Hey there, I have an 03 sequoia I just got, and I was wondering if they have adjustable lifters on the 4.7 V8's, because they kind of tick when its, cold.I was wondering if its like Hondas, where you get them adjusted every 15,000 miles, I have 55,000 on the sequoia? any clue? thanks. Rick
Hey there, I have an 03 sequoia I just got, and I was wondering if they have adjustable lifters on the 4.7 V8's, because they kind of tick when its, cold.I was wondering if its like Hondas, where you get them adjusted every 15,000 miles, I have 55,000 on the sequoia? any clue? thanks. Rick
I'm pretty sure the 2UZ-FE's have hydraulic lifters, so no adjustment is needed.
What you are probably hearing are the injectors or simply valve train noise. I could faintly hear mine, but when I upgraded the braided ground wire from the chassis/cowl to the engine block, I noticed the noice was much more pronounced. I put a more solid 0/1 gauge wire in place of the small braided wire and I'm sure it transmits much more of the valve train noise to the cowl, and consequently, my ears.
I've had several motors with solid lifters in the past and the noise your hearing does sound a lot like solid lifter noise!
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05 Sequoia 4x4 Ltd. Phantom Grey Pearl, Weld 20" wheels on Toyo tires, MagnaFlow cat-back, Amsoil fluids, custom 15" overhead DVD system, Eclipse NAV system w/camera, Sirius tuner. Hybrid Audio Technologies drivers and DLS coaxials, TRU B-2110 and H-1 amps, 13" eD sub, iPod hookup. SilverStar Ultra lamps.
Interesting, I compained about my engine ticking when cold last year, when my truck still had warranty. My dealer told me the noise was normal and my valvetrain was not adjustable.
My engine still ticks when cold, it ticks louder when it is also below freezing outside.
All Toyota / Lexus V8's have adjustable mechanical valve lifters (except the 2007 on up Tundra 5.7 liter V8 & 2006 on up Lexus 4.6 liter V8) and your Scheduled Maintenance Guide calls for an "audible valve clearance inspection" every 60,000 miles.
Three caveats:
1) Fuel injector ticking noise and exhaust manifold leak ticking noise are commonly mistaken for valve lifter ticking noise. So the concerned owner should listen to another 2UZ-FE V8 to see if it makes the same ticking noise when the engine is cold and warm or is quieter.
2) The valve clearances rarely ever get out of adjustment on the Toyota V8's, even after 200,000 miles. And a valve with a too loose clearance will tick when the engine is warm as well as cold.
3) Considerable labor is required to check the valve clearances and alot more to adjust any clearances if necessary (because camshaft removal is required). For these reasons, Toyota advises doing only a no cost (or low cost) audible clearance check every 60,000 miles; i.e. a valve with an overly loose clearance will tick when the engine is warm as well as cold. So if an owner notices a tick only when the engine is cold, it is nothing to worry about as it does not mean the clearance is too loose. However, if the cold engine ticking noise is something new that the owner never heard before, the owner should have the truck checked for a possible exhaust manifold gasket leak.
The owner should also be alert for abnormal engine vibration at idle; i.e. if the V8 engine shakes a bit instead of being buttery smooth, it might mean some valves have developed overly tight clearances (tight valves will be quiet). But again, it is rare for the clearances on the Toyota V8's to ever get out of adjustment unless the engine has been subjected to some kind of trauma like overheating or driving a long time with the engine missing and misfiring due to ignition system problems, etc.
All Toyota / Lexus V8's have adjustable mechanical valve lifters (except the 2007 on up Tundra 5.7 liter V8 & 2006 on up Lexus 4.6 liter V8) and your Scheduled Maintenance Guide calls for an "audible valve clearance inspection" every 60,000 miles.
Three caveats:
1) Fuel injector ticking noise and exhaust manifold leak ticking noise are commonly mistaken for valve lifter ticking noise. So the concerned owner should listen to another 2UZ-FE V8 to see if it makes the same ticking noise when the engine is cold and warm or is quieter.
2) The valve clearances rarely ever get out of adjustment on the Toyota V8's, even after 200,000 miles. And a valve with a too loose clearance will tick when the engine is warm as well as cold.
3) Considerable labor is required to check the valve clearances and alot more to adjust any clearances if necessary (because camshaft removal is required). For these reasons, Toyota advises doing only a no cost (or low cost) audible clearance check every 60,000 miles; i.e. a valve with an overly loose clearance will tick when the engine is warm as well as cold. So if an owner notices a tick only when the engine is cold, it is nothing to worry about as it does not mean the clearance is too loose. However, if the cold engine ticking noise is something new that the owner never heard before, the owner should have the truck checked for a possible exhaust manifold gasket leak.
The owner should also be alert for abnormal engine vibration at idle; i.e. if the V8 engine shakes a bit instead of being buttery smooth, it might mean some valves have developed overly tight clearances (tight valves will be quiet). But again, it is rare for the clearances on the Toyota V8's to ever get out of adjustment unless the engine has been subjected to some kind of trauma like overheating or driving a long time with the engine missing and misfiring due to ignition system problems, etc.
Interesting, my Seq's ticking is louder than last winter during startup and does quiet down when it warms up. If I can determine it's not my injectors, guess I should look at my exhaust manifolds. Any idea where the most common leak locations are or the best way to inspect this?
