1GR-FE Crackling Under Acceleration

I've never rebuilt the internals of an engine before and I'm trying to understand what could be going on.

Imagine the sound of pop rocks in your mouth, a camp fire with dry wood, or a geiger counter when it detects radiation. It's not something that can be felt or heard as a rattling noise. I've checked many suspects, muffler & cats, exhaust shields, exhaust manifolds, any brackets on the frame, all body panels, all idler engine pulleys have been replaced, new engine mounts, new transmission & trans mount (replaced under warranty), all new u-joints, New suspension front and back. These are all things I did out of necessity, maintenance, or me putting a proper lift on the truck . But through all of this since day one the same noise has existed. I've mostly ignored it and had zero issues but it seems lately what I can best describe as a "crackling noise" has gotten a little more angry. It only exist at low RPMs while accelerating and is 100% non-existent while cruising or higher RPMs.

Appreciate any insight you have!

 

Pinging? Detonation at low rpm?

 

Is it a flutter/exhaust leak sound only when accelerating between 1800-3500 rpm? If so mine does this too and I’ve been told it’s the fuel injectors and the thin walled manifolds.

 

Does the noise change with 91+ octane fuel?
I’ve seen reports of later models having engine ping.
Can’t say it’s as common on our models 05-11’

It may not even be engine ping, but it should be simple enough to “try”?

 

My 2011 pings low rpm higher load.

 

Even with 91+ octane?

 

Yep. Pull the negative cable, wait 30 minutes, the whole deal. Still pings.

 

I had a tundra a few years ago that 'ticked' just off idle when accelerating. It was similar to the faint click-click-click noise that a cooling engine makes right after shutdown. It turned out that was a slightly warped(or incorrectly made) exhaust manifold that only caused a tiny exhaust/air leak under just the right conditions. It didn't happen 100% of the time though and totally different engine so may not be even close to what you have going on.

 

If it matters to you. (It wouldn’t me)

Some guys seem to have luck with the cam gears.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/group-buy-cam-gears-for-v6-1gr.618266/page-16#post-22133171

Other guys have went with a tune.

None of this matters if this isn’t OPs noise.
With out physically being there to hear a noise, it’s really hard to diagnose it.

 

The engine in my truck was replaced by the previous owner. So it's possible it is a 12-15 1GR-FE. I'll give 91 octane a try and see if it has any effect. Is there a known solution to the pinging? Does it cause long term issues if it's not addressed?

 

I've had an exhaust leak before that I fixed, this sound is different. It's more of a grinding/crackling than air escaping the manifold.

 

My air intake hose rattles in gear idling and at take off. Don't hear it after that.
Loosen the clamp at the air box, turn the hose clockwise till it's tight, then tighten the clamp.

 

It’s probably not worth the trouble to convert all the parts on the 12-15 trucks to work in an 07’
It’d be easier to switch the exhaust manifolds and run the 07’ electronics.
12+ has the SAIS, I don’t see any reason you’d want to put that on an 07’

91 octane is an easy thing to try.
If it helps, then you’ll know.
If not, it didn’t cost you much.

 

Dude! I have the same exact problem! The crackling comes noise comes a little more from my Driver side engine bay and only while accelerating in low RPMs. Have you found a fix?

 

The only obnoxious noise my truck makes like that comes from the heat guards for the exhaust rattling.

 

I know of 2 options
Clamp it, or wait.
If you wait long enough it will stop when it falls off.

 

I'll get the same noise if I'm in too high of a gear. No problems if I am shifting properly.

 

yup all mine got ripped off after upgrading to a URD headers + exhaust

 

sounds like pinging. Mine does it sometimes at high load low rpm. try 91 or 93 octane and see if it goes away.

 

I believe it's engine ping, 91 octane seems to clear it up.