2007 Sequoia - After sitting for 4 days the motor sounds like it's going to explode on first start (1 Viewer)

[simspace]

I have owned my 2007 Sequoia since July 2020. I've noticed a disturbing pattern when the car sits unused for 3 or 4 or more days.

When the motor is started for the first time after sitting for 3 or 4 days, the motor clanking sounds are so loud it sounds like the motor is blown.

But within seconds, after the oil has circulated, everything quiets down and sounds normal.

It's as if all the motor oil has leaked down into the crankcase and the motor has dried out after sitting for an extended period of time unused.

This has happened to me twice after returning from a vacation.

I do a high mileage synthetic blend oil change every 5,000 miles. When I drive it the oil pressure is solid. Even with 310,000+ miles this car has zero leaks, does not burn oil, and runs like a champ. I'd drive it cross country in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the MPGs.

Can anyone tell me what is going on? Is there anyway to get some oil to the top-end before attempting to start it?

Thanks!

 

[Jetboy]

Take this with a grain of salt - but the timing chain tensioner is supposed to have a one way ratchet mechanism. It's hydraulically tensioned via oil pressure. But if the catch mechanism fails, the chain would rattle loudly until oil pressure tensions the chain again. So it would be pretty noisy. Bad news - it's a huge pita to replace.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Take this with a grain of salt - but the timing chain tensioner is supposed to have a one way ratchet mechanism. It's hydraulically tensioned via oil pressure. But if the catch mechanism fails, the chain would rattle loudly until oil pressure tensions the chain again. So it would be pretty noisy. Bad news - it's a huge pita to replace.

no chain on the 4.7 it’s a belt.

 

[Jetboy]

no chain on the 4.7 it’s a belt.

Doh. I forget that the Sequoia didn't change generation until MY 08. Timing chain seems very unlikely!

 

[Phlier]

Another thing to consider is the secondary air injection pump. This pump sits underneath the intake manifold, and is responsible for that "Wow, that fan is running fast!" sound immediately after engine start that most owners think is the radiator fan. The secondary air pump runs for about 30 seconds after starting, and when it's starting to go out it can make a real racket! Does the sound go away right at about the 30 second mark after starting? If so, the secondary air injection pump (fan) is worth taking a close look at.

Luckily, it's a pretty easy fix. I *think* you may even be able to delete it, but I'd have to check on that, as my memory isn't what it once was.

 

[nautiquelover]

My 2021 with 43k miles does the same loud noise right at startup and seems to settle down after a couple of seconds. I also believe mine is with the air injection pump and nothing rattling/coming from the motor.

 

[1911garand]

How long has this been happening? Are you running a WIX oil filter or factory Toyota filter?

 

[dnp]

My '05 used to do the same thing, and it'll scare the crap out of you!

After I sold it to a friend (with full knowledge of past occurrences), I think we may have found the solution. He recently noticed an oil leak (which was odd, since 2UZs typically don't leak), and we isolated it to the passenger side vvti solenoid on the front of the passenger head. Since the truck, otherwise, runs perfectly, we're thinking that, if that solenoid were to malfunction at startup, that could cause the noise and poor running until the oil pressure builds up. That almost has to be it, because if the oil pump, for instance, were to leak down after sitting, it would knock without running bad. On the other hand, with the vvti solenoid out of sync, it would cause noise AND run bad.

It hasn't done it again after the solenoid replacement, so only time will tell if that resolved the issue.