I recently purchased a used 204 Sequoia with 86,000 miles and am also hearing the same "lifter noise". I brought it back to the Toyota dealership where purchased and the mechanic who worked on it stated on the repair ticket that,"there were no abnormal sounds after start up". And that, "Injectors are sounding off and clicking (normal) and the EVAP purge vacuum switching valve is clicking a few moments after start-up". He ALSO ADDED, " All Toyota V8's exibit" Clatter on cold start-up and it's due to piston design....Most will make some noise cold and gradually go away as it warms up". My engine exibits the same clicking sound not only when cold, but after fully warm as well.... I hear no difference in either side of the V8 valves, sounds the same, warm or cold. Still not convinced that this is normal, especially after seeing the tech bulliten for valve clearence adjuistments for this engine, sure its a big job, possibly a grand or more, maybe thats why the dealership is proned to tell us its normal. Another dead givaway is the manual states that an inspection of the valve clearences are due at 60,000 miles. Another Toyota dealer service center told me that this is a generic service reminder and covers all of the Toyota's in there line. I also went and found another used Toyota from another dealer (2003 Sequoia) and it had the same clicking noise, I heard two different sounds, 1) the injectors sounding, and 2), the lifters tapping. I opened the oil filler cap and stuck my ear near this area and heard the tapping sound (loud) coming from inside the valve cover. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE EVER HAD THEIR TOYOTA V8 VALVES ADJUSTED????????????????????? PLEASE RESPOND
You might be hard pressed to find anyone on the Sequoia or 1stGenTundra forum who has had their valves adjusted because no Toyota V8 (except the 1990-1994 Lexus V8) ever had a reputation for developing loose clearances over time.
That said, one way to confirm whether or not some of the clearances on your particular engine are too loose and ticking without spending a huge amount of money is to have the dealer remove ONE valve cover and CHECK (not adjust) the clearances on one of the two cylinder heads; i.e. check the clearances on 16 of your your engines 32 valves.
It shouldn't take more than about 2 hours worth of labor for a dealer to do that + $30 for a new valve cover gasket).
If indeed the dealer finds some of the clearances are too loose, then a good time to have them adjusted would be when you are due for a timing belt change because the timing belt needs to be removed in order to adjust the clearances (the camshafts have to be removed which requires the timing belt to be removed).
Driving a long time with loose valve clearances won't damage your engine (won't wear down the tip of the valve stem or the valve lifter it contacts) so you shouldn't worry about excessive wear, but engine power and fuel economy will not be optimal if some clearances are too loose.
Wow! thanks for the replies, Mine is ticking at start up when cold, and kind of of has that piston knock like my 2.7 in the 4runner had. When it warms up it goes away, more common in the winter time I guess.It never hurt my Runner, is it the same with V-8's?
I have a 2006 Tundra and I just had my valves adjusted. Before I had them adjusted the engine was making a loud tapping noise. At first thought it was a sticky lifter so I put some cleaner in to help free it up but that didn't work. I took it to the dealer which they found one of the keepers on the valve was out of clearance and had to replace it. So I had it replaced and they said they ran the engine and there was noise coming from the other side to which they checked the clearances and then adjusted the valves.
Upon return of the vehicle they told me what it was and they fixed it. However, from their fix I now have a noise coming from the driver side which is almost as loud as the tapping before. The noise does not go away after the engine is warm. I am a little concerned about what the problem is so anybody out there let me know if you have any fixes????????
I have a 2006 Tundra and I just had my valves adjusted. Before I had them adjusted the engine was making a loud tapping noise. At first thought it was a sticky lifter so I put some cleaner in to help free it up but that didn't work. I took it to the dealer which they found one of the keepers on the valve was out of clearance and had to replace it. So I had it replaced and they said they ran the engine and there was noise coming from the other side to which they checked the clearances and then adjusted the valves.
Upon return of the vehicle they told me what it was and they fixed it. However, from their fix I now have a noise coming from the driver side which is almost as loud as the tapping before. The noise does not go away after the engine is warm. I am a little concerned about what the problem is so anybody out there let me know if you have any fixes????????
Lets "attempt" to rule out that you have a leak in the manifold that is causing the tick...
I would bet the sound you are hearing is a TORN Stearing Boot!
Check the forum for this topic.. I am too lazy to post the link (sorry)
My Seq had a Drivers Side tick that got louder and would not go away after it was warmed up.
Turns out the steering boot was torn.
Its a quick cheap easy fix you can do yourself too...
I was amazed at how much engine noise came into the cabin because of the small hole.
I've heard this before on mine, but when I switched it over to a high quality synthetic oil it drastically made a difference. Much quieter, and smoother idle. I bought my Sequoia with over 90k miles, so it was nice to hear it get quieter after the first oil change with synthetic. Just a thought if you haven't tried it.
No, not a torn steering shaft boot.... I think that would have been ruled out if you heard how loud the tick is. I took it to the stealership and they told me that it is possibly the valves are out of adjustment. Or at least they would have to tear it apart to even start to rule things out....of course at my expense as they look for something. Could it possibly be a bad injector? I know.....pretty positive.... that the sound is coming from the top end and was curious if it could be a possibility.
I just had a thought about the noise. Some people mistake the "Ticking" sound for what can be a bad exhaust manifold. My Sequoia had about 90k miles on it, and I started to notice the ticking from the drivers side. It ended up being a crack in the drivers side manifold, and sounded like a tick. No more noise.
Lifter noise
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