blow-across-top-of-bottle/jug-noise at highway speed

I have an '09 base model 4wd 4cyl 5 speed access cab. The noise I am referring to sounds like the noise you get when you blow across the top of a glass bottle. It sounds deeper than a beer bottle though, more like a glass growler jug. It comes in at 66 mph and goes away at 72 mph, consistently. It is a cyclic thing, as it goes whoa.....whoa.....whoa.... with about 1.5 seconds between whoa's. (whoa being my way of typing the jug noise) The period/time between doesn't change.
Things I have noticed:
Happens in 5th, 4th, or neutral.
Happens during accel, decel, or coast.
No change steering straight or around a curve to the left or right.
Doesn't matter what temperature is.
Happens rain or shine.
Windows up or down.
There are no noticeable vibrations.
There is no bearing grumble or squeal.
If I manage to get it at an exact speed right around 68-69, it will stop being cyclic/droning, it is a constant sound.
It happens on the brakes or not.
It happens clutch in or out.
To me, it sounds like some sort of air type noise, though it is devoid of any type of whistle. If anyone has any experience with this, or any thoughts or suggestions, I'd appreciate and welcome it.

 

What you may have going on is a rubber seal that is switching positions when there is wind pressure on it. I know the 12-13's have this issue with the seal from the grille to the hood, but on an 09 that seems less likely.
Do you have anything aftermarket on it?
Grille insert?
Bug Deflector?
Bug Screen?
Ventvisors?
Any of these things can make strange noises under the right conditions, especially if they are not attached properly or coming loose.
We once had a customer come back for a noise that sounded like a bad wheel bearing... had us stumped... ultimately, we realized it was his aftermarket billet grille insert. It would ring like a tuning fork at speed!
Leave no stone unturned, as it were... With some in-depth searching, you will find it! Good luck!

 

i do have a k & n cold air intake on it...it was there when i bought the truck (certified pre-owned) from the dealer. there are also the vent visor things around the windows on the front doors, but that is right next to my head, and i feel like if that were making the noise, i would know.
i will take a look at the seal from the grille to the hood.
i like where you were going with the rubber seal switching positions.....i will have to poke around for something like that.
thanks for the suggestions

 

I forgot to mention- the easiest way to pinpoint the location of said noise is to use high quality wide masking tape to block off airflow to what you suspect it might be. If you tape something up and the sound goes away, it makes the job instantly easier. With something like a ventvisor, tape the seam the whole length, with a grille block half at a time and then the whole thing, etc.

 

For an 09, it's probably the windshield seal. Known problem and I think there is a TSB on it. Search for windshield noise, Kazoo sound, etc. My 09 did it in certain conditions, 60mph +/- 5, crosswind from driver's side to passenger side at 10-15+mph,,, yes, I dealt with it for some time before I finally took it in and they fixed it under warranty.

 

do you know when the warranty fix on that would be up?

 

Check the windshield glass plastic seal (below the passenger side wiper blade) hasn't separated from its locked in position. If so, lock it back in. Ask me how I know.

 

3/36 I suspect.

 

figures lol......so much for that

 

I checked, it all looks good.

 

I get a occasional howling noise on the freeway (75+) with a headwind. I think mine is from the seam in the mirror covers. I haven't done the tape thing cause if it is that, I dont think there is a fix for it from toyota other than filling in the seam with silicone or something. It doesn't do it very often, so im not super concerned about it.

 

Do some searching and look at the TSB, you can probably do it yourself, it's just a messy process from what I understand. BTW, one way to test that what you're hearing is the TSB is to take some masking tape and tape around the upper and side windshield "slots". If it goes away, more then likely the seal.

Another thing that I recall reading is to take some round rubber weather seal, sized to fit that "slot", and stuff it in there. Someone on here tried that, some searching may uncover the thread.

 

my mirror on passenger side does the same thing, so does my son's Tacoma. only does it going in to a strong headwind and 70 mph.

 

I now believe it is one or both of my front wheel bearings. It is louder, changes when going around a right hand turn at highway speed, and has begun to show itself at 30-35 mph. I will be replacing them soon...

 

Well, this cured my noise. When I pressed the bearing out of the passenger side, it looked fine, which was kind of surprising because when I turned right, the noise went away. When I pressed apart the driver side, the outer bearing's (plastic!) cage was completely destroyed, allowing the rollers to come into contact with each other and allowing them to migrate and leave a circumference of the bearing un-supported. I didn't replace the inner seal, as it looked fine and I didn't want to separate the knuckle if I didn't have to.
I was not able to budge them with my 20 ton bottle jack press, I had to use my father's air over hydraulic 25 ton press. The passenger side's outer bearing's inner race that was pressed onto the spindle did not come off with everything else as it did on the driver's side, so it had to be cut off.