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Engine tapping noise

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by BigdaddyII, Feb 27, 2021.

  1. Feb 27, 2021 at 5:05 PM
    #1
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    My engine recently started doing this at idle. Sounds like rapping 2 screw drivers together. The sound is coming from the passenger side but can be heard anywhere around the truck. It will tap for a few seconds then go away for a few seconds and come back almost rhythmically. It’s different than the world famous Tundra knock and clatter that makes it sound like a diesel.

    96,000 miles on it, last oil change done approx 700 miles ago with Castrol Edge 0w20 and a Toyota filter.
     
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  2. Feb 27, 2021 at 6:57 PM
    #2
    TILLY

    TILLY Gently Used Member

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    If you can post a vid, it might help people here try to diagnose the source of the noise. Good luck.
     
  3. Feb 27, 2021 at 7:34 PM
    #3
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    I’ll get one either tomorrow or Monday. It only happens when the engine is at operating temp so it will have to be after driving a bit.
     
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  4. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:38 AM
    #4
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    I tried to get it on video yesterday and this morning, no noise aside from normal to be heard. Apparently posting about it here fixed it.
     
  5. Mar 1, 2021 at 7:29 AM
    #5
    jwatt

    jwatt I heart men

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    A little off topic, but that image is disturbing.
     
  6. Mar 1, 2021 at 12:45 PM
    #6
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    Not fixed. It’s the noise the noise that keeps going away and coming back, like 2 screwdrivers tapping together. It’s coming from the passenger side of the engine.

    https://youtu.be/ntbVd4QHFxQ
     
  7. Mar 1, 2021 at 1:11 PM
    #7
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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  8. Mar 1, 2021 at 1:46 PM
    #8
    Lemoyne40

    Lemoyne40 New Member

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    Yep... I Know that sound very well. My 2012 started at about 180K, but only when the engine was cold.......stopped when warm. My thoughts were the tapping was from the drivers side front. Traded the truck in 2019 with 385K... still tapping!
     
  9. Mar 1, 2021 at 2:08 PM
    #9
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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  10. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:51 PM
    #10
    Tundrafan23

    Tundrafan23 New Member

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    These 5.7s are a little noisy, but they still stay reliable.
     
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  11. Mar 2, 2021 at 8:03 AM
    #11
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    I agree. What has me concerned is that this is a new noise that showed up a few days after I changed the oil last. If it ever quits raining here I will crawl back under there and see if possibly the skid plate or a heat shield or something is rattling. It only occurs when truck is at operating temp and not all the time. Truck has 96,xxx miles on it.
     
  12. Mar 2, 2021 at 8:17 AM
    #12
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Yep, I agree. Technically, Toyota calls it a "hydraulic lash adjuster", since the cam is actuating the rocker arm directly w/o a pushrod. As the clicking noise fades in and out, you can almost see the adjuster rotating in it's bore.

    What oil change interval are you using @BigdaddyII? If you're changing at regular OCI per Toyota recs, or more often, you might try experimenting with a slightly higher viscosity oil. Since the noise occurs at operating temperature, it's possible the total adjuster/bore clearance from 96K miles of wear, plus operating temp expansion, is allowing more slop than 20 weight oil can cushion effectively. In southern Louisiana, I wouldn't hesitate to use 5W30, or 0W30, but you probably will seldom need the 0W for cold weather cranking unless you park outside.
     
  13. Mar 2, 2021 at 8:27 AM
    #13
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    I change at 5,000 miles. I dont see the need for 0w either, even though I do park outside. The coldest it has gotten in my area is 18 degrees and that was only for a handfull of hours. This is the first time I ever hear this noise, it wasnt a gradual thing like the engine would be wearing fast or anything.
     
