I keep reading that this engine knock is "normal," but really?

[Lindenwood]

2016 with a bit under 24k miles. I noticed it about a week ago, but searching revealed mostly benign diagnoses.

However, it really doesn't sound normal to me. At, least not for an engine I am hoping will go 300k.

Oil level is fine and not particularly dirty (due at 25k).

It gets slightly quieter as it warms up.

(10 second clip of me holding my phone under the wheel wells. And its a bit dirty from yesterday, heh).

https://youtu.be/y8swxfiLIzI

 

[CrashBang]

I'm no expert, but that sounds good to me. I once had a dodge neon that sounded like the Jetsons mobile.


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[DreadPirateMoyer]

Absolutely, 100% completely normal. It will be louder on a cold engine (just started) than a warmed-up engine. It will be louder on cold days than on warm days. It sometimes isn't there on a brand spanking new 4Runner, but will either inevitably show up or you just weren't noticing it.

These engines are not very refined. They sound and run more like diesels sometimes. Absolutely nothing wrong with your truck.

If you really need more confirmation, there are threads on Tacoma World (2nd gens had the same engine as us) about this and how to "solve" it. Your engine is fine, though. There is no damage and it won't cause any damage in the future. All 4Runners have this, and personally I think trying to solve it with the solutions on Tacomaworld is asking for trouble anyways since nothing is wrong and you're just trying to feed your OCD by quieting it.

You've got a rough and tumble, unrefined, oldschool, port-injected, brute of a V6 in there. It's going to make lots of weird noises. You're good.

 

[T4R2014]

It's a brand new truck.

 

[DreadPirateMoyer]

It's a brand new truck.

? The age of the truck doesn't matter. It's a characteristic of the engine.

I may have misinterpreted your comment, though.

 

[1engineer]

2016 with a bit under 24k miles. I noticed it about a week ago, but searching revealed mostly benign diagnoses.

However, it really doesn't sound normal to me. At, least not for an engine I am hoping will go 300k.

Oil level is fine and not particularly dirty (due at 25k).

It gets slightly quieter as it warms up.

(10 second clip of me holding my phone under the wheel wells. And its a bit dirty from yesterday, heh).

https://youtu.be/y8swxfiLIzI

Question: How does sound determine the durability of an engine? Ferrari has the best sounding engine... get my drift?

 

[northcoast]

Yeah, sounds normal...exactly like mine.

 

[simonsay]

Yep...

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[Lindenwood]

Question: How does sound determine the durability of an engine? Ferrari has the best sounding engine... get my drift?

Being loose enough to audibly knock was disquieting to me. I grew up a motorsports junkie, and have built my fair share of engines, and the closest thing I have ever heard that was still considered "nornal" was piston slap on racing engines. But, nobody builds engines to those kinds of tolerances for 15 years of daily grind.

But, if what I hope is piston slap is normal for examples of these engines that have run for a long time, I'll call it good.

 

[jrandom]

Obviously never driven a Toyota with a 22r or 22re


Totally normal.

 

[DreadPirateMoyer]

Being loose enough to audibly knock was disquieting to me. I grew up a motorsports junkie, and have built my fair share of engines, and the closest thing I have ever heard that was still considered "nornal" was piston slap on racing engines. But, nobody builds engines to those kinds of tolerances for 15 years of daily grind.

But, if what I hope is piston slap is normal for examples of these engines that have run for a long time, I'll call it good.

Yeah, it's not a slap, knock, or detonation issue in the cylinders or with the pistons. It's been narrowed to a few sources on Tacomaworld, likely some type of air valve on the left side of the engine, I believe. You're good.

It's just a noisy beast.

 

[Lindenwood]

https://youtu.be/mUyZPzv9seg

This clip better captures the sound. This owner was told it was piston slap by Toyota.

Here is another clip, but mine isn't this bad.
https://youtu.be/Pu3oDVxE3pA

 

[wfo9]

They all make a certain noise at idle.. It goes away under load where it really matters.

Not exactly sure what it is, but nothing to worry about for sure.

Now yours may be different... but I've heard many of these engines in person... and they all make the same sound at idle.

 

[Lindenwood]

They all make a certain noise at idle.. It goes away under load where it really matters.

Not exactly sure what it is, but nothing to worry about for sure.

Now yours may be different... but I've heard many of these engines in person... and they all make the same sound at idle.

Thanks! Even as bad as the 2nd and 3rd videos I just posted? Mine sounds very much like the first video in my recent post.

 

[DreadPirateMoyer]

Mine, two loaners, and a truck on the lot at my dealer all make the same exact noise(s), including the ones in your new videos.

It's just a noisy engine.

 

[1engineer]

Thanks! Even as bad as the 2nd and 3rd videos I just posted? Mine sounds very much like the first video in my recent post.

Go to the dealer and start a few new ones if you need reassurance. Where it really makes noise is when you start it in front of an open garage where the sound is amplified lol.

 

[Lindenwood]

Welp, that's a relief!

Thanks.

 

[DreadPirateMoyer]

Welp, that's a relief!

Thanks.

I'd also take the comment from the owner about piston slap in that one video with a grain of salt. Even if that's what his source says, I've read and heard Toyota reps of all flavors say 100% objectively wrong stuff, either talking out their asses or saying whatever the customer wants to hear to shut them up or some other explanation. It ain't piston slap, don't worry.

And what 1engineer said. Your mind will be blown if you go through a tunnel drive thru or are outside of a garage. Just think of it as an old diesel and you'll be a lot happier.

 

[marcosarg]

Sounds just like mine!!! I was like you before, mine has 26000 miles. It seems to me pretty normal, got the 25000 service and they told me that she's running like a clock.
I started thinking then, after all... it's a truck, might as well just sound like one!

 

[MrsOutbound]

Sounds exactly like ours.