Engine noise sounds like diesel at idle

[mooch91]

Folks,

I'm about 3K away from the expiration of my 6/60 drivetrain warranty. My truck has never been back to the dealer. It's a 2014 with about 57K miles.

For as long as I can remember, this truck has been loud at idle - sounding almost like a diesel from inside the truck or at the right spot outside. I tend to hear it more when warmed up. I don't think it's gotten any worse in the last 40K miles, might have always sounded this way.

I know some of the Toyota V6s have a tendency to be loud, due to valvetrain and injector noise. Wanted your opinion to see if this is something I should pursue before the warranty expires.

Some videos attached. Keep in mind, things may sound a little exaggerated on the videos.

Thanks!

https://youtu.be/dAYkJWKv1GE

https://youtu.be/VEB1mBd8W1g

 

[northcoast]

I mean, I don't think mine sounds much different at 41800 miles and I'm not worried about it. Besides, what will you tell them? They'll either just send you on your way or tell you after a bogus 45 min that nothing is wrong.

I haven't exactly searched, but there aren't hardly any 5th gen threads about engine problems...

 

[alphabeast]

That is the normal sound of a finely tuned 4.0 V6 dual VVT-i engine. Enjoy your faux-diesel audibles!

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Yes they are loud, and yes they sound like a diesel. Nothing unusual, because the 1GR-FE VVTi Dual Variable Valve Timing has a lot going on in there mechanically. I remember seeing some posts about it here.

 

[oljedi11950]

Yes yes they do !!!

 

[rzgkane]

Folks,

I'm about 3K away from the expiration of my 6/60 drivetrain warranty. My truck has never been back to the dealer. It's a 2014 with about 57K miles.

For as long as I can remember, this truck has been loud at idle - sounding almost like a diesel from inside the truck or at the right spot outside. I tend to hear it more when warmed up. I don't think it's gotten any worse in the last 40K miles, might have always sounded this way.

I know some of the Toyota V6s have a tendency to be loud, due to valvetrain and injector noise. Wanted your opinion to see if this is something I should pursue before the warranty expires.

Some videos attached. Keep in mind, things may sound a little exaggerated on the videos.

Thanks!

https://youtu.be/dAYkJWKv1GE

https://youtu.be/VEB1mBd8W1g

Take it in for an oil change special and ask that they listen to the engine while they're at it. That way, you'll get the engine listened to free of charge and if it turns into something big after the warranty expires you'll have some ammo. I know you're not in CA, but in CA a warranty does not expire until defects in existence and complained about during the warranty are fixed. It's written on the back of every R.O. Many other states have similar provisions.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

As long as it doesn’t knock under load it’s all good

 

[RCFJ]

What a timely post. Just yesterday I was thinking that mine (2014 20k) was idiling rough and I should probabaly take it in. It sounds exactly the same, I can’t say I always remember mine sounding like that but maybe it’s normal....could it be knock from winter fuel or something?

 

[sandcrawler]

sounds normal to me. i've always loved the "diesel note" of the Dual VVT-i 1GR-FE. sadly, it's probably as close as we'll ever get to a diesel in the 4Runner.

 

[bbaxter51]

Wow! I've thought my 16' sounded really loud lately and wondered if it was cause for concern. Thankfully it's apparently normal, and I'm good with that.

I'm happy my dealership I bought it at gives me a lifetime drivetrain warranty that I'll hopefully never use.

As a side note, I've never felt bothered by the lack of power or wanted a v8 version like some until I drove the in-laws v8 explorer a few weeks back. It didn't seem faster, I just didn't need to rev it to the moon to make it move the same speed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ oh well.

 

[blue$]

Wow! I've thought my 16' sounded really loud lately and wondered if it was cause for concern. Thankfully it's apparently normal, and I'm good with that.

I'm happy my dealership I bought it at gives me a lifetime drivetrain warranty that I'll hopefully never use.

As a side note, I've never felt bothered by the lack of power or wanted a v8 version like some until I drove the in-laws v8 explorer a few weeks back. It didn't seem faster, I just didn't need to rev it to the moon to make it move the same speed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ oh well.

