200 engine loud? (2 Viewers)

[mcgaskins]

I used to have a 100 series that I loved, but I took a break from Cruisers and tried a few other vehicles (currently driving a Macan S). I've seen a couple pretty decent deals on low mile used 2016s recently, so I went to check one out today. It's a long story, but I ended up not driving it but did get a chance to start it and sit in it for a bit. I couldn't help but notice, but the engine at startup and idle was LOUD. Not a good kind of loud, but clattery and not very smooth. Slightly moving the wheel made a very laborious mechanical noise as well which was surprising.

I would be shocked usually, but this the 3rd 200 I've checked out: 2008 that was beat up and had high miles, 2011 LX570 with 80k miles and in great shape, and this 2016 with 7k miles, and they've all had what I consider to be excessively loud engines at idle. My 100 series sounded like a very muffled sewing machine when you could hear it at all, and it was difficult to tell if it was even on from the driver seat!

My question is: being honest, would you consider a loud engine at idle normal for the 200 series? I'm really liking the 2016 refresh, and I'm missing being in a Land Cruiser. I think the new safety and tech is compelling for 2016, however for $70k+ on a 9 year old platform I'd expect it to be dang near flawless and dialed in with no weird noises or quirks. I would also expect it to be a minimum as quiet as the 100, and in my limited experience it doesn't seem to be. I was also surprised to see no lumbar support on the passenger side, no power liftgate, and probably the lamest key fob I've seen in a few years for anything costing more than $20k. There is much to like about it, but if I'm going to spend 6x what I did on my 100 series I want it to feel at least somewhat better in all aspects.

 

[Bardiya]

From my experience of being in 2 different 200 series, they are pretty loud on startup and hot idle
I own a 100 series with an inline 6 and it's quieter at startup and idle.

 

[bjowett]

Yes, the 3UR Series V8 can be a bit raucous.

 

[LukisStyles]

my 200 engine is louder at startup, but only because it's SUPERCHARGED baby......

 

[mooneywa]

I'll agree as well that on startup it is loud(ish), but I would certainly say not excessively so. It is after all 5.7 litres of V-8 muscle. It's definitely going to be louder than the 3.0 V6 in the Macan, but when driving around town it's not obnoxious and on the highway it's a very quiet ride. It's no louder (but more beefy sounding) than my EcoBoost, and maybe a little louder than the 5.3 in a Tahoe. I don't get on mine very often, but when I do it sounds appropriately burly for a large V-8.

I'm sure all of us can probably say "no it's not loud, it sounds great, it's a V-8, etc." but for a vehicle over $70k, you've got to be completely, 100% happy with the purchase.

I look at this vehicle affectionately as lipstick on a pig. Beneath the ventilated seats and info-tainment and radar cruise is a vehicle that carries operators in AFG, UN inspectors in Africa, and hard core ranchers in Australia flawlessly and without concern of ability or reliability. That's really what I spent the money for. If Toyota sold a HZJ79 in the States even for $60k, I'd probably get it for the same reasons I got the 200: ability and reliability. When it comes to fit and finish and amenities for $70k, that Porsche you have or a Cayenne might be the way to go. Towing? Tundra or EcoBoost. I haven't been in a Range Rover, but I'd suspect it's probably pretty opulent (and quiet). Someone on here just bought an Armada and that seems pretty sweet.

Goods and others everywhere you look.

 

[Chocolate]

It's a 5.7L V8.

It's slightly louder than a standard passenger car at idle.

 

[Chocolate]

my 200 engine is louder at startup, but only because it's SUPERCHARGED baby......

Any acceleration videos?

 

[Markuson]

The 5.7 is a MASSIVE engine, with a MASSIVE radiator--able to handle both the frozen Arctic and the Sahara desert--along with all sorts of other over-built pumps and chains and belts and fans that are immediately set in motion whenever it starts up.

All that stuff adds up to noise.

