Intermittent metallic rattle sound from engine

[-JD-]

My 2016 4Runner has had this intermittent metallic rattling sound coming from the engine since it was nearly new. I notice it often in the morning when first driving down my street, but also notice it when climbing hills on the highway and other mid-load conditions. As well as shortly after startup when the engine is warm too. Trouble is its never consistent. Sometimes its there other times its not, but it has been getting more and more noticeable over time.

Sounds sort of like engine knock, but I don't think thats what it is as the timing of the noise is quite consistent with engine speed. Leads me to think its something in the valve train, but thats is just a guess.

I've mentioned it to my dealer in the past but because its so inconsistent never bothered to take it in as I knew I would get the 'cannot reproduce' response.

I finally setup and appointment to have it looked at today and the service advisor told me that on 16+ Toyota's this is totally normal and its part of an injector cleaning cycle. Anyone else heard of this before? He kept making reference to the Tacoma, but as far as I know the new Tacoma with its atkinson cycle and direct injection is not the same as our 4Runner's. I could see why they may want a feature like this on a direct injection engine but this doesn't sound right to me on a 4Runner.

Thoughts?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

He's a bit confused. The 4Runner doesn't have a 2GR-FKS and does not have the Direct Injection system it does. Also when that engine goes into cleaning mode it sounds closer to a diesel engine than anything else.

Hard to say what the noise it honestly without hearing it. Could be injectors, lifters, and/or pinging. All of which could be normal under most circumstances. The 1GR has always been a bit of a loud engine with some odd noises (injector tick, VSV tick, lifters can be a bit noisy under colder starts, ect.)

 

[-JD-]

He's a bit confused. The 4Runner doesn't have a 2GR-FKS and does not have the Direct Injection system it does. Also when that engine goes into cleaning mode it sounds closer to a diesel engine than anything else.

Hard to say what the noise it honestly without hearing it. Could be injectors, lifters, and/or pinging. All of which could be normal under most circumstances. The 1GR has always been a bit of a loud engine with some odd noises (injector tick, VSV tick, lifters can be a bit noisy under colder starts, ect.)

Definitely not normal, unless there have been changes to this engine since 2011, as my 11 4Runner never made this sound. Its fairly loud and noticeable when it does happen, I can hear it over the stereo if I have music on.

Not unique to cold starts either. If the engine is warmed up and I shut it off for 10-15 minutes it will make this sound as soon as I start moving again.

Seems to occur more often shortly after startup, but I do notice it on longer drives as well, when the engine has thoroughly warmed up. In that case it tends to be under load situations like going up a hill.

 

[sbayha]

My 2016 4Runner has had this intermittent metallic rattling sound coming from the engine since it was nearly new. I notice it often in the morning when first driving down my street, but also notice it when climbing hills on the highway and other mid-load conditions. As well as shortly after startup when the engine is warm too. Trouble is its never consistent. Sometimes its there other times its not, but it has been getting more and more noticeable over time.



Sounds sort of like engine knock, but I don't think thats what it is as the timing of the noise is quite consistent with engine speed. Leads me to think its something in the valve train, but thats is just a guess.



I've mentioned it to my dealer in the past but because its so inconsistent never bothered to take it in as I knew I would get the 'cannot reproduce' response.



I finally setup and appointment to have it looked at today and the service advisor told me that on 16+ Toyota's this is totally normal and its part of an injector cleaning cycle. Anyone else heard of this before? He kept making reference to the Tacoma, but as far as I know the new Tacoma with its atkinson cycle and direct injection is not the same as our 4Runner's. I could see why they may want a feature like this on a direct injection engine but this doesn't sound right to me on a 4Runner.



Thoughts?

Check to see if the chain for your spare is dangling loose. That was my uphill metallic mystery sound. I have to tuck it up and away every few months.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Definitely not normal, unless there have been changes to this engine since 2011, as my 11 4Runner never made this sound. Its fairly loud and noticeable when it does happen, I can hear it over the stereo if I have music on.

Not unique to cold starts either. If the engine is warmed up and I shut it off for 10-15 minutes it will make this sound as soon as I start moving again.

Seems to occur more often shortly after startup, but I do notice it on longer drives as well, when the engine has thoroughly warmed up. In that case it tends to be under load situations like going up a hill.

Okay, yeah if it's loud enough to hear over the radio that's different. The above stuff I mentioned is noticeable from the driver's seat but usually not THAT loud.

Hmm... I'd have to hear it honestly. Hard to say what it is, but it sounds like it's a lot louder than the injector tick type noises that are normally there.

 

[-JD-]

Check to see if the chain for your spare is dangling loose. That was my uphill metallic mystery sound. I have to tuck it up and away every few months.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll have a look but this sound is almost certainly coming from the front engine area.

 

[samwhich]

I'll have a look but this sound is almost certainly coming from the front engine area.

Car noises can be a weird black magic thing, what for sure sounds like it is coming from one place can easily start at another. You are probably right but it's still worth checking.

 

[borfoo3]

I'll have a look but this sound is almost certainly coming from the front engine area.

Check the Tacoma tick threads.. could be that PWM valve thing that gets fixed by adding an o-ring/ rubber washers. But that sounds more like a plastic on metal tick

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Check the Tacoma tick threads.. could be that PWM valve thing that gets fixed by adding an o-ring/ rubber washers. But that sounds more like a plastic on metal tick

That's what I was suggesting earlier, but he's saying he can hear it over the radio. That's far louder than 1GR-FE injectors or the VSV fro the EVAP.

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Can you get audio of the noise? Even more description on when it happens and what kinda noise. Anything else? Where in the engine if you had to say? Try rolling both front windows down.

I got really damn good at diagnosing engine noises on a few past cars, and there's no such thing as too much info lol.

Do you use 87 89 91 or 93 octane? Any change when you go with the highest octane gas available?