Engine knock/when accelerating

**I've searched the forums, but only come up with "Tundra sounding like a diesel" or "knock when cold".**

I have 15k miles on mine, and change the oil every 5k at Toyota. I haven't noticed this before, but it started happening when the outside Temps are over 90 degrees. It didn't make the noise last summer. This is what happans... When I accelerate, I get a knocking coming from the engine. It sounds like a knocking/rattling noise. It only lasts a few seconds then goes away. Kinda sounds like low oil, but my level is fine.

Anyone else had this problem? Please don't tell me it's normal, because my f150 never made this noise. I had an old jeep wrangler that made a similar noise, and it let me know it was time to add a few quarts of oil. This truck just got serviced, and I just checked the level. Thanks

 

Pre-detonation is bad stuff.

Any changes in fuel being used? Going with 'name' brand gas?

Checked out the spark plugs to see what their story is? Correct heat range?

May try fuel treatments that decarbon cylinders and intake.

 

Bad gas was what I was thinking too

 

No I haven't looked at spark plugs and all that stuff. My truck is still relatively new with only 15k miles. I always put 87 octane, but only from "name brand" gas stations. Maybe I did get a bad batch. Hopefully its that..I only have 100 miles till emtpy

 

I had something similar turned out to be a bad alternator. It really sounded like the bottom end was done. https://youtu.be/dmFoQtsgFW0

 

I believe they are valve pings. I had the same problem and brought it to the stealership. They did the injector clean and it went away. I also switch to 93 octane gas with occasional Lucas fuel treatment on fill-up.

 

Yes, it sounds like a ping. I'm hoping a fresh batch of gas will do the trick. Thanks

 

Mine will ping on 87. It's the worst at 45 mph in 6th gear. I drive in S5 a lot if the truck doesn't have 90+fuel.

I think the main problem is the lack of a 7000 pound trailer to get the motor good and hot to burn the carbon out.

Isn't 87 octane gas really 84 octane, but the added ethanol makes it act like 87? I though I had read that somewhere. Our premium E10 is 93 octane and ethanol-free is 90. If the E10 87 separated over time it would explain why some tanks just burn like garbage.

 

I think now gas stations are getting summer blend , the additives are different. Ecu will learn quickly. Otherwise try a tank of plus see if the knock is there.

 

Sounds like ECU is not adjusting timing to eliminate pre-ignition knock. A 2019 with 15K miles should be under warranty. Have the dealer check it out, sooner rather than later. I am surprised you don't have any codes.

 

Had a 2000 Tundra once upon a time that has spark knock intermittently. Turned out to be a dirty MAF sensor. Pulled it out (2 screws) and very carefully with a sharp piece of wood scraped the accumulated debris of and sprayed it with carb cleaner and engine ran like new. Makes sense if computer is not getting a true reading from the sensor it will not adjust fuel, timing etc correctly. Never had any codes....

 

Update..

I filled up with unleaded plus last week from Exxon. Ping is just about gone. That is great news, but bad news at the same time. Sure, I bought a truck knowing I'd have to put big money into the tank. I shouldn't have to put unleaded plus.. This ain't exactly a high performance engine. I always put regular ol unleaded in my vehicles before and never had this problem. I'm hoping it was just bad gas, and the injectors will get cleaned out.

 

Use 91 octane Chevron

 

Dude, your truck is a 2019...take it to the dealer and let them troubleshoot the problem. You probably have bad knock sensor(s). The truck is designed to run fine on regular 87 octane gasoline. You don't say if it's a 5.7L, but in Texas, all 5.7L engines are FFV which opens up a whole new set of problems for you.

 

This...

 

One tank of plus should be good enough. You can get regular from next time. Let the truck idle for few mins once you start it before rolling. Sweet spot is 3 mins.

 

The dealer might point to page 531 of the manual though

If your engine knocks
● Consult your Toyota dealer.
● You may occasionally notice light knocking for a short time while accelerat-
ing or driving uphill. This is normal and there is no need for concern.

 

Haha whaattt!! Sounds like you took it in for that

 

Not since the last Ford I drove where they told me to look at the manual, which said about the same thing.

There was one way to make that 302 v8 truck to stop pinging. Give it midgrade and drive it hard to keep carbon from building up. That was possible because it was a heavy truck with <200 hp. The Tundra is too fast to ever work hard without a trailer.

Maybe the additives in premium fuel help keep the carbon down when it's not running hard. It might, at least on the intake valves.

 

Chevron 91 octane. Use that 2-3 fill ups and you should be good to go. Do not use that ethanol crap.

 

Esso/Exxon/ Mobil 91 also has no ethanol in it.

 

*update*

Took it to Toyota, and got the typical dealership answer. Tech can't hear anything. I even sent them a video. All is good according to them. Guess I'm stuck with a rattling/pinging brand new truck for a while

 

I would take it back again if you have a real concern and bring someone with you. If you get a dick service manager he'll always tell the tech to say he doesn't hear anything. Bring someone with you that will back you up, it may help

 

Yeah, its real annoying if the radio is not turned up. If you hit the gas, it pings bad for a few seconds. I don't know how the tech could not hear it. He probably just cruised it for a few minutes, not letting it warm up.

I just called my service advisor, and asked if there was anyone available to go for a ride with me at that very moment since I was in the area. She brought out the service manager. He heard the noise himself, but its another "bring it by some time next week" thing. If they can't fix it, I can't see myself owning this truck much longer. First Toyota, and probably be the last.

 

Wish you had better luck at the dealer. That sounds unpleasant

Short trips? I think that's what brings mine on. If I keep it out of 6th on short runs around town it seems to help a lot with ping control. Otherwise it'll let you run run 1100 rpm in 6th at 140F temp in drive (that's the min coolant temp the PCM enables lockup +6th) which doesn't sound like a good recipe for keeping fuel atomization to me. It's gotta be carbon buildup combined with the relatively high compression making it sensitive to it.

The problem with a big honkin engine, it's hard to find situations to work it hard and give it that italian tune-up to keep carbon deposits under control. If I drive spiritedly for a couple days, or drive extended highway, it won't ping for a couple weeks afterwards even on 87 gas. My 4 cylinder 4x4 taco would never carbon up but WOT was slow and often and frankly unnoticeable to the casual observer

 

Yeah I guess, but I ain't never had a truck ping with anything less than 150k on the odometer. 16k and it sounds like a truck thats 15 years old. My buddys 2006 Titan with 200k sounds healthier than my motor. I baby the crap put of my vehicles. We will see what they say when I drop it off again next week. I'm sure the visit will be fruitless. If so, its bye bye Tundra in a year or so. Honestly, I'm not impressed with this truck owning it for a about a year.

 

The landcruiser has same engine and specs 91 octane or greater. It has something silly like 2 ft lbs more torque.

I live in a hot and dry climate that can hit the 100s for long stretches. The altitude is kinda high as well. So the stations around here have 86 octane.

eff that. I fill up with 91 from May until Halloween. Then 88 octane for colder months. I've done this in all the vehicles I've owned over the last decade.

 

My 2017 started doing this. Ran 91 octane and it went away

 

Shouldn't have to do this on a non high performance engine

 

Funny... but my 2019 5.7 is not a FFV. In fact, my local dealer doesn't even carry them.