New engine sounds (damn....)

[BRob2756]

In the first few weeks of owning the LX, I have been busy servicing all fluids. Oil, tranny, brakes, differentials, transfer case - all drained and filled. Aside from small oil leak, truck was running like a dream.

Saturday, I was getting ready for my kids birthday party and running all over town. My dad and I drove the truck about a mile from the park to my house after the truck was warm from driving all day. Upon starting, we both thought the engine sounded like it was faintly knocking.

Shut it down and waits til today to get after it. Checked all fluids and all looked good. Started it up - usual chatter from a Toyota engine, nothing different than it had been. I thought the knock had disappeared or that we were mistaken.

Drive about 25 miles today and knock started again. Only when hot - it sounds like you are standing next to a diesel truck. Not overly loud but noticable. Sound speeds up with rpms but seems to disappear around 1500 - 2000 rpm. Sound is definitely coming from passenger side, bottom of motor.

I hav e a video but youtube and vimeo are taking their sweet time to upload. I will post when uploaded. I really hope this isn't what i think it is. Any help or ideas are much appreciated. Thanks!

Rob

 

[blkprj80]

What oil did you use in the engine?
What filter?

 

[BRob2756]

Video links:

 

[BRob2756]

Used Purolator filter. Oil was 5W30 before change, I went 10W40 due to leaks

 

[BILT4ME]

Sorry, I'm not hearing the knock. What I could interpret as a knock sounds more like an exhaust leak to me. Have you used a mechanics stethoscope or a long screwdriver to the ear to listen for an actual knock?

Do you know the history of the engine? Has it had the HG or oil pump seals recently replaced? It could be that the crank bolt did not get torqued correctly (305 Ft-Lb) and the oil pump is not spinning enough, thus starving your engine of oil, hence the knock. What does your oil pressure gauge indicate?

 

[BRob2756]

Sorry, I'm not hearing the knock. What I could interpret as a knock sounds more like an exhaust leak to me. Have you used a mechanics stethoscope or a long screwdriver to the ear to listen for an actual knock?

Do you know the history of the engine? Has it had the HG or oil pump seals recently replaced? It could be that the crank bolt did not get torqued correctly (305 Ft-Lb) and the oil pump is not spinning enough, thus starving your engine of oil, hence the knock. What does your oil pressure gauge indicate?

Bilt, thanks for response. What I am calling a knock is the 'diesel' sound the engine is making. Sounds like I am calling it the wrong thing - relief!

This would make sense that it is more pronounced on the passenger side and only comes when warm - correct? Thanks!

Rob

 

[BILT4ME]

That's kind of how mine started out when the Y pipe started cracking by the RF wheel. Make sure your oil pressure is good! If you're concerned about a knock, get a mechanic's stethoscope from HF for about $15 and touch it to various surfaces while running to hear the "heartbeat" of the engine and other moving parts (not actually on the MOVING part).

Sometimes you can use your hand to "shield" the noise and isolate where it's coming from by moving your hand around in front of you to block certain areas, then as you narrow it down, you can identify an exhaust leak, a pulley, a belt or whatever noise it is you are hearing.

 

[ppc]

One possibility is that the starter is staying engaged. The contacts and plunger in the starter get worn and can get hung up after releasing the key. Do you have any issues with the starter clicking when you try to start? If you think that this might be the problem you can bang the outside of the starter with a hammer to try to dislodge the contacts. New contacts and plunger or an OEM rebuilt starter are the solutions if that is what is happening.

 

[BRob2756]

Wild day today. I feel more and more confident that it is an exhaust issue. I'll start from the top.

Came home today and found that one of my dogs had gotten into a bag of chocolate. Stupid, stupid mistake - inexcusable on my part. We are currently at the vet and they think he is ok. Fingers crossed.

Anyhow, once I realize what happened I went into papa bear mode. It was 5pm in Atlanta traffic and I had to get my little buddy to the emergency vet. Clinic was 6 miles as the crow flies but 30+ minutes in Atlanta traffic.

