Rattling on cold starts

This started this year and only makes this noise on cold starts. I checked under the truck and didn't see or feel anything loose. Once it's warm the noise goes away?

Any ideas what it could be?

Link to YouTube video

 

https://youtu.be/4Ux667qwtGo

 

Not disputing anything he says, but you really cant compare noise between a timing chain driven motor(new 4runner) and a timing belt(old 4runner). I have a 22re, 3.4, 4.0 and a 5.7 in my fleet. My brother has a 4.7 in a 1st gen tundra. The 3.4 and 4.7 are super quiet. The 22re(300k), 4.0 and 5.7 are all very noisey. Those chains are a lot of moving parts rubbing on oil driven tensioners and teeth. The belts are running on spring idlers.

 

I've had a 2014 SR5 DC 5.7L 4x4 and never heard this before. It had 80K miles no rattling on a cold start even when I lived in NY.

 

have you owned this truck since new? Has been talked about as far back as the 2nd gen Tundra rolled off the lot. Cant tell if yours is the same noise, but my 08 Tundra used to knock for about 30 secs if sitting over night, ended up being the vvti gear. Try changing your oil, my rattle only developed after 2k after a change. Google tundra cold start rattle.

https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/5-7-rattle-on-cold-start.58249/

 

I bought this certified used for a Toyota dealership, it had 24K miles. This sound was not there last year during the "winter" months. This sound would start after about 30-60 seconds after startup and would be on and off until operating temperature was met. I changed the oil about 1000 miles ago with mobil1 0w-20. I'm going to the dealership today to see if they can find anything? I'm pretty sure they will need to replicate the sound which won't happen on the visit.

 

If for whatever reason they can't duplicate the sounds show them the video you have as proof. Might help you never know!

 

Might be the belt tensioner but take it in and see what they say! Like you said they will most likely need to let it sit overnight to replicate.

 

You ever find out what it was?

 

So I changed the oil again and I haven't heard the sound yet. Not sure what was going on with it, I've used mobil 1 since 2016 and never had issues. I'm going to change it again and send off a sample to see it anything is in it.

 

Had the same noise with 0w20 oil, changed to 5w30 and it's gone.

 

My truck is still under warranty and that was the first question the dealership asked me, then how often I change it, then what type of oil and filter.

 

Wow, he makes my ears hurt.

 

Well, I changed the oil at 2000 miles to see if anything was in the oil, I sent off an oil sample to Blackstone Oil Analysis and they say its good, nothing out of the ordinary. I did find shavings in the oil filter. Now for the crappy news, the noise came back.

The dealership did the oil change and added a "oil fortifier"along with the 0w-20 oil and a Toyota oil filter. I asked them about the oil fortifier and they said it doesn't change the viscosity of the oil. I have seen plenty of people use a higher weight oil to quiet the extra noise, I do believe that is the wrong option as there is something that is causing it. I would think the dealership would avoid doing this, but this is my only theory as to why the noise came back after I did the oil change myself.

It's under warranty for another 77,000 miles or 4 years. I've left it for a total of 3 weeks. Do I let it go until it gets worse? I'm thinking about taking it to Toyota of Cedar Park which is the next closest dealership and where I purchased the truck from. I don't have the assets to waste on a rental until they can figure it out. Guess it will be a waiting game it seems.

 

I say you have the dealer keep trying to figure out what the problem is. If its certified and under warranty, it is their problem.

Also I want to know what the problem is because I am pretty sure that is the same noise my truck makes. 2015 Platinum with just under 51k.

 

"these 5.7 engines are just noisy" is the biggest lie on here. Toyota needs to have a service bulletin about this. everyone go read through my thread and watch the videos I have posted. compare noises accordingly because thats the gospel in my thread.

Timing Chain convince me otherwise. | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

X2 on reading this thread

 

I listened to the video about 7-8 times.

I hear a low grumbling noise and a higher pitched pinging sound. Which one is the concern?

If its the higher pitched sound I've had on more than one occasion on other vehicles have a belt with a chunk missing. As it passes the tensioner or idler pulley it makes a "ding" or "ping" sound.

Removing the belt can rule out or rule in front end accessory drive noise.

The grumbling...not sure. Kinda sounds like normal exhaust sounds.

I don't hear any out of bounds clanking or clattering. I'm on 5th gen 4runner #5 with 4.0 and have a 2019 Tundra. They are all insanely loud at start up and idle when warm.

