4.7L engine ticking, normal? (2000 Tundra)

[spedhere]

I have an '00 SR5 TRD w/ 57k on it that ticks a little like it has an exhaust leak. It does it when accelerating hard, under load, or cold (for about 10 sec). The engine is strong, idles well and gives no other signs of premature wear. It does not do it for ordinary speed changes or maintaining 80mph on the interstate. The oil looks clean after 3k miles so I'm not thinking blockage or sludge. The vehicle is new to me - and so is a Toyota product. Do these trucks normally have loud injectors and/or valve trains or am I dealing with a potential "issue" here?

I ask because I have a late model BMW that sounds like a sewing machine with the plastic engine covers off and that has run that way for 280k. The Toy has no covers... could just be me?

[dyogim]

If it's more of a tapping sound, it could be coming from the ground wire located in the engine bay, at the top of the fire wall. Relocate the ground and the tapping could go away. Or it could be from piston slap. If it sounds more of an air leak, it could be from a cracked exhaust manifold. Which has happened to quite a few members, including myself.

[RockyMtnRay]

Even if there is nothing wrong (cracked manifolds are the usual problem), this engine ticks because:

(1) It has a cam over bucket/shim type valve drivetrain (almost identical to that in most DOHC motorcycle engines) with no traditional lifters, rockers, or hydraulic devices in the valve train. With 32 valves, the valve system clicks and clatters like a sewing machine when the engine is cold because of the excessive clearance between the parts. Warmed up, the excessive clearance mostly goes away and the valve train gets quieter but it still ticks on most Tundras.

(2) The fuel injectors are solenoid controlled and also clatter. Injector clatter does not go away as the engine warms.

A pretty good number (maybe half, a third ?) of these engines do develop piston slap which can be a pretty loud diesel-engine type clatter when the engine is cold but AFAIK always goes away after 3 to 5 minutes of running. I've yet to hear of anyone who has had actual engine damage from the piston slap however.

Hope this helps

[KLS]

Find a piece of rubber hose, maybe 3/8" or 1/2" or whatever, about 2-3 feet long. With the engine running and maybe in gear with the parking brake on, put one end of the hose at your ear and the other end of the hose safely around parts of the manifold heat shield. You'll clearly hear an exhaust leak if one is there.

The manifold is welded stainless steel tubing. The usual spot for a leak is a cracked weld at the flange the meets the gasket at the head. If this is the case, you might ask a welding shop (not a muffler shop) if they can TIG weld the crack for you. If so, it'll cost much less than a new manifold or headers.


Ken

[rednecknate]

I currently own 3 ... 4.7s my wifes 4.7 02 sequioa has valve train noisesand a little piston slap when very cold with 140 k on it has done it since new... My 04 Double cab only 40k miles sound like the pistons are gonna break in half when its cold till it warms up.. and my 00 tundra with 132k on it is basically quiet... Go figure... the 04 double cab does concern me sometimes but i have heard of guys with 300k on them with slap ... so Screw it ill run it till she blows..................

The 00 is rolled so its donating its entire drivtrain to my 86 toyota 4 runner.. woot woot..

I would say i have owned over 25 toyota trucks,tacomas 4 runners etc.. and i think they all have different sound and noises.. and as much as i hate to admit it i had a 91 toyota 3.0 v6 with 300k miles on it that would walk all over most any 3.4 truck ive ever driven... thing hauled ***...so what im getting at is.. unless it stops moving id keep driving it!!!!!

[vansrv8er]

I noticed the original question was in 2005 so sorry for the delay, this forum is a little new to me. I have an 01 tundra I pull a 20 foot ski boat and a pop up camper in the bed. The boat is about 4000 lbs and the camper weighs about 1500 lbs empty.
I notice the same sound you describe when my Tundra is cold. The sound lasts until the engine is up to normal operating temp, maybe 5 minutes or so. I also noticed the sound comes back when decelerating down the canyon and especially when decelerating when towing. I recently had a Magnaflow put on and the installer told me it was a cracked manifold. He told me not to worry about it unless I just couldnt live with the sound. By the way, after putting this Magnaflow on I realized im not 20 anymore. Long trips give me a headache!
If anybody has a simple fix please let me know

[derone]

Check the steering shaft seal that sits vertically on the firewall from underneath the truck with a flashlight. They tear easily after ~60k miles and tend to amplify the ticking from the left exhaust manifold into the cabin. It's only ~$10 and they is a writeup in this site on the how-to. It'll make the cabin as quiet as day one.

[Peewee1291]

Its just your fuel injectors. I have the same truck. Its nothing to worry about dude.