Toyota's have had the "tick" since new (five different vehicles to date including the current TRD Pro). While it can be a tad unsettling and annoying there is nothing wrong with the motor, that's just how they run.

My 13 with 91k miles does it. Sounds like garbage. I can't believe I didn't notice this when I bought it, otherwise I probably wouldn't have.

I can't believe Toyota thought this was acceptable. Damn thing sounds like a rocker is going to come shooting though the hood.

I cringe everytime I hear it idle.

TRD Pro 2K miles - more rattly / vibration like?
 

Hi all-
I'm hoping to get some opinions on the idle/park noise I'm hearing from my rather new 19 TRD Pro. It sounds a bit rattly/vibration like.
If you have a few seconds I'd appreciate you listening to the link below and hopefully quelling some of my fears. thanks!
YouTube