 

[White Stripe]

It's a truck. Ladder frame, solid rear axle, beefy everything. Sure it's got leather seats and sound deadening, but it's still a heavy duty truck so it's going to be a little noisier despite lexus' efforts. Plus that 5.7 has far more electronic gizmos on the motor that make some noise but will help with fuel mileage. If noise is a concern, Lexus makes the 600h, it's very quiet, but it's not a truck, so forget taking it offroad, although I've seen people try

 

[electro992]

I have noticed that my 570's engine is much louder at cold startup compared to my 100. But when warmed up and idling I'd say it is just as quiet if not quieter.

As far as smoothness, the UR engines are just not as smooth as the old UZs. Have noticed the same thing in our Lexus LS460 vs LS430. But the UR's make far more power - tradeoffs.

 

[mcgaskins]

It's a truck. Ladder frame, solid rear axle, beefy everything. Sure it's got leather seats and sound deadening, but it's still a heavy duty truck so it's going to be a little noisier despite lexus' efforts. Plus that 5.7 has far more electronic gizmos on the motor that make some noise but will help with fuel mileage. If noise is a concern, Lexus makes the 600h, it's very quiet, but it's not a truck, so forget taking it offroad, although I've seen people try

I'm very familiar with the specs and what makes it tough. Here's my 100 series that was much, much quieter (one of the best engines ever made IMO) even though it was a large-ish V8 at 4.7 liters. That was so silent and smooth, people outside the vehicle walking by couldn't tell if it was running or not, so it is a marked difference between that and the 200. Also where you have seen someone take an LS offroad?!

I have noticed that my 570's engine is much louder at cold startup compared to my 100. But when warmed up and idling I'd say it is just as quiet if not quieter.

As far as smoothness, the UR engines are just not as smooth as the old UZs. Have noticed the same thing in our Lexus LS460 vs LS430. But the UR's make far more power - tradeoffs.

Thanks for the reply - that's exactly confirming my thoughts. I don't necessarily mind enough to not buy a 200, but I wanted to ensure I wasn't looking at "bad ones". The UZ engine has got to me of the smoothest running and quietest V8s ever made. I absolutely adored that engine, but I wished it has about 150 more horsepower. I can't help but wonder if the next iteration of the LC powerplant will place a higher emphasis on quieting and smoothing the experience, especially on startup.

 

[TeCKis300]

It's a function of the engine size.

Size big makes loud noises.

5.7 liters of displacement at a fast idle (for startup) will be pushing LOTS of air.

Also, consider the size of each piston. Perhaps another way to understand how big the motor is, is to consider only 4 of its cylinders. 4 would displace 2.85 liters. When is the last time you've come across a 4 banger that large in displacement? 2.0 liter 4 cylinders are sweet. Once they get above say 2.4 liters, they get a bit more rough.

Most engine designs converge towards .5 to at most .6 liters of displacement per cylinder. Most 6 cylinders are 3.0 to ~3.6 liters. Our pistons are bigger still @ ~.7 liters per.

The 5.7 is a sweet engine all the same.

 

[Markuson]

OK, I have the ULTIMATE **dumb-guy admission** that will back up comments about being loudest at startup and quieter when warm-up...

Drove to work late one morning...parked on the street with occasional cars passing by.

Pushed the lock button...and walked away.

SEVEN HOURS LATER...I walked back to my 200.
...and noticed an odd noise as I walked toward it.

**I had left it RUNNING...ALL.....DAY!
-Unlocked...with my brand new, $5500 mountain bike (which was thankfully still there).
-Even scarier??? Was parked right on the main walk-home path of a local MIDDLE SCHOOL
...So even with HUNDREDS of knucklehead 12-14 year old boys with with no behavioral restraint walked right by.
Not even the local weirdos touched it.

Felt like an idiot.

So ya... It's definitely noisy at cold start-up...but when warm?

-It put me juuuust this side o' STUPID.

 

[electro992]

Thanks for the reply - that's exactly confirming my thoughts. I don't necessarily mind enough to not buy a 200, but I wanted to ensure I wasn't looking at "bad ones". The UZ engine has got to me of the smoothest running and quietest V8s ever made.