  14. Mar 2, 2021 at 8:43 AM
    #14
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    At 5K mile intervals, you are exceeding Toyota's recommendations by twice. That says to me this noise is not due to gums and sludge accumulation. You can try the Seafoam, but I doubt it will help this noise. If Seafoam does help, then please, please, report back what brand of oil you are using, so we can all shun it.:rofl:

    No, it's not from fast wear, just the accumulation of normal wear over 96K miles. Clearance for that one "hydraulic lash adjuster" has now reached a tipping point with low vis motor oil in my opinion. You now hearing a "new" noise that most owners won't notice, or shrug off as being from a highly reliable, but noisy engine. Long term, the noise is probably harmless, but if it bothers you, try the 5W30. In SOLA, your engine won't care, or may even be happier in August. :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2021
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  15. Mar 2, 2021 at 9:11 AM
    #15
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    Lol. The dealership had changed the oil until 75,000 or 80,000 miles I forget which, again I brought it in every 5,000 miles until I caught them not changing it one visit then I took over the maintenance. I have been using Castrol Edge 0w20 since then with Toyota filters. By the time I change it next if I hadnt resolved it I will go with a thicker oil. You are correct, down in bayou country, the engine wont know the difference in July and August.
     
  16. Mar 2, 2021 at 9:21 AM
    #16
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    It's been too long since I was down to moss country from some boiled crawfish, etouffee, oysters, hushpuppies etc, etc.. :hungry::hungry::hungry::drool::drool::drool:
     
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  17. Mar 2, 2021 at 9:22 AM
    #17
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    We have all of that lol. You should be due for a visit, come on down!
     
  18. Mar 2, 2021 at 9:23 AM
    #18
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    It's on my Bucket List. :rofl:
     
  19. Apr 28, 2021 at 7:11 AM
    #19
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    Just an update on this and to gather additional suggestions.

    I’m now at 101,700 miles. The noise has become pretty predictable at this point..........whenever the truck is driven 15-20 minutes the noise is present. Since my original post I’ve changed the oil again, changed spark plugs, and drained/ refilled the coolant.

    yesterday when I got home from work I spent some time using the old screwdriver in the ear trick as well as borrowed the little lady’s stethoscope and I found that the noise is not coming from the bottom end, nor is it coming from under the valve cover. It’s very audible through both screwdriver and stethoscope on the fuel rail at the very back of the passenger side by cylinder 8.

    Symptoms of a bad injector don’t exist, at least yet. No CEL, excessive black or white smoke from exhaust, engine runs fine and oil doesn’t smell like gas. Is it even possible for an injector to be that loud? I’m not wanting to take it to the dealer yet just to have them tell me it’s normal.

    Something else interesting is that after a few weeks of being predictable I get to work this morning (1.5 hour drive mostly highway speeds) and the noise is gone.
     
  20. Apr 28, 2021 at 8:33 AM
    #20
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 Busy with projects

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    Might be worth it to pull the valve cover off and give it a good visual inspection, and if it's possible to run it with the valve cover off (not sure what all you have to disconnect to remove the valve cover, so this may not be possible like it was on older engines) you can look for anything abnormal while it's running. Since this happened after you performed an oil change, maybe its a blocked oil passage limiting/not allowing oil to certain parts of the head. Add some seafoam to the oil 500 miles before next oil change to see if it clears any gunk out. Maybe switch oil brands. People have had different results just from swapping brands of oil. Id recommend toyota oil as its high in moly and easily accessible at any toyota dealership. Moly creates lubricating "plates" between metal parts, which reduces wear and should help with the noise. Also great for starting engines because thats when most wear occurs. Just my opinion, but if it were my truck, this is what I would do.
     
  21. Apr 28, 2021 at 9:33 AM
    #21
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    In my original post I know I said it started when I last changed the oil, that may just have been when I noticed it in a drive through, which I rarely visit. I could have typed that a little better.

    With the COP system on these new engines that have the coil going straight through the valve cover I dont know that they could run with the cover removed. As per my update though, this tick is not coming from the valve cover or valve train, so I am chasing another avenue right now. The truck is still under warranty and I will give it a seafoam treatment before its due for another oil change because I already have the seafoam for it. I will try a thicker oil to see if that makes a difference. However this noise cannot be heard through the valve cover when listened to with a stethoscope so due to that and the fact that it doesnt behave like a lifter tick or oil related problem I doubt it will make much difference. I will take it in if all of that fails.
     
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  22. Apr 28, 2021 at 10:55 AM
    #22
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 Busy with projects

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    Ahhhh OK, well I just changed my oil to 5w30 and it got MUCH quieter, I'm in Louisiana as well, and travel all over. I have about 2800 miles on this oil so far (and I just changed it 20 days ago :bananadead:) I'll be doing an oil analysis at 10k.

