Finally got a taco!

So after drooling over tacomas since I was 10 years old, I finally bought one. She is a 2004 double cab prerunner, with a v6 and 67,000 miles. I absolutely love it! And also love tacoma world! I have been browsing this forum for about a year now, and there are some fine rides on here. Hopefully I can be a good contributing member. question, the previous owner always ran premium through the truck. I ran regular on a 300 mile trip back to texas and averaged 21 with a new oil change before I left louisiana. When I arrived home it sounded like my valves were ticking. Does it matter what i run through it? I have heard once you run an engine on higher octane you cant go back. Is this what is making the engine make a noise? Not used to the sounds the taco makes like I was used to my suburban. So for all you veteran taco owners some help would be appreciated!

 

Congradaulations on your new taco and welcome. I've never heard that switching between a higher octane and back to the one which is recommended would be bad, just a waste of money. I have heard that with oils though. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

I picked the owner up and we took the tacoma around town runnin errands such as switching the title and stuff. ran great! Then, got the oil changed, and drove to texas 7 hours. Ran great! Stopped at a stop light before turning into school and it sounded like the valves were ticking or like i could hear the individual cylinders moving up and down. i figured it was the lower grade fuel

 

I don't know what your problem is...Sorry.

But Howdy from Houston.

 

Check your oil level? Who changed your oil? Check for leakage near filter or drain plug if your oil level is low.

 

Howdy!

 

Mark, no i didnt, I pulled into school last night around eleven and was tired from the drive, I will today though! Good thinking

 

Welcome to TW

 

With that few miles, it shouldn't be burning much oil, unless it has some burnt rings or other problems. I'm not a mechanic, but there are many on here who can probably help you for sure.

 

I don't think its really burning anything, I checked under the hood and clean as a whistle, doesn't smoke and ran like a top on the way from louisiana. Idk, it may be unhappy with its new owner haha

 

spee dee changed my oil in new orleans just off veterans blvd. with 5w 30 mobil 1 oil. I'll go in the parking lot and checkand crank her up to see if she is still runnin with that sound

 

it sounds like the valves just need to be adjusted,or it can be a weak lifter.

 

well im just gonna run it how it is. I just ran to walmart and everything seemed okay. It may be that im not used to hearing the actual engine ( old truck was a 5.7 straight piped). Well yall have made me feel most welcome, gonna try to go to matagorda with the rest of the texans this weekend if it all works out.

 

Many on here would tell you that many tacoma engines make a ticking sound. Someone else is probably better qualified to tell you what it is, but if it's valves, it's better to hear them tick (maybe too much clearance) than to have too little clearance. Once you've checked for all the obvious big issues (oil, filter, etc) and everything's ok, you might just try turning up the radio a bit.

 

yeah it shouldn't be a big deal.. a lot of cars make a ticking noise so it's not really a problem unless the ticking keeps getting louder then you might wanna get it checked out.

 

haha alrighty, till then im just gonna burn gas and a little rubber!

 

Nice purchase...and if you have been browsing for a year you may have already seen some posts on the ticking motor... I have a 4.0 (2006 AC TRD OR) and it has ticked for a long time. There is a mod posted that might help, but you can certainly lower octane without damage.

I know how you felt.. I tried many times to buy a Tacoma and could never find the right one....wife finally whacked me and said...just go buy a new one and keep the damn thing (I used to go through a lot of trucks and cars).

...ended up buying an 06 in Feb of 07 and got a great deal.... wanted the Tacoma for years, and finally pulled the trigger.

Enjoy the truck!!