Timing chain… tick?

Hey y’all.

I’m the mornings as of late.. when I crank up the truck I hear a light tick. It goes away after the truck gets warm or after I drive for about 1-5 minutes.

oils good, recently changed. However, from research I hear it may actually be a timing chain issue.

Curious if anyone has had experience with this. Thanks.

 

Are you sure it isn't the normal "taco tick"?
Timing chains usually have a sharp metallic rattle on startup until oil pressure comes up when they have problems.
Another possibility is a leak at one of the exhaust manifolds as those tend to get quiet when the manifolds heat up and expand.

 

Thanks for the response!
So, im not 100% on the chain, tbh. However, the tick is not quite a “knock” it’s light, but you hear the speed of it increase when you accelerate. You can hear it from inside the cab.

that said, it goes away so.. I guess it could be anything. :/

 

My first suspect for a tick that goes away at operating temp would be a leak at one of the exhaust manifolds.
I would inspect the exhaust manifolds closely for broken bolt's, cracks, and/or soot stains.

 

My 86 22R had a chain but my 05 4 banger had a belt

 

All the 4 cyl engines in Tacoma's 95-present are timing chain engines 2.4L I4 (2RZ-FE) (95-04), 2.7L I4 (3RZ-FE) (95-04), and 2.7L I4 (2TR-FE) (05-Present).
The V6 3.4L (5VZ-FE) (95-04) had a timing belt but the 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE) (05-15) and the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) (2016-Present) have timing chains.

 

From what you’re describing that is your typical taco tick, especially when it goes away within a minute or so

 

Another way to look for leaks would be to hook up a shop vac on blower settings to your tail pipe and spray soapy water at the manifolds. You need to do it when it is cold. If there is a leak then it will bubble up around the leak.

 

I’d try a high moly content oil or an additive like lube guard biotech. I currently use Amsoil SS 0W30 and to my ears seems to be the quietest my 4.0L has ever been. Cold mornings I’ll get a slight tap or tick noise but once warmed up it goes away.

 

It's just the tacoma tick. If it was chains, you would know for sure.

 

How many miles on the truck?

If its up there in miles, might be prudent to pull the lil timing chain inspection cover to see where you are at on the tensioner throw, but a well maintained truck the chains have zero probs going 300+k

If its cold, my 2013 will have a lil knock / tick that goes away after a min or two, never a problem, oil always looks good.