Ticking noise at idle.

This is my 04 2.4L 2wd regular cab, a real commuter queen.

When I stop and the engine idles for about a half a minute, it will idle down and I'll start hearing this ticking noise that sounds like a solid lifter chevy v8. I *think* it's valve tick but cant be sure. I checked the maintenance schedule and no where do I see any recommended valve adjustment schedule. It only has 80k and runs great. Of course, any gradual performance degradation will probably go unnoticed in the year and a half I've had it. It gets anywhere from 25-26 mpg in mixed city/highway driving.

Is this ticking normal or should I attempt some servicing?

 

I hate to say this,and then something happen to your engine, but toyotas tick, Ive had 3 1st gen 2.7's and they all ticked. Come to think of it every 22r I've ever had ticked also.

 

I have spent the last year trying to figure out this problem on my 96 tacoma with the 2rz. I finally took it to a friend who works at a toyota dealer. He had one of the techs there look at it and he said it had something to do with the wrist pin. That there was extra play causing the sound. He said that it was nothing to worry about that it would never become a problem. You will never see a power loss ar have any troubles out of it.

the sound i hear is somthing like a fluttering ticking noise. it only does it when the motor is warm, NOT cold. It changes w/ RPM.

 

I don't mind the noise...heck I like that "mechanical music". I just want to fix it if it's a problem, which it doesn't sound like it is...so far. Keep the comments coming.

 

Yeah, the 22RE required valve adjustment every 15k. I did them too loose once, and it sounded like a freaking flamenco dancer with castanets in there! But even when they were in spec, they ticked.

But I am clueless on the 2.7, and haven't heard the "wrist pin" explanation. That seems a little dubious. I think I read somewhere that valves are not a routine maint. item, but they are adjustable with shims and a spring compressor, and this link indicates they should be checked at higher mileage (~120k). Not as easy as the 22RE.

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30847&page=2

 

just telling what the tech of 25yrs told me.. I tend to beleive people when they have been doing it for so long

 

Damn. I had 2 Toyota Celicas in the 80s that had the 22RE engines in them and never heard any ticking. On one of them I went over 55,000 miles before changing the oil. Those 22REs are the best engines that I have ever seen....

 

Why?

 

I used to have a light ticking noise in my 1987 Dodge Dakota (V6) and in my 1994 Ford Explorer (V6). In both cases using Valvoline oil solved the problem. As soon as I switched to another brand, the ticking returned. My next truck, a 2007 Chevy Colorado always ran quiet no matter which oil I used. Now I have a brand new 2017 Taco and it is a lot noisier than the Colorado. But it only has 800 km on it thus far, so maybe it needs to be broken in more. Try Valvoline, it may make the difference. Note that I am in southern British Columbia. While winters are very mild here, relatively cold starts are more common here and engines tend to be a bit noisier when cold. With the Dakota and Explorer, after 120.000 km I switched from Valvoline 10-30 to 10-40. This seemed to help as well.