Engine noise, valve tapping

PTSDTherapy · Dec 23, 2023

80k miles in a year on a brand new truck. It makes noise. Drive it. Or sit around and worry about it. I’m in Argentina. Not worrying about the racket this engine makes. Enjoying life. I’ll be damn if I let noise spoil that.

TacoTuesday1 · Dec 23, 2023

here's what I would do:

-not have a turd gen
-print the TSB
-take it to a competent Toyota technician for warranty repair
-document proof of the concern
-potentially pull a valve cover myself, to inspect and find the supposed fault

SRBenjamin said: ↑

This fixed mine.

https://www.archoil.com/products/ar9100-oil-additive
Click to expand...

$44 bottle of additive advertised for use in diesels for high PSI diesel injectors
to put in a Toyota every oil change

or compared to every other additive significantly cheaper

interesting

wfo479 · Dec 23, 2023

That read gave me a headache.
Hey tacoma geeks... i hear rattling in my brain

JaxsonPotato · Feb 9, 2024

Kidneypunch said: ↑

I think the OP made a point about what it could be. The grammar and misspelling could be overlooked but it is distracting. I’m NOT a tech, and I’ve read plenty about everyone saying it’s normal. I do work in a place where I have to do mechanical work so I am no fool to engines and whatnot. However, I have a ‘21 TRD sport with a round 55,000 mi. and it’s making the sewing machine sound in the cab. My wife asked me if that’s normal. If my wife can hear something and bother to process it as a possible concern then it’s an obvious noise.
Furthermore I do happen to be a drummer. I measured the tapping noise to be about 320 BPM. The tach reads about 500 at idle when we warm. In my experience this sound is more prevalent when fully warm and seems to get louder the more I drive. It is not as noticeable as the engine gains revs but always comes back when idling. BPM on a metronome is much slower than 500. So, either my tach is off or there is some variation to the source of the clatter.
There are a few YouTube videos that show a good example of what I hear. But it does sound like my grandma using a sewing machine in a closet.
Click to expand...

The tapping noise is roughly 300bpm and the engine idles at roughly 600rpm. The camshafts rotate once every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft - ie. the noise is likely valve train related. Whether that’s hydraulic roller lifters, valves, etc I’m not sure.

What I do know is that everyone in this forum and others always says it’s normal and that it’s “the self-cleaning injectors” or the VVT or something else, which I’m not buying. You can hear the direct injectors and HPFP come on when they do the cleaning cycle and it’s a much faster paced ticking noise and it’s only occasionally.

The loud tick at idle and ~300bpm is definitely a distinct noise and it’s always present on a warm engine. Tons of people here, in 4Runner groups, Highlander groups, even the Ford 5.0 liter have complaints of this noise. There’s even an official bulletin saying the noise is normal on the Ford 5.0.

I hate the noise, but I’ll live with it and hope nothing ever comes of it. ‍♂️

Pwakchop · Feb 9, 2024

Kidneypunch said: ↑

I think the OP made a point about what it could be. The grammar and misspelling could be overlooked but it is distracting. I’m NOT a tech, and I’ve read plenty about everyone saying it’s normal. I do work in a place where I have to do mechanical work so I am no fool to engines and whatnot. However, I have a ‘21 TRD sport with a round 55,000 mi. and it’s making the sewing machine sound in the cab. My wife asked me if that’s normal. If my wife can hear something and bother to process it as a possible concern then it’s an obvious noise.
Furthermore I do happen to be a drummer. I measured the tapping noise to be about 320 BPM. The tach reads about 500 at idle when we warm. In my experience this sound is more prevalent when fully warm and seems to get louder the more I drive. It is not as noticeable as the engine gains revs but always comes back when idling. BPM on a metronome is much slower than 500. So, either my tach is off or there is some variation to the source of the clatter.
There are a few YouTube videos that show a good example of what I hear. But it does sound like my grandma using a sewing machine in a closet.
Click to expand...

You're fine, all of them make that noise in the cab. I was concerned at first but have sat in 20+ and they all sound like that when it's quiet. You just don't notice it for a while and then once you hear it you can't unhear it.

