Lifter noise?

quicksilvr

New member
I changed the oil last week, and a couple days ago, I noticed a tick, tick, tick when the truck was idling that I'd never heard before. I sounds like a lifter to me. It changes with RPM, and it seems to be on the driver side, towards the firewall.

When I changed the oil, I put in Mobil1 High Mileage, which was actually the first time I'd ever used that oil. I'm wondering if it's actually the oil that caused it....or just a horrible coincidence.

Any other ideas on what a soft ticking sound (audible in the cabin, but not obnoxious) would be?
 
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How many miles are on it? What weight oil? Thick high mileage oil can do that. One of my 4runners has 174k on it and has had the same ticking noise for awhile, going to check valve lash when I do the leaking valve cover gaskets. Hate adjusting solid lifter shim style, takes some time. If you put a little marvel mystery oil in it the sound will go away but you're not fixing it.
 
How many miles are on it? What weight oil? Thick high mileage oil can do that. One of my 4runners has 174k on it and has had the same ticking noise for awhile, going to check valve lash when I do the leaking valve cover gaskets. Hate adjusting solid lifter shim style, takes some time. If you put a little marvel mystery oil in it the sound will go away but you're not fixing it.

Hey report back on the lash will ya mines been ticking for ages and I'm convinced it's the valve just not enough to tear into it and am having no other problems, so have just left it

240k, high milage standard weight
 
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Other thing that comes to mind that would be a similar sound is a cracked manifold, this is more common on some Toyota's than others, but if it happened right after an oil change, I would change the oil again and see what happens.
 
Just noticed in another thread you seafoamed your truck a couple times this week. That could have possibly caused your tick. There could have been some carbon buildup on the valves that got burnt out and caused a little more play in them then normal.
 
Ever had a valve adjustment? Give the Mobil HM some time (a couple of weeks) and see if the noise is still present. Maybe the Seafoam dislodged something.
 
Ever had a valve adjustment? Give the Mobil HM some time (a couple of weeks) and see if the noise is still present. Maybe the Seafoam dislodged something.


I actually did the seafoam after I heard the ticking, because I wanted to see if cleaning the valves off would get rid of it. The ticking was the same before and after the seafoam treatment.


I put 5 quarts of Mobil1 HM 5w30 and 1 quart of Mobil1 HM 10w30. They didn't have any singles of 5w30 when I was at the store, hence the 1 quart of 10w30.

I wonder if that one quart, plus the HM formulation made it start ticking....


Oh, and there are 142k miles on the truck.
 
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Resurrecting this thread

I realize that I'm replying to an old thread but I think it is important ... I am having the exact same issues after doing the exact same thing. I'd been using regular Mobil 1 synthetic for over 100K miles and had no problems. Then, on my last oil change I did 5 quarts of the Mobil 1 high mileage and a quart of the regular (ironically, I used the same weights as well). Out of nowhere, after a few thousand miles, the ticking started. I don't think it is a coincidence. So, if anyone else is having this problem, it just might be your oil.
 
reviving

replying to old thread im sorry but not really

got a 99 limited (147k) a few months ago. spent a lot on basic maintenance lately. most recently changed spark plugs, did a fuel injector service and an oil change. i am now hearing the same ticking noise you all speak of after this last service. very faint, audible only in the cabin near the floor when stopped. doesnt matter whats on the selector its there but i only hear it after ive been driving, never on an initial start even after letting it warm up. this was the first oil change i did as the owner of the vehicle and i used full syntheic. if it was running normal oil its whole life could the swtich cause it? if a lifter is out of place how much negative affect could it have on the long term health of the engine?

i was very worried but glad to know others rigs didnt blow up.
 
The ticking noise could be normal injector noise, valve train noise etc.

Or it could be an exhaust leak or a cracked flex plate or ???

I wouldn't worry about it as long as its running fine. Just keep an eye/ear on it. The valve train on my 4R is much quieter than the valve train on my 2011 toyotas with the 2GR-FE.
 
on old vehicles lifter / engine ticking does happen.. changing the oil and then the ticking can be some sludge got into the lifters as the new oil will loosen up the goop... IMO put in the engine oil 5OZ of marvel mystery oil .. if it does go away then that is the cause of the noise.. I do use this MMO before changing the oil for a few hundred miles of use then the high detergent additive does a great job .. if the oil after the oil change does not look like new oil then that is the cause .. oil should not get dark quickly after a oil change..that indicates the sludge/deposits in the engine ..

