Very Slight "knocking" type sound after oil change? WTF!

I recently purchased a 2000 4X4 tacoma with 78000 miles on it. The 2.7 liter has been such a quite and powerful motor. I absolutly love it! The original owner told me that he has always run 10w30 through it. He was faithful on his oil changes. Recently, I had the oil changed and I had them put 5w30 in it. I am moving into the mountains where it can commonly reach 0 degrees... I figured the 5w30 would be better for the cold.

So, now about 20 miles after the oil change im hearing almost a slight knocking as well as slight valve "taps." Mostly on low end acceleration... Could this type of oil change do this? There is no oil seepage at all on the motor and the oil has always been absolutly clear ever since i have owned it. Sometimes its hard to see where it is on the dip stick. The oil is still full after the change.

Any thoughts? It better not be the rod bearings! Does anyone else hear these low end noises on their 2.7?

 

Really? That is so weird because the motor asks for 5w30? Do you think that the motor is really knocking in a bad way or is it just noises? Isnt 5w30 the same as 10w30 minus the winter number? Will 10w30 be fine in 0 degree weather?

 

What did the previous owner use for oil filters? What are you using now?

 

Well to be honest I just used a cheap fram filter this time... I didnt think the filter or oil would be the cause though, the oil is ALWAYS crystal clear. After 3000 miles it looks just like it came out of the bottle. As for oil I just filled it with penzoil... Is there really a difference between dino oils?

So it is normal that the 2.7 is a noisier motor and 10w30 just helps quiet it down a bit.

 

I had a feeling you would say Fram. Just for shits and giggles, change the filter out to a Purolator or OEM and see if you still have the ticking/knocking. I've heard on another forum that one member had the same problem, changed the filter from the orange can of death to a different brand filter and all was back to normal.

Crystal clear oil doesn't mean jack, it could be that the oil isn't cleaning properly. Only an oil analysis can determine how clean the oil really is.

 

Ok ill try that. I guess the only other question I have then is if the original owner used 10w30, is it a bad thing that I changed it to 5w30? Is it bad to all of the sudden switch the grade of oil on an engine that has grown up used to another?

Thanks for all of your replies, I am a new TW member and truck owner! The 4X4 on this thing is insane though I have to tell you!

 

I don't think the wt. of the oil should make TOO big of a difference, but what the hell do I know.

 

Well thanks for the help. If anyone else has had an experience like this please post what you have found!

 

Sounds like a lifter tap..... my 96 tacoma had that noise after I bought it at 60K miles and changed to synthetic oil. And my Jeep does it also after changing over to synthetics. It's worse when the engine is cold but isn't as loud after it warms up.

Are you using synthetics now? Did the previous owner use synthetics.

My 96 tacoma ran for 110K miles before I sold it, so the tap wasn't anything to really worry about.

 

Well as far as I can tell the prev owner always used dino oil... would it be bad to change it over to synth oil now or could i do it no problem?

 

i think i had the same knock after changing my oil recently.. the first thing an advance auto associate said to me was change the filter to puralator. something about a check in the filter.. Well, after changing my underpants thinking i had a major problem, i added some Lucas oil, and noise went away..
My question is , what if any, kinda damage just happened to my flawless Toy! this sales guy seem to immediately point out the issue and the fix, why the heck did they sell me the bunk filter to begin with(FRAM).. he added that it seems to only happen on the Toyota V6, ok GREAT, again why did you sell it to me?
So, to everyone else that's had this issue and fixed it so easily, has anyone seen any lasting damage..or had it happen again??