    Let us know what you find out!:thumbsup:
     
  23. Apr 28, 2021 at 10:55 AM
    #23
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    Timing chain tensioners.
     
  24. Apr 28, 2021 at 11:03 AM
    #24
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    Can you explain a bit? My understanding through my research trying to track this down is that the tensioner that fails is on the drivers side and it would make noise when cold after sitting where the oil can bleed out of the tensioner. I hadn't suspected those because my noise is on the passenger side in the back of then engine unless it can travel that well from the front and only occurs on a hot engine. I am curious of your thoughts on why you mention tensioners.
     
  25. Apr 28, 2021 at 11:34 AM
    #25
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    Majority of tensioners are heard on cold start but a number are heard when hot. Use a mechanics stethoscope and put it on the front driver side of engine where tensioner would be to verify.
     
  26. Apr 28, 2021 at 12:03 PM
    #26
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    I have a mechanics stethoscope on order and will be here Friday. As i said in my update though, I went around with a screwdriver and then with my fiances medical stethoscope and heard nothing from all other areas of concern. The noise I hear is coming from my fuel rail on the passenger side. Now it could be traveling from the tensioner on the passenger side, down the fuel rail to the back but I hear nothing in various areas in the front of the engine. The tick tick tick is loudest through screw driver and stethoscope at very last cylinder in back of the engine. I will further isolate Friday when my mechanics stethoscope that I orders is delivered.
     
  27. Apr 28, 2021 at 12:15 PM
    #27
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    If your fiance is in medical care, her stethoscope is not going to be ideal for machinery. I would order a real mechanics stethoscope from Amazon. A mechanics stethoscope has a long rod stylus that you can place exactly on the spot where you want to listen. (Disregard: Typed before you posted last.)

    https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-52750-...d=1619635803&sprefix=mechanics,aps,232&sr=8-3

    Since you've observed that the noise is NOT coming from under the valve cover, it's not a hydraulic lash adjuster. Since you've observed that the noise seems to be coming from the very back of the passenger-side fuel rail near cylinder #8, it's unlikely to be the chain tensioner. I would put the stethoscope stylus right on the cylinder #8 injector. See if the noise sounds like this 100K mile injector in the video at about 4:30:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5SDGhNUuSo&t=500s

    At 102K miles, you may have excessive clearance in the injector pintle that's causing the noise. Since it's the only one out of the eight, looks like it may have gotten a head start on the clearance.

    And, yes, they'll tell you it's normal if it's not throwing any codes.
     
  28. May 23, 2021 at 6:33 PM
    #28
    TundraLLama

    TundraLLama New Member

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    I just had the same exact thing happen to me recently after an oil change and getting new spark plugs right at 96500 miles. What did it end up being with your truck? I am taking mine back to the shop this week hopefully
     
  29. May 24, 2021 at 6:01 AM
    #29
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII [OP] New Member

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    Still don't know. It went away before I could poke around with the appropriate mechanics stethoscope. I changed the oil again yesterday afternoon and when I got to work this morning it was ticking again lightly. I'm sure Ill have around 2,500 miles to chase it again. I used Toyota oil this time too, so though that may be a fix for some its not looking like a magical elixir for me.

    I'm at a point where I am chasing it for fun now. Its been doing it for over 10,000 miles now and nothing has blown up or gotten worse, I have no metal in my oil pan or filter, I have excellent oil pressure, and listening with a regular stethoscope I cant hear it anywhere around the valve cover. I'm curious as hell to find out what it is, but I don't believe it will ultimately be detrimental to my engine, in my particular case.
     
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  30. May 26, 2021 at 8:31 AM
    #30
    TundraLLama

    TundraLLama New Member

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    Sooooo I brought mine to two mechanics one said throw some Chevron fuel injector cleaner in it and see what happens but doesn’t hear anything noticeably alarming. The other one said everything sounds fine. This could be me on this forum too much. LOL or just the nice weather and having my windows rolled down a bunch. I’ve only had my truck for just over a year and thought I heard something different when I was at a drive-through hearing something bounce off the wall on the driver side.The engine still seems strong as hell no hiccups and other than the crappy gas mileage all is good.
     

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