Engine rattle investigation

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One angle I didn't include.

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Amazing, this is GOLD. Thank you for posting this @clx16. I was investigating this exact same noise yesterday morning; that kind of irregular, clackety rattle when the engine was cold. Using my stethoscope I was hearing the noise loudest on the timing cover just above the timing marks; I'm sure if moved a little to the right (at the top of the oil pump cover) it would be even louder. You've saved me a lot of time here. Thank you!
Any chance you've been able to put the stethoscope on the oil pump cover and confirm your suspicions? Just wondering how stupid I was for not getting even that narrowed down with the stethoscope when I was failing to hear it.
 
@clx16 - I just bought a '93 LC with 395K from a buddy and much of the time (when started) it knocks like the video in your original post - just a faint 'tap' every now and then of something loose. About 1 time in 10 that you start it, it clatters with an ungodly death rattle - a continuous clatter that makes your blood run cold. It's not rod or main knock, and oil pressure is good. It's not an accessory drive noise, AFAIK.

It hasn't done this death rattle for long, and I drove it home (5 miles) to my house this way, and it quieted down eventually during the drive. Your post here is the only one that gives me an idea of where to start with a stethoscope. I now turn on my phone video every time I start the truck, hoping to catch this continuous clatter.

I will update this thread as I go, and my first step (after a serious power washing) is to pull the valve cover and look down at the timing chain guides and see if they are part/all of the issue. After that, I'll put a stethoscope on the oil pump (if i can get to it) and see if that is the source of the clatter.
 
@clx16 - I just bought a '93 LC with 395K from a buddy and much of the time (when started) it knocks like the video in your original post - just a faint 'tap' every now and then of something loose. About 1 time in 10 that you start it, it clatters with an ungodly death rattle - a continuous clatter that makes your blood run cold. It's not rod or main knock, and oil pressure is good. It's not an accessory drive noise, AFAIK.

It hasn't done this death rattle for long, and I drove it home (5 miles) to my house this way, and it quieted down eventually during the drive. Your post here is the only one that gives me an idea of where to start with a stethoscope. I now turn on my phone video every time I start the truck, hoping to catch this continuous clatter.

I will update this thread as I go, and my first step (after a serious power washing) is to pull the valve cover and look down at the timing chain guides and see if they are part/all of the issue. After that, I'll put a stethoscope on the oil pump (if i can get to it) and see if that is the source of the clatter.
If it does seem to come from the oil pump. I recommend you replace the impeller as well as the cover and 0-ring at the same time. Not expensive if you are ordering from partsouq and you likely have to fix that leak anyway on the front. You'll have to crank pulley off so order the front crank seal too.
 
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Sounds like good advice - I expect to see wear just about everywhere I look.

I have a '57 Ford project to finish up and a '97 Jeep Chimporee to sell, and then the '93 will be queued up. I'm excited to have a starting point (the oil pump with a stethoscope), which I didn't have up to now. I will reply back to this thread.
 
Some promised follow-up:

The alternator bearings were shot on this truck and made a horrid racket (louder than all other engine sounds) ever since I bought it. Since I replaced the alternator with OEM reman, the engine is nearly silent, I have started the truck perhaps 40-50 times, and it's silent at startup, as well. I also changed the oil and used a thinner oil (10w-30 synth) vs. what was in there, but I used a genuine Toyota filter.

I also replaced the valve cover gasket and the timing chain was tight and guides showed moderate wear. Cams look like new, and cylinder bores were great. So, I don't see any smoking guns in the engine. Pix here: Build: Another green 80 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/build-another-green-80.1341738/

So, I have never heard this clatter again, or any typical 'oil hasn't quite hit the bearings yet' sound. I don't know what my clatter was, but it seems gone. I will update this thread if not.
 
@clx16 :
Thank you for posting this video!

I was on here today to do a quick search, not expecting to actually find a video describing my current noises.

My 96 LC with 387K on it has started making the same noise as yours for the past few months.
I finally got a good recording of it.
I placed a stethoscope on the AC, Water Pump, alternator, valve cover, other few placed and had not been able to find anything.

I was thinking idler pulley, but the AC idler is only about 6 months old, the alternator one is a couple years old, belts are about 6 months old.
I replaced the fan a couple years ago and had added oil to the fan clutch, so I started thinking maybe it was the blades on the fan may have cracked. It only makes noise for about 1 minute on first cold start up of the day.

I will now slide under it on first start with the stethoscope and see if it is loudest at the oil pump housing.

Right now, mine sounds exactly like yours.

I will post a video of mine when I get it uploaded.

 
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Yours does sound similar however yours is not as loud as mine eventually got. Mine was getting extremely loud but it might be a difference of oil weight and temp. I could hear mind very well at 100 feet away.

I do worry that the brass bushing in the pump maybe damaged but fortunately just replacing the impeller seems to have quieted everything down.
 
@clx16 :
Thank you for posting this video!

I was on here today to do a quick search, not expecting to actually find a video describing my current noises.

My 96 LC with 387K on it has started making the same noise as yours for the past few months.
I finally got a good recording of it.
I placed a stethoscope on the AC, Water Pump, alternator, valve cover, other few placed and had not been able to find anything.

I was thinking idler pulley, but the AC idler is only about 6 months old, the alternator one is a couple years old, belts are about 6 months old.
I replaced the fan a couple years ago and had added oil to the fan clutch, so I started thinking maybe it was the blades on the fan may have cracked. It only makes noise for about 1 minute on first cold start up of the day.

I will now slide under it on first start with the stethoscope and see if it is loudest at the oil pump housing.

Right now, mine sounds exactly like yours.

I will post a video of mine when I get it uploaded.


Start with belt dressing of some sort on the belts. (I've used wd-40 for that, but supposedly that's not a good idea...) The belts on these rigs can make a LOT of funny noises, especially if not OEM.
 
I don't have any documentation to say it was replaced by the previous owner so it is my assumption it is the original. There were lots of records that came with the vehicle but it seems like it has very little issues. there was a wheel bearing replaced, windshield and looks like the guy was honest about it having the headgasket done based on the evidence of the head being cleaned at some point and still being very clean.

It is possible they did pull the timing cover etc, I just don't know.

I should have inspected the inner splines of the gear while i had it apart, if I were to do a timing chain job, i would just replace that gear and do the oil pump rotor too while i was at it.
Wow. Just happened to read this post and realised that your (excellent) video has captured perfectly what is almost certainly my occasional erratic clacketty noise that I have been trying to track down for a while. Sounds identical. Trouble is, here in Perth Australia it is not often cold enough for it to show up. Oil pump rotors and new cover now replaced.... roll on winter to check it out! Great thread. Thanks @clx16 !
 
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