Strange "Pinging" at low rpm's

I'm assuming what I'm hearing is ping/knock?

The best way that I can describe the sound is like this:

1. Take a long bolt and put a wide washer on it.

2. Put one nut on both sides of the washer

3. Tighten nuts all the way and the back them off just a little so the washer can freely wobble and spin.

4. Tap the washer up and down with your finger and that's the sound I'm hearing. Light metallic taps .

Is that basically what pinging sounds like? It started happening this morning, only seems to do it around 1100-1300 rpm with very light load at 35 mph. If I give her more gas or get up to 55mph the sound seems to go away completely. I'm at work now but will test it during lunch more.

I know the 4.0 has a timing chain, but is it possible to check that the timing is still in spec? I had a 1993 Honda Accord that once got out of timing spec and it made the same metallic tapping/pinging somes under load. Had it set back to perfect timing and the sound was gone and the engine ran better. I don't even know how the timing would get off in the first place.

I once asked my mechanic if he could inspect the timing chain as I heard about "chain stretch" although rare, and he said just to get to where he could look at it as 1500 bucks. Said it would take all day.

Any ideas or suggestions? Anything I can check at home or check with obd2?
(Note, obd2 shows no fault codes)

 

Try sticking with top tier gas. It just may help.

Thttps://www.toptiergas.com

 

What you described doesn't sound like pinging to me...I had a lean condition with my supercharger for a long time so I'm well aware of what it sounds like unfortunately. It sounds like someone rattling a bunch of marbles around in a metal can. What you described sounds like what my throwout bearing chirping sounds like (light metallic pinging almost like crickets chirping).

 

Try running high octane gas, 92 or 93 is what i have in my area. My 4.0 did this as well until i put the good stuff in it. I believe there is a TSB for this for the ECM to get reflash to solve this..

 

Better quality gas might fix it. So if you are getting your gas at Costco try one of the big brands for a few tanks (Shell, Exxon, etc).

 

I normally get gas at QT and have not ever really had an issue. I will try medium next time but the main problem is gas is getting expensive down here haha

 

Interesting, any idea of how to check this? I am not familiar with this.

 

Check this thread out @jross20

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-v6-at-dcsb-engine-knocking-1500-rpm.230991/

 

So it looks like there is an ECU update? That may be fine but I don't understand why all the sudden she has started doing this... Haha

 

Has it gotten hotter in your area recently? I've read a lot of times, that whenever it starts warming up, this can cause it to be more pronounced..

Here is the thread I found the TSB in, but it looks like its for 12-14 year models. I would still take it to the dealer and let them try to reflash it if it was my truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/t-sb-0044-14-feedback-engine-ecm-reprogram-pinging.337705/

 

Not really, it's been warm and then cool again up and down. Today is average.

I will call then and see what they say.

As a side question to this, does the timing chain have an automatic tensioner? If so... If it wore out could it cause timing issues?

I'm mainly wanting to avoid the non so glorious meeting of piston heads and valves... Lol

 

Throwout bearing relates to the manual transmission, noise goes away when you press the clutch pedal. Just saying that the way a washer would clink against two nuts (giggity) reminds me of what that would sound like more than pinging would, but maybe it's a different sound for your guys' engines versus mine.

 

Not sure about the automatic tensioner on the timing chain, so someone else will have to chime in on that.. From what I understand though, the timing chain in these trucks is good for the life of the motor

 

I've heard that they should last forever, but I've also heard of them "stretching" , rarely, supposedly the tensioner automatically adjusted for the stretch until it maxes its' adjust range.

I've no idea how rare this is or if it is ever realistically possible.

 

Yeah ive heard the same. Ive also read that timing chain wear is more common in the manual trans tacomas though. How many miles do you have on your truck? I really doubt this is your problem..

 

196,000 miles. I know it most likely isn't the timing... But our family has lost a few cars due to someone say "yeah the timing is fine"
So... Paranoid? I like to call it lots of love for my taco.

 

Yeah i dont blame you.. i love my truck too! Ive already decided when my motor dies, im just going to buy another one and drop it in there, or have it rebuilt. My 2.7 has 230k miles on it right now

 

Honestly I'd do the same as long as I could have it insured still. My luck some damn drunk driver would be the end of it... RIP

 

Did you recently change oil and oil filter?

 

I had a similar rattling noise after changing oil filter to a fram oil filter. I read there is a bypass valve in the oem filters that allow for better oil flow. After changing back to oem oil filter, rattling when away.