2nd gen ticking! What’s wrong??

Hey all! I’ve started having a ticking that has increased in volume over the last few months. I’ve read up on several posts already about the ticking elimination mod (rubber washers on the vsv bolt found here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ticking-engine-one-fix.43632/) and I have tried it but had no luck. This ticking seems to be louder than just your normal engine tick. I’m no mechanic but I’ve done a little research and found that the problem isn’t likely to be lifter noise (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/valve-lifter-noises.517568/) but possibly an exhaust manifold leak. I feel like I have noticed a decrease in power and mpg but that may be all in my head. The ticking does increase with RPM and can be heard from inside the cab as well.

Is there a good way to test for an exhaust leak? I’ve done a visual inspection around the manifold but can’t see anything obvious. Is there anything else I am missing that this could be? Is it even something I should be worried about? The truck has 245k miles and I would love to get another 245k out of it but I don’t want to start throwing money at the other problems it has if the engine is going to throw a rod in the next 1000 miles.

2009 Tacoma 4WD
245k miles
1GR-FE 4.0L V6
Oil changed 2000 miles ago
Royal purple 5w-30

Link to video of ticking:

 

It sounds like the normal Tacoma tick to me.
But you shouldn’t hear it in the cab. So there’s a possibility it is an exhaust leak.

You can use a Shop-Vac and soapy water to see if it’s an exhaust leak.
Key notes: Make sure you are on Blow/exhaust for the Shop-Vac. And MAKE SURE the the vacuum is clean. Dump out the dirt and trash FIRST. You don’t want to blow trash into your exhaust pipe.
https://youtu.be/IZknLjq0PVI

 

Huh. Why didn't I think of that, I should try that on my truck.

As for OP, my truck sounds exactly the same except louder due to long tube headers so I doubt anything is the matter, you're probably just "tuned into it" and hyper focusing on it and thinking it's been getting louder as result.

 

There are times I think my truck is louder than other times.
Once I notice, I too become hyper focused on it. Then in a few days, I forget to even listen for it.
I figure if it gets bad enough I will know about it. Either from an emissions code or loud enough I can’t forget about it.

I guess you could say, I lean more towards fixing stuff AFTER it breaks, then before it breaks.
Sometimes, that’s not the best choice. And sometimes, nothing ever happens and I don’t have to fix anything.

 

Sounds normal to me, the 4.0l is an inherently noisy engine.
Here's mine (70K mi).

https://youtu.be/qyv-iJjt8yk

 

For what it's worth the Single VVT-i 1GR is shim under bucket and is supposed to be relashed on occasion.

That said I have 270k on mine and never had a valve adjustment.

 

Ugh. I just feel like I don’t remember it being this loud but I guess I’ll have to do the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” route.

 

Does anyone unless they are there already for a timing job or head-gasket? Never heard of anyone having an issue other than noise from not checking/adjusting valve clearance.

 

I just redid my cab with Dynamat and Dynaliner along with the thick supple rubber husky mats and the OE factory vinyl floor, helped a lot with hearing it in the cab.

 

I have no intentions of ever checking or adjusting mine.
Like you said, it will take something catastrophic before I “look” at it.
And then, I might consider a new/used engine. Or let someone else figure it out.
I know about shims and buckets. But I never done them myself.

 

Never hear mine inside unless the windows are down, mine is always louder when it's cold too.

 

You got thin wall long tube headers and solid motor mounts though?

 

Uh no, mine is stock exept for the Magnaflow cat-back

 

LoL yeah make the ticky quite a bit tickyer.

 

I do know mine gets get louder when it's time for an oil change and I know depending on what oil I use it can be slightly louder.

OP when's the last time you had your oil changed and what did you use?

 

It’s in the post……

 

mine ticking noise went away when head gasket was done