It's funny that this thread came up when it did as I recently thought my '16 TEP sounded a bit diesel-ish after I had just started it up in the garage. I never really noticed it before for some reason.

As to the Explorer...I sold a V-8 Explorer and moved into the T4R two years ago and much prefer the Toyota engine and responsiveness to the Ford. The only thing the Explorer had over the T4R were some amenities, imho. Nice to have but in the end not nearly enough reason to sway my decision to buy the vehicle I've always hankered for.

 

[pDubs]

I own a 4th gen and a 5th gen. It's crazy how much noisier the 5th gen is at idle. When I first got it I was really worried, I even bought a compression test kit to do on it. This is a little reassuring though hearing yours (sounds the same) and everyone's posts.

 

[ScottR]

I've been hearing some clatter at idle and especially around 1000-1100 rpm. Above that, all good. Same was true for my '08 Taco. Not the slightest bit worried.

 

[BTO]

Take it in for an oil change special and ask that they listen to the engine while they're at it. That way, you'll get the engine listened to free of charge and if it turns into something big after the warranty expires you'll have some ammo.

That would most certainly be a waste of time. Stealers only try to figure out how to dodge you on things of this nature. I once took my Tacoma in during the warranty period due drivetrain lubricant seepage/leak. The mechanic called me back to the bay and ask me "What leak"? I went to point it out and found they had wiped it off completely. :frusty:

 

[engineeer]

Took me by surprise at first, but apparently it's normal. I've noticed when I use 91 Octane it's much quieter.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

That would most certainly be a waste of time. Stealers only try to figure out how to dodge you on things of this nature. I once took my Tacoma in during the warranty period due drivetrain lubricant seepage/leak. The mechanic called me back to the bay and ask me "What leak"? I went to point it out and found they had wiped it off completely. :frusty:

Funny I had one of our customers ask us to check for a leak coming from transmission, last shop that serviced her front brakes told her she needed to repair it ASAP. I looked high and low for this elusive mystery leak and found nothing. They were just trying to take her money.

Had Big Brand tell another customer she needed a motor mount. No she didn’t they were just power braking the car to get the engine to move enough to make her think she needed one. It’s just sad how many jokers are out there taking people's hard earned money.

I completely understand the mistrust :rockthrow:

 

[rzgkane]

That would most certainly be a waste of time. Stealers only try to figure out how to dodge you on things of this nature. I once took my Tacoma in during the warranty period due drivetrain lubricant seepage/leak. The mechanic called me back to the bay and ask me "What leak"? I went to point it out and found they had wiped it off completely. :frusty:

I'm not worried about the dealer or what they do or say. I'm talking about generating documented proof of a complaint during the warranty period and the usefulness of that document in the event there is a dispute or litigation down the road. I couldn't care less what the dealer does.

 

[BTO]

Funny I had one of our customers ask us to check for a leak coming from transmission, last shop that serviced her front brakes told her she needed to repair it ASAP. I looked high and low for this elusive mystery leak and found nothing. They were just trying to take her money.

Had Big Brand tell another customer she needed a motor mount. No she didn’t they were just power braking the car to get the engine to move enough to make her think she needed one. It’s just sad how many jokers are out there taking people's hard earned money.

I completely understand the mistrust :rockthrow:

Seems dealer policy is to not find any issue if vehicle is under warranty and to find everything wrong with it if billable.

 

[Rmack]

Very common for an engine that has overhead camshafts and timing chains. There are a lot of moving parts. I have heard the same on the Tundra boards.

Does not mean that excessive noise is normal, but these engines are a bit louder due to the design. With this design I would be worried if it were quiet.

If you google 4runner timing chains / camshafts etc. you will see how busy it is.

 

[tpotnoc]

That would most certainly be a waste of time. Stealers only try to figure out how to dodge you on things of this nature. I once took my Tacoma in during the warranty period due drivetrain lubricant seepage/leak. The mechanic called me back to the bay and ask me "What leak"? I went to point it out and found they had wiped it off completely. :frusty:

LMAOOO that’s such a dealer thing to do. I worked at Lexus for 5 years and that was pretty much the entire culture.