Too loud to be normal taco tick?

Tacoma tick? Or am I cooked? This sound does not happen when the engine is cold only at warm idle. The video was taken by the driver's side wheel well. Truck drives fine. 37k miles, '22 off road v6. Here's link to the vid/sound.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ps94LuxoyMCkqRg6A

 

The good thing is you are still under the 5 year 60K warranty.

 

It could be the high pressure fuel pump. See if the noise is more pronounced on the passenger side valve cover near rear of engine.

 

Part it out

 

I hear it more prominently on driver's side. Especially near the wheel well.

 

That sounds like the classic collapsed lifter that usually goes away and sometimes comes back at random. I believe it’s from low oil pressure. Not saying you have low oil pressure, but I believe the natural low oil pressure of this engine at idle is what leads to it happening at idle. I’ve heard it at times on mine, but not in a long time. I’ve also been running 40 weight oil for a while and that definitely seems to help because I haven’t heard it since.

I know it’s cam related because it has the right timing for a cam rotation. It doesn’t sound at all like a high pressure fuel pump, you don’t have a vacuum pump, and it’s definitely not cleaning cycle noise.

“Taco tick” is a phrase I really wish would go away, because it convinced people that all noises are normal as long as they are a tick.

 

The weird thing is. It NEVER does it when the engine is cold. Only when warm. I don't know what to think anymore. . And I agree I hate the phrase taco tick

 

It does it when the engine is warm because the oil is warm and thinned out. Maybe a try a thicker oil and see if it goes away. I’m running 10W-40 on mine in Texas.

I used to run 0w-40 and it still made the noise, but 0w-40 is a lot different than 10w-40 because of how they get it to be the grade that it is. A lot of polymers to make 0w.

If you’re not comfortable bumping the oil up, I’d leave it alone. Not much you can do really, it’s definitely following the cadence of the lifters and many people have reported that noise here over the years. Mine did it a few times back in the 30k mile range and I’m at 74k now.

 

BTW, when I say usually goes away, I don’t mean when warmed up. I mean at random maybe in a day or two or in a week, you’ll be idling and no longer hear it.

 

The lifter idea makes sense when the engine is cold the oil is thicker and no lifter noise.

 

Mine does the same thing. Freaked me out when I first got the truck, I don’t notice it anymore.

 

Ide agree that sounds like a lifter tick...
Makes total sense in regards to doesnt do it cold...
Your oil is thicker when cold & bearing clearances are tighter so oil pressure is higher when cold & decreases as oil heats up / thins & bearing clearances expand with heat...

If there isnt a tsb stating the taco tick is normal characteristic for this engine which even then I wouldnt be ok with, ide be at the dealer in the morning..........

 

How many miles on your truck now?

 

~18k

 

It’s the injector cleaning cycle . It really is totally normal . If you are going to bump up your oil , before you do send the oil to be tested then bump up to 5-30 in the summer and OW 30 winter . 40 weight is not necessarily. Especially for the VVT set up . Remember aluminum engines are already noisy just because of them being aluminum

 

That is not the cleaning cycle. That noise is perfectly timed to be a lifter, which is about 5x per second for 600 engine rpm. The cleaning cycle sounds completely different.

 

I would say then if still under warranty bring back to the dealer, and break there chops . Make them bring another 3.5 next to yours and listen . I have both a Tacoma and RX350 and both are noisy

 

They are noisy. You have this clanking noise though?

 

Sort of yes sometimes . The thing you can mention to the dealer is a possible noisy vacuum pump. I have a feeling it’s not what you think.

 

Mine sounds the same. 33k mi.