2013 4.0L V6 Engine Noise

Hello all! Thanks to this forum I was able to do a full pan drop w/ a filter change and fluid change that went almost too smooth, so thank you!

I am trying to diagnose whether or not this is a typical Tacoma engine sound or not as I have heard it is on the tickier side. I’m up in CO, so the fuel octane here is 85 for their regular. I put some 85 and 91 in this most recent fill up to try to make it 87 like the manual says to, but am unsure of whether or not that really matters as we are at altitude.

So here’s to my question, are these engine sounds typical of this year and engine Tacoma? I am extra paranoid because I lost my 08 Outback to a rod knock and want to see if this is a problematic sound so I can take advantage of the warranty that is currently on this vehicle. Thank you in advance.

In the first video I am at idle just checking around the wheel well and engine.

Second video I am starting at idle and revving no greater than 1.5 - 2k. The sound I am speaking of is heard particularly well around the second half of this video.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/oawq...ey=7u8yikd2lpbkmrf2guqj4o8z5&st=ggoqsigp&dl=0

 

No. That does not sound like the normal tick.
I hear the normal "tick" AND something else.

In the 2ns video. The tick at idle is normal.
When you rev it up, the 2nd "sound" is not normal.

 

^^This^^

My 4.0L isn't quiet by any means, (134k) but it doesn't make noise/sound like this either.

It doesn't sound like a rod-knock to me, but it definitely doesn't sound anywhere near normal using mine as a comparison. Too loud.

 

Oddly enough how’s your oil? My 4.0 would burn Mobil 1 and sound noisier when it was low. also try popping the hood and see if you can pinpoint it to any bearings on pulleys

 

I just checked my oil, it was right at the full marker. I did an oil change a month ago. I was thinking maybe it was a pulley or something. I have a new serpentine belt than I can slap on there and check all the pulleys in the meantime. Good idea.

 

In the second video when you rev it there's a noise (almost a tap) that seems to be of a lower frequency (top end component?) then the engine's rpm. It sounds similar to what we'd hear when a lifter was starting to collapse or there was an exh leak at one of the cylinders on other (older) design motors.

I'd say the belt and pulleys are a worthy check. I often read on here that the 4.0L is a noisy motor, in my case @ 150K I found most of that to be the serpentine belt pulleys, none of them were shot but it was significantly quieter when I replaced them. Now I can hear the injectors tick at idle, something I haven't heard for quite a few years and my hearing sucks.

 

OP, that sounds much like when I had an idler bearing near seizure...then seize...then break belt.

How many miles you got? Where in CO are you? Drop me a PM and if you are close you could swing by and listen to mine.

If i were you, I would take off the serpentine belt and carfully check all the bearings including the AC and power steering...and don't forget the water pump and fan clutch and alternator.