LX570 engine noise while idling

[ethansun]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently noticed a strange noise coming from the engine of my 2020 LX570 while it’s idling. I’ve done quite a bit of research and checked out various posts and videos about the timing chain tensioner issue, but the sound in my case seems different from what’s typically described.

The vehicle only has about 33K miles on it, so I’m hoping it’s nothing major. I’ve uploaded a video to YouTube so you can hear it for yourselves.

Has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what it could be?



Thanks in advance for any insights!

 

[Zjohnsonua]

I've heard this on several 3URs. Even put one on the rack to try and pin the noise down. Found nothing definitive. Seems to be more present on a cold start, but it goes away after several minutes.

 

[ethansun]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That seems pretty typical for this engine. I just compared it to my naturally aspirated 6.3L GM truck, and it makes a similar noise while idling.

 

[Artie]

What’s it sound like from the outside? Is it more prevalent on one side versus another? I’d listen around the fender wells where you have a clear shot at the heads.

Mine is a 2021 with 35k miles and is rather loud on a cold start. I don’t drive it often enough to have the noise become unnoticeable so after a few days of drying my hybrid minivan around I jump in the cruiser and I’m triggered by the clicking and what not.

Years of driving crappy cars requiring tool boxes as permanent passengers has been a really hard mindset to grow out of, even after a couple decades.

All that to say that your noise is definitely rhythmic so it makes sense that it’s tied to the rotating assembly or timing mechanism. I’ve had cars where the cam driven high pressure fuel pump is rather noisy on cold starts.

 

[ethansun]

Totally agree. I just uploaded another video that captures the sound from the fender area — you can clearly hear the clicking in the background.:

 

[Cruzer_89]

 

[bloc]

Since whoever put that video together seems to want to force views by blurring the specific part causing the problem: it’s the driver’s side timing chain tensioner.

A video with more credibility on the topic, start near 16:00 or so:

 

[airdzi]

Before you take your engine apart+ - test with all accessories off, start with easy stuff, idler pulley; tensioner, new belt, check the covers on the catalytic converters and if they are not super tight put large stainless hose clamps on them and squeeze Make sure all heat shields are super tight.

 

[grinchy]

Isn’t your engine under warranty still?

 

[ElJayBird]

Driver-side tensioner pulley - it’s fairly common and not cheap to fix. It should go away as the truck warms to operating temperature. It won’t harm anything - I drove mine for about 50k miles with the issue, had Toyota check everything, they confirmed it’s fine. But it bothered me, so at 150k miles, I had them tear everything down and replace the chain, pulley’s, pretty much the entire cooling system, a bunch of other stuff. IIRC, the tensioner pulley part of the bill was about $2k

Edit to add that I now change my oil every 6 months or 5k miles like clockwork, and I use seafoam every other oil change. I also run 5w-30 full synthetic.