Valve/lifter noises

I have a 2005 Taco w/103k on the odometer. I installed the engine out of a 2008 that was totaled . From the beginning it had the tick. I understand that all Tacos have a tick, but this is ridiculous. It has gotten so loud that people on my phone (via Bluetooth) can hear it. I have put about 20k since the install about 2years ago. The goal here is to stop the ticking. I don't want to quiet it down by putting a different grade of oil. I am mechanically incline to do the work although I've never tore this engine down beside the water pump and change the valve covers and belts....and changing my truck from a automatic 2wd to a manual 4wd with all stock parts. I have hit the search button many times. I have tried asking my local dealer about it too....which they say its normal. But that was when I first got it running and wasn't that loud. I haven't taken it back since then. It is a month wait to get an appointment. Any help would be greatly appreciated, links, contact, videos, manuals etc. Thanks Ronnie

 

Exhaust manifold leak?

 

Yeah I agree probably an exhort leak.

 

No exhaust leak. Just changed out my headers not too long ago. No change in noise..

 

Have you checked the oil? My truck started too make a lot of lifter noise on start up and topping off the oil fixed it.

 

what motor? v6 or i4?

Either way it could be excessive valve clearances (no hydraulic lifters on either motor). But i doubt it.

 

Just did an oil change. Level is good.

 

Sorry....it is a V6

 

nd4spdbh

I was told it is a hydraulic lifter set up...Are you sure?

 

Sorry I’m all out of ideas...

 

He is right, they are solid with little removable adjustment biscuits. They are technically adjustable, by swapping the biscuits, but it is a real pain. You either have to buy a whole kit of the biscuits, or you have to measure each valve, then order the exact ones you need from Toyota. Most people do not adjust them for the life of the engine. As much of a motor head as I am, I'm not touching them. If you really think they are bad, you could check them. The problem is, if the adjustment is off, most likely you have a cam going bad.

 

Yeah im fairly certain they havnt done any sort of hydraulic lifter / hydro finger follower setup on the v6 or i4. the 1st gen v6 definitely wasnt. But usually if you had to adjust valves its cus they are tight (from seats wearing) not loose which means valves are shrinking.

Im surprised its not a shim and bucket design though and its just a full bucket with different thicknesses.

 

The 2.7 four cylinder has hydraulic lifters. The V6 has a bucket no hydraulic lifters.

 

ah good to know. that lil i4 is such a lil bomb proof motor!

 

A few tidbits about valves that might help. Tight vales are quiet, loose valves make noise. Tight valves can do real damage if the clearance gets close enough that the valves do not fully close. You will get a "burnt valve". Loose valves sound bad, but do no harm. If they get loose enough they will not open fully, which will affect air flow and performance. Noisy valves always get the attention of course.
I think the valves on the 4.0 were mainly designed to be adjusted during assembly of the engine at the factory. It is a very robust design that holds it's setting very well.

 

@badger, true statement. Learned that with the 22R, if it's super quiet you set the valves a little too tight.

The OP's question, my engine ticks and it bugs me too. And I came straight from a 22R-E, which was a loud motor, too. But as far as I can tell it's just not a quiet motor. There's a vacuum valve on the driver's side valve cover that seems to tick, maybe the VVT is ticking underneath that. Hard to say.

I've pretty much gotten used to it, sounds like most other 1GR-FEs I've heard. Doesn't sound like a bottom end or valve train rattle or like a timing chain issue (which I think I have a good feel for, I broke one in my 22R). When I start it the engine, it's super quiet and the tick comes on when it warms up. I can hear it almost distinctly, too, like something is turning on, perhaps it's when the ECU is leaving cold fast idle and moving to normal temp, so something is being turned on.

 

thanks for all of the replies...I'm still not sure what I will do yet. But it is just getting louder and louder so I need to do something about it. No performance issues what so ever. But you can definitely here me pulling up from a distance away. Maybe I'll look around for a used head or something? IDK...I'll keep everybody updated. Thanks again for all the advise and input. Ronnie

 

Update****
So it doesn't make that noise anymore....because that engine decided to throw a rod thru the side of the block! Happened right before spring break. So I swapped in a motor that had about 47k on it. Took me a couple days to do. Crazy to think that the motor that threw a rod only had 108kmi. Thought these motors were bullet proof!

 

That stinks to hear but guess it goes to show sometimes you do need to worry about noises the 1GR makes.