forana · Feb 9, 2024

Aqua20062[OP] initial post: ↑

This my 2nd post, revenge from 1st! I have alot of experience on the valve train on gasoline looks, along with every other part on cars and trucks, 42yrs give or take. When I bought my truck I was of course getting excited and all that buying new vehicle stuff. Not paying attention to something I normally would have comaught on to! Stupid me! Every single part that moves on and in a motor has a distinct sound! And when any part starts or goes bad, that sound is distinct to the problem at hand! And experienced mechanic will agree. At 400 miles I was at drive thru qnd heard the loud tapping noise? Got home stood right next to passenger wheel well and tap tap tap ect. Loud! I grabbed my motor thesthiscope. I went to opposite side to start. No tapping on block, on vavle cover, on intake nada! Put it on vacuum boost pump(which there is 2 behind each head) here a sucking noise which is normal for a system creating vacuum. Went to passenger side and put on Block nothing. Put on valve cover and badabing! Tapping! Worked my way around the valve cover and intake and I can clearly here the valve on the middle cylinder rapping along with the valve!
Mind you the fuel injector cleaner for all you people that are not mechanics! It comes on when you come to a stop and the idle jumps up a bit and you can clearly hear the injector cleaner run foe a few seconds and shut off. Again the vacuum boost pump is silent unless you put a amplified hearing device on the back the heads!! I went to dealer second time with same complaint and told them there is an issue with the valve train on the passenger side. There words-- oh there is a tsp for that! I said oh really ok I'm curious let's see if you are going to give me my truck back with the same loud tapping noise after replacing the vacuum boost pump? Well they put in writing they changed it and it was actually never touched. All the dust on the motor was covered everywhere except where they changed the oil! No arguing with them, they are never wrong. I have a friend that is a Boces teacher and he needs to go to all the manufacturers to learn the new systems that come out. While at the Toyota tech school, 2 2019 tacomas were there with same complaint! Loud tapping? They took the head apart and found that the lifter sleeve was bored over specs, leaving the lifter to slop up and down in the sleeve/bore. Tech school wrote up problem and sent both vehicles back to Toyota and they replaced the head, valves, cam, everything on the passenger head! I told this to Toyota and they refuse to acknowledge the problem unless it is found by a certified mechanic with Toyota certification. I write this as a heads up to any one with the same loud valve tapping noise on the passenger side of the 3.5 v6 Atkinson motor! Goodluck this is the world we live in!
Click to expand...

Is this the guy that got in an accident and his computer wigged out? Had long crazy posts like this...

Kidneypunch · Feb 9, 2024

JaxsonPotato said: ↑

The tapping noise is roughly 300bpm and the engine idles at roughly 600rpm. The camshafts rotate once every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft - ie. the noise is likely valve train related. Whether that’s hydraulic roller lifters, valves, etc I’m not sure.

What I do know is that everyone in this forum and others always says it’s normal and that it’s “the self-cleaning injectors” or the VVT or something else, which I’m not buying. You can hear the direct injectors and HPFP come on when they do the cleaning cycle and it’s a much faster paced ticking noise and it’s only occasionally.

The loud tick at idle and ~300bpm is definitely a distinct noise and it’s always present on a warm engine. Tons of people here, in 4Runner groups, Highlander groups, even the Ford 5.0 liter have complaints of this noise. There’s even an official bulletin saying the noise is normal on the Ford 5.0.

I hate the noise, but I’ll live with it and hope nothing ever comes of it. ‍♂️
Click to expand...

The cam shaft turns half as fast as the crankshaft. Maybe try again?

JaxsonPotato · Feb 9, 2024

Kidneypunch said: ↑

The cam shaft turns half as fast as the crankshaft. Maybe try again?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that’s what I mean. The crankshaft is at 600rpm and the camshaft is 300rpm, which is what I said. Everything I said still applies.

lavrishevo · Feb 9, 2024

JaxsonPotato said: ↑

The tapping noise is roughly 300bpm and the engine idles at roughly 600rpm. The camshafts rotate once every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft - ie. the noise is likely valve train related. Whether that’s hydraulic roller lifters, valves, etc I’m not sure.

What I do know is that everyone in this forum and others always says it’s normal and that it’s “the self-cleaning injectors” or the VVT or something else, which I’m not buying. You can hear the direct injectors and HPFP come on when they do the cleaning cycle and it’s a much faster paced ticking noise and it’s only occasionally.

The loud tick at idle and ~300bpm is definitely a distinct noise and it’s always present on a warm engine. Tons of people here, in 4Runner groups, Highlander groups, even the Ford 5.0 liter have complaints of this noise. There’s even an official bulletin saying the noise is normal on the Ford 5.0.

I hate the noise, but I’ll live with it and hope nothing ever comes of it. ‍♂️
Click to expand...

The 2GR-FE does have a noisy valve-train compared to other engines, but it does not appear to be a major issue. I have used Cera Tec by Liqui Moly on many engines and it also quiets down the Tacoma, helps with idle vibrations / smoothness. It’s not snake oil, it’s not some miracle cure, but it absolutely does reduce friction. I use it on all my vehicles for this purpose. Cold start wear protection primarily.

https://youtu.be/2-QLxVrvO8A?si=vcVRSUoI9iWXEmCN

Cincy Tacoma · Feb 9, 2024

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