Agree the UZ was an incredible engine. The 4.3L version in our LS430 - even at 160k+ now - remains the smoothest of any car I've driven (except a tesla ). When you start that car you've got to watch the tach to know it started.

As an engineer I am sure the is a tradeoff between power and refinement. With the UR's I suspect Toyota has had to move the needle a little (or a lot) to the "power" side in order to remain competitive. Reliability is another consideration. The URs are using timing chains, which are louder than the timing belt in the UZ. But the chains don't need to be changed every 90k.

What does bother me about the 200 is minor vibration that I get through the steering wheel under acceleration. There was a TSB for this, but my truck was manufactured after the date when a production change was apparently made. Would pay attention for this on your test drives.

All that said, the 100s aren't getting any younger and its hard to ignore a generation's worth of improvements with the rest of the truck, even if the engine did lose a little refinement.

 

[fsung]

I'm no engineer, but I would bet good money on the excessive noise in 5.7 vs 4.7 is because 5.7 uses timing chain vs 4.7's time belt. I would take the longevity and less of maintenance of chain vs belt over a little of excessive startup noise.

 

[Edino]

Agree the UZ was an incredible engine. The 4.3L version in our LS430 - even at 160k+ now - remains the smoothest of any car I've driven (except a tesla ). When you start that car you've got to watch the tach to know it started.

As an engineer I am sure the is a tradeoff between power and refinement. With the UR's I suspect Toyota has had to move the needle a little (or a lot) to the "power" side in order to remain competitive. Reliability is another consideration. The URs are using timing chains, which are louder than the timing belt in the UZ. But the chains don't need to be changed every 90k.

What does bother me about the 200 is minor vibration that I get through the steering wheel under acceleration. There was a TSB for this, but my truck was manufactured after the date when a production change was apparently made. Would pay attention for this on your test drives.

All that said, the 100s aren't getting any younger and its hard to ignore a generation's worth of improvements with the rest of the truck, even if the engine did lose a little refinement.

I have also in my '15 5.7 a minor vibration in the steering wheel under acceleration; it actually feels more like some mechanical roughness / resonance from the engine at about 1500/1700rpm. Before and after the rpm its exceptional smooth. Passengers do not feel it, its for them totally smooth.

Is this the same vibration you feel, and do you have the TSB? It does not bother me, but if it can be fixed, I raise it as an issue next service.

 

[T4Runner]

I've raised my '14 LC's steering column resonance issue with dealer previously. They of course denied the ability to replicate it even though it's been there consistently since new on through to today. I'm not concerned about it, just would be nice if they could eliminate it at this price point...

 

[NLScooby]

It was explained to me that emissions controls changed and the 5.7 seems to meet stricter controls (LEV?) by using an air injection pump and a higher idle at startup. This results in a louder cold startup experience.

 

[Edino]

I've raised my '14 LC's steering column resonance issue with dealer previously. They of course denied the ability to replicate it even though it's been there consistently since new on through to today. I'm not concerned about it, just would be nice if they could eliminate it at this price point...

Agreed, I have the same opinion. For the rest the truck is exceptional smooth and quiet. At start up it needs a little time to settle when it comes to noise, but once it reached operating temp it is very quiet. The part that I like most from my daily experience is the exceptional quality feel, and that its totally free of squeaks and rattles; also the gear change is exceptionally smooth; all together its something I have never experienced before on any of my Ford trucks.

 

[Markuson]

Agreed, I have the same opinion. For the rest the truck is exceptional smooth and quiet. At start up it needs a little time to settle when it comes to noise, but once it reached operating temp it is very quiet. The part that I like most from my daily experience is the exceptional quality feel, and that its totally free of squeaks and rattles; also the gear change is exceptionally smooth; all together its something I have never experienced before on any of my Ford trucks.

I've never run into that vibration on my '08...but I bought it used, and in perfect condition.
So would this most likely mean the original owner had it serviced for this known issue?