 

The dealership techs took the belt off and still heard the sound. The looked at the lifters with one of those tiny cameras and nothing seemed unusual. They hooked the truck up to their techstream software and said the truck shows nothing unusual or out of spec. The sound I hear is mor like a rattling /tingling sound which changes when the engine is warming up, and it pauses briefly then starts again.

The thing is when they changed the oil the sound was gone, until I changed the oil (Castrol Edge 0w-20). I called the service manager to see what oil they used and said they used "0w-20 with a fortifier" I've seen and read people using a higher viscosity oil to quite the engine.

I don't think they would do this, but that is what I think they did, because why else would the sound come back the day after the oil change? I added 8 quart (7.9) per the manual.

 

After reading this I am like 95% convinced this is what is happening with my truck. Of course my truck is out of the powertrain warranty (time not mileage). Might try seafoam to see if it will get the tensioner un-stuck.

Thanks @Rebel Tundra Man

 

@Saltyhero13 posted a great video in which some common problems are discussed by a Toyota tech, and he is descriptive of the sounds and symptoms.

it’s worth a watch:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundra-common-problems.86936/#post-2195732

 

I would check for other things in engine bay that may be vibrating in response to engine vibration.

also check skid plates

 

You are very welcome, after listening to your video, I am almost 100% certain that the timing chain tensioner's are your issue. If I could hear it in person for myself I could diagnose it forsure. The mechanic that did the work to mine tried everything that has been listed. They took the belts off and ran the engine the noise was still there. They even took a stethoscope and listened to the timing cover of the truck, this was how the noise got isolated to the driverside front cover of the engine. I can assure you that its not cheap to have this fixed and is more common than "just a noisy engine" than people realize or that Toyota will acknowledge sadly... You may call and check with the warranty company that I have my truck policy under to see if they provide anything that you could purchase before trying to have any work done (obviously don't mention the truck has an issue already) The name is Alpha, should be able to just google search "alpha vehicle warranty"

 

Covered here:

 

Currently debating on how to tackle this issue. I am going to pull the oil fill to see if I can confirm the chain slack/tensioner slack. But does anyone have an idea of what the prolonged effects of not fixing this may be. In my mind excess chain wear is definitely one, but are we talking all the way up to potential loss of timing if the chain gets too slack? Then BOOM goes my engine?

Might have to call up Toyota of America to see if I can negotiate with them. I am under the 60k for powertrain but beyond the 60 months. I am the second owner.

 

I would exhaust all options if possible. It is about $3,000 to have this fixed. Luckily I had the warranty to get mine taken care of.

 

a small timing chain slack can go for many many miles before tearing stuff up.

I drove. 22r motor almost 90k miles before it ate the chain guide and then timing cover.

I had a Saturn that went 115k miles with start up chain rattle. Never got worse and never got better. Sold the car for scrap after it got hit.

ive seen a colleagues 5.7 go 75k before the start up rattle finally got louder and was rattling even on a warmed engine. He did the work himself and there was very little slack and minimal damage on the guide.

in my opinion the timing chain rattle is an annoyance that will eventually need to be taken care of. But it takes a while to get to that point.

some of the issues seen in these is related to sludge and varnish. It may help to have oil changed at higher frequencies for a bit to get that dissolved.

and also make double and triple sure it’s the timing chain rattle and not junk rattling around in door pockets.

I thought I had this only at 12000 miles but it turned out to be a bottle of aleve that would rattle periodically. And typically when I started truck with door open.

 

Thanks for the input! I have made sure it isn't something rattling in the door pockets!

I think I am going to reach out to Toyota to see if they could help me. I know that they are going to have me go to a dealer and have them assess it first, but I am hoping that they will have some leniency.

 

Keep the thread with my videos handy, use every resource you can to show the dealership this is the same issue that you are having because they will do all the simple BS "fixes" that wont do anything to solve your actual problem. I can provide contact proof if needed, Toyota will fight tooth and nail to keep from paying for an issue like this. Like I have stated this is more common than anyone realizes or that Toyota will probably ever admit. It can be a catastrophic issue if something happens to that timing chain as well. My rattle gradually got worse over the 2 years I have had the truck.

 

Yeah through my research I have been finding multiple threads on other forums going back years and years.

I will keep this thread updated as I go through the process to make sure people in the future know what ultimately happens.