Constant ticking noise from both sides of engine. Seems to be in the head area. 2015 5.7

I have a 2015 Tundra Limited Crewmax. 5.7ltr 137,500 miles(highway). Have a constant ticking noise from both sides of the engine in the head area. Louder on the left. No check engine light. Have been tracking this issue with the local Toyota dealer since 120,000 miles. Recent ticket opened with Toyota Corporate and they state they have never heard of this issue and there is nothing they can do short of tearing the engine down to find out the issue. Which they won’t do. So it kills my trade in or private sale value. I’ll be on my way to talk with the service manager and head mechanic. Anyone else have or hear of this issue? I have an impeccable service record with this vehicle.

 

Sounds like either cam or lifter issue. About the only thing you can do outside the engine tear down is check the oil when changed very carefully. If there's metal particles then it can be very bad, if there's nothing then you just have to ride it out and monitor if it gets worse.

Out of curiosity did it do a lot of short drives where the engine barely gets up to temperature with synthetic oil?

 

Have you tried 5w-30? I’m at 54k and will be switching to 5w-30 at my next oil change. It’s supposed to quiet the engine down a bit.

 

No short drives. Temperature is always good. I will ask about the viscosity of the oil as well. I’ll respond after my talk with Toyota. Thank you!

 

Had more of an intermittent knock from pass side upper motor area. Tore down under my extended warranty and found a cracked exhaust valve spring. All 16 ex valve springs replaced, have yet to hear anything since (been a few thousand miles).

Fwiw, the 5.7 is rather notorious for ticking noises.

 

This would be the area I'd be focusing on too since you had good temps. I've seen numerous reports of synthetic not getting warm enough and eventually crystalizes in the wrong spots and causes lack of lubrication, which can lead to cam wearing, but I doubt it's that. A thicker oil could help get between the lifters and cam/valve and reduce it a little, but this could also hide your issue if it is indeed a cracked valve spring. For peace of mind you'd have to open up the top end. If you took a video with the engine going up and down in revs it would help, but it's so hard to diagnose without getting your ear right in the engine bay.

 

Had a talk this afternoon with the head mechanic. He noticed an issue with the water pump. We put a probe to the thermostat then the water pump and we could hear the knocking. He disengaged the serpentine belt and the noise seemed to lesson if not go away. He said the noise was the normal low tick of the 5.7. I will change the water pump and thermostat at the employee price for parts and labor. (I do not work for Toyota)If the noise continues, I will look at the cracked exhaust valve springs. Thank you for all your responses and I will post the results of this third attempt at fixing this issue.