Valve noise between 1500-2000 rpm?

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Perihelion

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New 2018 runner with only 2000 kms on it. I get a weird noise that increases frequency with engine revs from 1500-2000 rpm. Above or below that I don’t hear it. Sounds like valve slapping or something else maybe rattling in the engine. Engine maybe sounds unbalanced. No noticeable loss of power or anything, just sounds like an unhealthy noise. Anyone else have this?


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My 2016 has had a slight knock at low rpm when cold since it was brand new. Im new to Toyotas and didnt know if it was normal. The ass hats at the Toyota Service Dept would never answer my question.
 
i definitely have noise at idle, sounds almost like a diesel sometimes (it's been that way since brand new)
 
Sounds like normal piston slap to me. Most engines have a bit of it at some point in the rev range. Aluminum pistons expand quite a bit as they get hotter. A bit of extra clearance between the piston and the cylinder wall is specified to accommodate this. In many engines, the pistons will rattle in the bores a bit at a certain RPM and light load until they become fully hot.

You may previously have had engines that did this too, but you weren't listening as carefully to them, or it was not as pronounced. Usually, it's perfectly normal.

That said, since your truck is under warranty, there's no harm in taking it in to be checked out just for your peace of mind.
 
Just a guess but it may be the fuel injectors ticking. This is common for many engines.... BMW's are notorious for this.
 
I have this same sound in my 2016. It is there from idle until 1500-2000 rpm. It does not go away when the engine gets warmed up.

Has anyone here had a successful diagnosis?


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“Valve” Noise

My 2016 Trail has it too. Don’t think it’s valves on mine. Drives me crazy. Sounds like driver side, under hood knee height. Premium fuel has no affect. Mine is worse under 50 F, almost gone now above 65F. Don’t hear it in rain either. Might be egr valve flutter? Some plastics can sound metallic and this could change with temperature. Maybe the valve on drivers side bolted to plastic manifold (3 tubes and electric to it)?

Will be worse again this fall and winter.

Dealer no help. Can’t hear it. It is annoying. Help!?
 
Perihelion said:
New 2018 runner with only 2000 kms on it. I get a weird noise that increases frequency with engine revs from 1500-2000 rpm. Above or below that I don’t hear it. Sounds like valve slapping or something else maybe rattling in the engine. Engine maybe sounds unbalanced. No noticeable loss of power or anything, just sounds like an unhealthy noise. Anyone else have this?


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You should be hearing those rockers and cam chains at idle in drive not at that RPM, although I think this is a loud motor on the initial start up / coming to temperature fast idle for sure but once the fan spins down it's not bad I guess, I've heard louder. I have 10k on mine now, pretty much accustomed to those glorious sounds at this point, love sitting in a drive through between walls hearing the tick tock / clatter, this motor has soul ! :rockon:
 
DIAMONDBULLHEAD said:
My 2016 Trail has it too. Don’t think it’s valves on mine. Drives me crazy. Sounds like driver side, under hood knee height. Premium fuel has no affect. Mine is worse under 50 F, almost gone now above 65F. Don’t hear it in rain either. Might be egr valve flutter? Some plastics can sound metallic and this could change with temperature. Maybe the valve on drivers side bolted to plastic manifold (3 tubes and electric to it)?

Will be worse again this fall and winter.

Dealer no help. Can’t hear it. It is annoying. Help!?
Click to expand...

Yeah, don't worry about it. These engines are noisy bastards, but they have a great record and are pretty much indestructible with normal care.
 
Normal but I don't like it. Mine has had it since day one, sometimes it seems louder than other times. Believe it or not, it seems to have gotten louder after switching from Toyota 0-20 over to Mobil 1 0-20 but maybe it's just in my head? Reminds me of the Jeep 4.0 wrist pin clatter which they all had and still hit 400K miles. You'd think today's engines would be silent but apparently not!
 
Engine noise

Thanks for reassurance. Had Tacoma with 4 liter and it Did not have that knocking-ish sound although it made just as much roar! otherwise. Weird because it comes and goes. Oh well. Great motor- I love it. 4Runner 4liter set up a bit differently than the Taco I had (gear ratios, manifold, and probably etc). I put rubber bushing between that valve and manifold it’s mounted on and also wrapped valve with some rubbery foam tape to insulate sound. Seems quieter but could be imagining it.
 
DIAMONDBULLHEAD said:
Thanks for reassurance. Had Tacoma with 4 liter and it Did not have that knocking-ish sound although it made just as much roar! otherwise. �� Weird because it comes and goes. Oh well. Great motor- I love it. 4Runner 4liter set up a bit differently than the Taco I had (gear ratios, manifold, and probably etc). I put rubber bushing between that valve and manifold it’s mounted on and also wrapped valve with some rubbery foam tape to insulate sound. Seems quieter but could be imagining it.
Click to expand...

Where did you put a bushing? The noise is internal from what I understand. What can be done externally to quiet it up?
 
Searching on this topic for reassurance and I think I found it. 2016 SR5P here, I love the ‘old school bus’ roar when it starts cold. When I’m putting through the neighborhood I get that tick/light knock too. Almost a diesel sound if I’m going 20 mph and ease off the gas. I always listen for it, and always hear it. Good to read here that it’s normal. This is my favorite vehicle I’ve ever had, gonna need it to stick around for a while.
 
If it helps ease your worry, the 4Runner 4.0L has some upgrades over the Tacoma 4.0L, some of which make it louder. Specifically something with how the valves are pushed. Forget the technical term, but somethibg about there being a lower friction but louder tapper to valve connection.

My theory is that the 4runner engine cover is designed to muffle this noise increase from the driver's perspective. I say this because if you notice, the engine cover is not actually on the engine lol. It's shifted like a foot toward the driver's side lol.
 
There seem to be 3 known common sources of noise on these engines:

1.) Valvetrain.
Oils with more molybdenum additive tend to quiet the valvetrain noise, e.g. Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage synthetic. My neighbor's 2016 TRD ORP is quieter since he started changing his own oil and using this oil instead of whatever the dealer was using.

2.) Fuel Injectors.
Toyota injectors are very reliable and maintain consistent flow over their useful life, but the tradeoff seems to be noise. It's a minor nuisance. Mixing TC-W3 two-cycle oil in with the gas has quieted mine and my neighbor's '16 TRD ORP...check BobistheOilGuy.com and a very long discussion on ls1.com for info on TC-W3 oil mixing and form your own opinion. In my case and my neighbors, it also smoothed the idle and slightly improved fuel mileage.

3.) Vacuum Switching Valve.
Do a search on "Tacoma VSV Ticking" and you'll find info. Fix seems to be adding rubber washers to isolate the vacuum switching valve, which reduces the ticking noise.
 
Since Toyota wont give us a Turbo Diesel they decided to satisfy our need by making it sound like a diesel engine. I actually like the sound. Sound like a tank. :cool:
 
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