MMO is not a solvent it is an oil with detergents .. I have used this in engine oil on all my engines even in the lawn mower.. also put 2 OZ in the fuel tank when I fill up.. quiets the engine down lubes injectors protects from gas alcohol corrosion ..
 
May not be exactly what you hear, but my .02 anyways.

I've had a tick (kinda a very muffled 'whumf') for the past 50k miles or so. Not audible at startup, not audible when driving, and gets less noticeable when in Park or Neutral (read: higher revs make it go away). It's really only noticeable when sitting at a stoplight in Drive (RPMs around 600-800). It sounded like it was coming from the front floorboard area as well.

I freaked out for a bit, but after some research and playing around, I was able to narrow it down to the AC system, probably the pulley system/clutch on the compressor. The noise all but disappears when I have the AC turned completely off, and went away completely when I removed the AC drive belt to test it. So the belt (which turns with the engine speed) is rotating some part of the compressor, which is making the clicking noise. Take the AC out of the equation, and dead silence.

I've not fixed the problem at all, and don't even notice it anymore. 50k+ miles later and the AC still blows hard and cold, and I'm experiencing no other issues to date. I figure I'll fix it when it actually breaks, if ever.
 
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Ticking noise

Alright so I am kind of confused. I have been reading a lot and been doing a lot of research. I have a 2004 SR5 with over 273,000 miles on it. The ticking noise comes from behind the engine on both sides. I have taken it in to a couple of mechanics and they said everything is okay. But the ticking noise just bothers me. Is it the VSV or lifters? Or something else?

Thank you!
 
My 97 with 120K miles had the light ticking sound when idling fully warmed up, as after a long hot highway drive. It was audible when standing in front of the car with the hood closed or open. After switching to 5W-40 oil, the noise became almost inaudible [and fully ignorable] under the same conditions.
 
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Ticking T4R 2000

I have a Toyota 4 runner SR5 with 270,000 miles. I bought it used 2 years ago. I immediately had all oil/fluids changed, fuel injector cleaned, tune up,shocks, brakes etc. This year I can now hear a ticking noise coming from the engine as soon as I start the car and speeds up when I press on the gas. I would appreciate any advice as to what the problem could be. Went to 2 mechanics and was told not to worry it's an old car. I think there should be a better answer. I can't fix it myself, but would like to be informed when I have my truck checked out again. Thank you for any information.
 
Alright so I am kind of confused. I have been reading a lot and been doing a lot of research. I have a 2004 SR5 with over 273,000 miles on it. The ticking noise comes from behind the engine on both sides. I have taken it in to a couple of mechanics and they said everything is okay. But the ticking noise just bothers me. Is it the VSV or lifters? Or something else?

Thank you!

I got oil change on 96 Tacoma noticed a oil leak took back 4x over a 2 month period they kept saying no leak filled oil and sent me on.

I never had any leaks prior and never used any oil between oil changes so I knew something was wrong so I'll decide to take elsewhere to have it checked and an oil change.

I explained my concerns to mgr he pulled my metal skid plate showed me excessive oil on it and pulled oil plug said here's the problem it's got the old and new gasket and this caused your leak. He installed a new plug , oil and filter I've checked the oil at 250 miles and 500 miles after he did this and no leaks at all.

Problem is when the oil got low before he fixed plug my engine began to tick on top passenger side back and it drives me crazy. Notice it more in mornings upon first starting it then as I drive it it seems to quieter until I stop at a light and I hear it more especially if I put in neutral and tap gas.

The original shop refused to do anything although I returned back after they did the oil change 4x complaining of a leak and then a noise packing.

Any suggestions on making it quiet again and it runs fine , good power, it has 325,525 miles but oil has been changed as recommended and it's never ticked until this.

It's a 96 Tacoma 6cyl 4or, thanks
 
When you say oil got low, what do your mean? How many quarts did it take to top it off?
Did your low oil pressure light come on?

The engine doesn’t have hydraulic lifters.


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