Bottom end knock? 4.0 V6.

Hey y’all.

So.. I’m not even sure what to make of this.

I got this Tacoma (2013 2WD 4.0 V6) with 130k on the ODO. It currently sits at 155k. The sound I’m going to demonstrate in these videos has occurred since day one.

So far, it hasn’t become a problem. The sound however… well that makes me think I’m waking in egg shells. IMO, it sounds like a problem.

I’m hoping someone may be able to help point me in the right direction. I know videos (audio especially) isn’t easy to distinguish when it comes to engine noises. So any advice is welcome.

I get the sound after a start up and it starts to warm up. it’s everyday, not intermittent. If I rev up to 2k, I hear it up until I get to the 2k marker, then it goes away. On the wind down I hear it again.

I THOUGHT it may be a spun bearing. In my experience though, spun bearings get worse over time. This has not gotten worse, or changed at all. So while it still may be one, I found that odd.

I change the oil every 3k and use what’s recommended in the manual.

I’ve had the oil changed by shops as well, and everyone says the oil looks fine. I have not however cut a filter open or dropped the pan to check for metal shavings, etc.

Thanks again for any advice.

The first video is a little longer, the second video was during a drive. I stopped and got out real quick. Please disregard the radio lol.

If I knew the sound wasn’t pending catastrophic failure id Honestly just accept it. Until then though.. I’m just worried. Thanks for any pointers, y’all.

Video 1: Warm, start up.

https://youtu.be/6wjw_UiDqrE

Video 2: After driving around, warm engine

https://youtube.com/shorts/9e-eCw2DEm4?feature=share

Video 3: Cold start

https://youtu.be/Lh_-K-3jIt0

 

I wish I could say I hear a rod knock but I don’t. Could be the video. But usually a rod knock is a very distinct knock just as the rpm’s increase and I just can’t hear that in this video. Sorry I wasn't more help.

 

Sounds like a normal 4.0 to me, a rod knock is a sharper sound (spun bearings sometimes even have a slight squeak) and generally gets really loud when you rev the engine.

 

Sounds a whole lot like mine. Bought it like that at 98k and have 135k on it now and it hasn’t gotten louder or anything so I’m writing it off as nothing to worry about lol.

 

Sounds like mine too. They’ve got a lot of valve train noise. A bottom end blowing up is way more violent sounding and doesn’t take very long to grenade.

 

I agree with the others. A rod knock is very distinctive, sounds like a hammer hitting something. A spun bearing would get worse and louder. I think it’s just Toyota truck engine noise.

 

That’s reassuring.

it’s just when I rev and it revs down its very noticeable as well. I always try to listen to other tacos and I’ve never heard anyone with the lower end sound I hear. Especially in my second video.

def appreciate y’all.

 

My 1GR-FE sound exactly like this guy
https://youtu.be/9RsNkuxnGxs

I can say that you seem to have the same "rhythm" but seem a pitch higher.

What i can say about this engine is it's noisy, like weird noisy and you will find many video on youtube with the 1gr-fe noise slap knock tag and for many people this noise start one day and never leave. When the temperature drop below -20c it's a whole another level with mine, even with synthetic oil. BUT it work, very well and most of the problem where in 2005-2006 for this platform. I change the oil every 5000km, Fresh oil for the summer and winter. Still the same sound/power as 10 000km ago, all the fuel trim are consistent, cat temperature spot on and many other stats on my Ultragauge are stable and this day after day... so i don't worry anymore. I give it 2-3 WOT time on the highway entrance per month, i do 5 km per week on 4x4 to lubricate and work the system and nourrish it with 91 octane with no ethanol.

I even dropped the oil pan to inspect the pick up oil screen because of the noise

The truck was serviced at Toyota with dino oil all his past life, every 8000km, it was a good feeling when i droped the pan to see a good clean inside for an engine with 216000km at the time, the oil pan was mint, no sludge/particle. The shaft and rod had no play for the 4 rear cylinder i was able to access.

The chain tensioner clicked 2 time by the color difference and was solid, no play or ratchet skip. I know the chain is still in spec and the streching is minimal.


All 6 cylinder where between 195-200 psi, seem pretty high but if it's consistent and over 145 psi the compression is good.

For under 150 buck (Gasket,oil,beer) and 1 day weekend, you can have a clear picture of the condition of the engine. If you want to push it you can check the 2 vvt-i filter each side of the head near the dipstick and behind the alternator. Did mine, they where beautifull clean, still i have put 2 brand new with new washer. No one ever change these filter many don't know they exist, so i knew no contamination ever reached the engine head.


Do an oil analysis, and drive it, some people try different brand of oil (same grade) and find that it lower the noise, take a weekend and experiment. I'm prety sure the oil analysis will come clean. You just know when it's a spun bearing or rod knock, it's not something that take a long time to find out.

If every thing comes clean no thing to worry.

 

sounds like every other 4.0. The glug glug glug noise does sound similar to rod nock but it's just how they sound. My 3rd gen 3.5 work truck does it too, just a bit more quiet. 4.0 4 runners do it too.

People that say theirs doesn't make the noise just haven't heard it yet.

 

Until you said “glug glug glug” I had no idea how to “word” that noise. That fits perfectly. Lol

def love the input from y’all! Makes me feel a lot better.

 

haha! It drove me nuts when I picked up my 15 tacoma. I thought the truck was going to blow up.

 

Perfectly normal. Carry on, feel free to do the recommended 5k miles between oil changes and shes good easily for another 150k of driving.

 

Alright y’all.

I wanted to post one more video. This was after something of a cold start. Cranked it up this morning, didn’t have to go to the office. Cranked it up again tonight, just wanted to make sure this still sounds “normal” lol. It’s on the rev / wind down that concerns me. If y’all still think it’s nothing, I’ll let it go. Lol.

check it out

https://youtu.be/Lh_-K-3jIt0

 

There's definitely a metallic knock I'm hearing in that last video . If you can disable spark or fuel injectors to ea cyl and metallic sound goes away that's the cylinder with the problem

 

Have you replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys in the past? Had a 4r 4.0V6 that had a rattle. I feared the worst since it sounded terrible. Turned out to be the tensioner bearing. Replaced all of the idler pulleys and tensioner. The motor was SOO much quieter. Maybe a quick start with the belt off could help you diagnose and rule out the pulleys.

 

Sounds like mine. Try a cold start and put it in gear,see if the noise goes away or lessens.

 

I agree with Gtlegacy, you have the "normal" knock tick sound but you seem to have some bearing rattle too. Check the 4 pulley (3 idler, 1 tensioner) if they are shoot this can cause this sound when cold. It can be the hydrostatic fan assy there a bearing there too but it seem very rare to be a problem.

150k miles ? if these pully are original change them. Don't wait for a snaped belt or destroyed bearing. And you will eliminate a bunch of sound.

 

Thanks y’all.

Mind you, this is has gone one for over 30k miles and not changed (gotten worse) at all.

I’m unsure if I should swap the engine or trade it in before (if) it does.

I’d drive it till the wheels fell off as it is if I knew it wouldn’t die at random. Lol

 

I don't think it's anything to worry about, mine has had that sound when it's cold since it had about 30k miles on it. I have 66k on it now and it hasn't changed and I don't have a light foot lol.

 

Thanks for the response! You watched the third video? Sounds just like that? Lol