Engine noise sounds like diesel at idle

[Horsethief]

Well, this thread makes me feel better as my recently purchased 13 sounds exactly like this.

For the life of me I can't remember it sounding this way when I bought it this past Feb with 79k, but it sounds exactly like that now. It's just about to roll 91k.

I swear, the thing sounds like it's about to shoot a rocker through the hood. I don't think I noticed it when I bought it, I doubt I'd have bought it if I had heard that. Not knowing these vehicles at that time I'd have thought the thing needed a motor.

Maybe that's why the Subie dealer I bought it from had it at such a good price, they didn't know either.

 

[borfoo3]

Here's mine.. authentically diesel sounding!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msvsLLBayO0&feature=youtu.be

 

[Jivewalker]

I've put 176,000 miles on my 2012TE. Mine has sounded like that since day 1 and still sounds like that. I do 5000k OCI with M1EP and occasionally try other oils for the hell of it, but that's a whole discussion on it's own! Noise definitely increases with oil age, and not all are the same! I also found the PCV valve and OCV filter screens to be very gummed up at 140k, replaced PCV for $5 and cleaned the screens, good to go. Enjoy your truck!

 

[bcolts]

That's what my 2010 sounds like. Currently 218,000 miles.

 

[TheMagicMan5280]

I thought that sound was normal like what everyone was saying. Needed alignment and took it to Toyota and also had them check out the noise just in case. Turns out my rocker arms and lash adjusters were busted. If you think something doesn't sound right always check it.

 

[Smitty19TRD]

My 5th gen with 1,000 miles is a little noisier than my 4th gen was and is about the same as my Tundra. I prefer a little more noise if it's more robust. A timing belt is quieter and smoother but can be a pain to replace and really expensive if it breaks.

 

[Texas_Ranger]

I thought that sound was normal like what everyone was saying. Needed alignment and took it to Toyota and also had them check out the noise just in case. Turns out my rocker arms and lash adjusters were busted. If you think something doesn't sound right always check it.

If your rocker arms were broke, I'm pretty sure you'd hear a crazy metal on metal clanking noise and the engine would run super rough. Just saying, I heard a '96 corvette with broken rockers and it sounded horrible for the 10 secs it ran.

 

[TheMagicMan5280]

If your rocker arms were broke, I'm pretty sure you'd hear a crazy metal on metal clanking noise and the engine would run super rough. Just saying, I heard a '96 corvette with broken rockers and it sounded horrible for the 10 secs it ran.

They were loose so it's basically broken. My 4runner still ran good. The faster you drove the more rapid or louder it got. I just decided to get it checked and that's what Toyota found out. Plus I have warranty so why not.

 

[waypoint]

If you want to quiet down the valvetrain noise, try Toyota 0W-20 oil. It has quite a bit more molybdenum anti-wear additive than any other readily available oil as shown in the PQIA analysis linked below. We tried this in my neighbor's 2017 TRD ORP with noisy engine, and a few days after the oil change he reported he could no longer hear the ticking/clacking noise.

Genuine Toyota Synthetic SAE 0W-20 API SN

 

[borfoo3]

They were loose so it's basically broken. My 4runner still ran good. The faster you drove the more rapid or louder it got. I just decided to get it checked and that's what Toyota found out. Plus I have warranty so why not.

How did they diagnose this?

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

BS. Overhead cam engines don't have rocker arms lol.

 

[Drobs]

My 19 with 2300 miles sounds loud compared to other cars / trucks I've owned.

 

[waypoint]

BS. Overhead cam engines don't have rocker arms lol.

I agree they generally don't, however the updated 1GR-FE does have them as shown in the parts diagram below part #13. And they're listed as "Rocker Arm". It's a spiffy lash management system, no mechanical lash adjustment like the previous 1GR-FE but it may be noisier given the extra moving parts.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

I have a 2019 SR5p with about 4000 miles. I just commented to my wife that it sounded like a diesel as it sat and idled. I guess I’m not alone...normal

 

[waypoint]

I have a 2019 SR5p with about 4000 miles. I just commented to my wife that it sounded like a diesel as it sat and idled. I guess I’m not alone...normal

See my earlier post, try Toyota 0W-20 and see if it doesn't quiet down. It has >700 ppm of molybdenum based antiwear additive, compared to Mobil-1 which has <100 ppm. Really quieted down my neighbor's TRD, not much more $$ if you shop around.

 

[Drobs]

See my earlier post, try Toyota 0W-20 and see if it doesn't quiet down. It has >700 ppm of molybdenum based antiwear additive, compared to Mobil-1 which has <100 ppm. Really quieted down my neighbor's TRD, not much more $$ if you shop around.

I'd hope Eddie's 2019 w/4k miles already has 0W-20 oil in it from the factory. Especially considering the 10k mile oil change frequency.

 

[ProfessorP]

My 19 with 2300 miles sounds loud compared to other cars / trucks I've owned.

That's funny because my 2019 T4R with 7400 miles is waaaaay quieter than the 2017 F-150 2.7 Ecoboost it replaced. The F-150 sounded like a one man band. Worst sounding engine I've ever owned or driven. At 14,000 miles... turbo actuator rattle, constant thunka-thunka-thunka from God knows where, transfer case noise, idle sputter and exhaust burping/farting sound. Pulling up to drive through windows was embarrassing! All of this on a one year old $52,000 truck!

My T4R is pretty quiet. At idle it's often hard to tell the thing is running from inside with the windows up and the radio off. My 2009 Tundra 5.7 had the only engine I've owned that was smoother and even more quiet.

 

[TheMagicMan5280]

How did they diagnose this?

They took off the valve cover and checked out the head.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

I did my first oil change at 2k using Toyota oil. Did my 2nd oil change at 5K using Toyota oil. Did my 3rd at 10K using Mobil 1 and the engine did seem to get louder but thought it was all in my head. Did my 4th at 15K using Valvoline and it seemed to get even louder. At this point, I knew it was not all in my head. For my newt oil change at 20K I will be switching back to Toyota oil. I always used OEM Toyota filters at every oil change. There is definitely something to be said for Toyota oil. It's made by Mobil however it is different than every oil they sell over the counter. It's made to Toyota spec which seems to make a difference. And yes, I do 5K oil changes. Never will my engines ever see 10K between oil changes.

 

[waypoint]

I did my first oil change at 2k using Toyota oil. Did my 2nd oil change at 5K using Toyota oil. Did my 3rd at 10K using Mobil 1 and the engine did seem to get louder but thought it was all in my head. Did my 4th at 15K using Valvoline and it seemed to get even louder. At this point, I knew it was not all in my head.

My '07 4Runner V6 was noisy with Mobil-1, and noisier with Valvoline Synthetic High Mileage. Both are ~70-80ppm moly concentrations.

It's quiet with Pennzoil High Mileage which has ~160ppm of moly, and Quaker State Ultimate Durability which has ~180ppm of moly. I always use Toyota filters here also.

If Toyota sold a 5W-30 with >700ppm of moly I'd try it, but they only load up their 0W-20. Also, not all "moly" additives are equal and there's no way of knowing which moly compound is in Mobil-1, Valvoline, Pennzoil, etc. My findings (and lots of Dodge hemi owners) are that more of whatever moly = less valvetrain noise. It's a low cost experiment for 5th gens.