No time for the car, I need my tank. Fire up the LX, issues be damned. I needed my 'don't fxxx with me' vehicle to stick into traffic, hop curbs, etc.

Contrary to your beliefs on Atlanta drivers, I usually drive like a grandma. 2500 RPMs is like a redline to me. I bring this up because today was different, the skinny peddle was used liberally.

In my driving today, I noticed the high pitched whistle of an exhaust leak. I either never noticed before or never drove it hard enough to whistle but today it was evident.

I tell this story to dovetail with my earlier videos. Due to the whistle and 'diesel' noise, I feel like my issues are exhaust related. Feel free to correct me if you disagree.

Thanks for all help. If it's your thing, please say a prayer for my puppy dog.

Rob

 

[rc51kid]

I hope that it is not the bottom end. Ehxhaust would be much better. But like other have said keep a eye on your oil pressure and temp gauge. One of the only weaknesses of these engines is the head gasket. Overheating is s sure way to stress the HG. One bad thing is that the factory temp gauge and oil gauge are notoriously inaccurate or wrong. Search it and you will read all about it. I strongly recommend fixing the factory temp gauge or adding a digital temp gauge. With your truck i think you can add a Scan Gauge(?) which will give you a real engine temp.

The other thing is i also strongly recommend Toyota oil filters. I actually i use OEM Toyota parts for EVERYTHING on the truck. The only exception is fluids. You can call/PM/email Beno who is local to us in Atlanta. 25% discount and free shipping to your door. Also he is a absolute wealth of knowledge about the 80 and other land cruisers. So when you tell him i want to replace "XYZ" on the truck he will also know if you need extra gaskets, clips, springs or whatever to do the job.

Sam is also here in Atlanta (Morrow Toyota) and i have been buying from him for the last year. I cant say enough good things about the man. He is both knowledgeable and a great guy. He still offers the discount to us also but he has taken a new position and is really busy. I started buying from Beno so i wasn't bothering Sam. But both are excellent. I cant see any reason to buy from anyone else.

Best of luck with you pup. I have three of them in my house and they are my children!

 

[LFD2037]

Almost all of these make that 'high pitched whistle'.

 

[BRob2756]

I hope that it is not the bottom end. Ehxhaust would be much better. But like other have said keep a eye on your oil pressure and temp gauge. One of the only weaknesses of these engines is the head gasket. Overheating is s sure way to stress the HG. One bad thing is that the factory temp gauge and oil gauge are notoriously inaccurate or wrong. Search it and you will read all about it. I strongly recommend fixing the factory temp gauge or adding a digital temp gauge. With your truck i think you can add a Scan Gauge(?) which will give you a real engine temp.

The other thing is i also strongly recommend Toyota oil filters. I actually i use OEM Toyota parts for EVERYTHING on the truck. The only exception is fluids. You can call/PM/email Beno who is local to us in Atlanta. 25% discount and free shipping to your door. Also he is a absolute wealth of knowledge about the 80 and other land cruisers. So when you tell him i want to replace "XYZ" on the truck he will also know if you need extra gaskets, clips, springs or whatever to do the job.

Sam is also here in Atlanta (Morrow Toyota) and i have been buying from him for the last year. I cant say enough good things about the man. He is both knowledgeable and a great guy. He still offers the discount to us also but he has taken a new position and is really busy. I started buying from Beno so i wasn't bothering Sam. But both are excellent. I cant see any reason to buy from anyone else.

Best of luck with you pup. I have three of them in my house and they are my children!

Thanks Dana. Appreciate the kinds words.

Taking the truck to have a fresh set of ears listen on Thursday - I'll report back. Is the Purolator filter poor enough to take off now? Should I remove after 400 miles and stick on a Toyota OEM? Or just use next time?

Pup is home from the vet, doing well so far!

Rob

 

[rc51kid]

no i dont think i so. I am not really a parts snob. But the OEM stuff becomes affordable with the discount and it just feels so good to use.

 

[Eicca]

Definitely give it a prod with a stethoscope, just in case; I could hear the noise you were talking about in the video. Hard to pick out with the cell phone quality, but I could hear it.

 

[Proven]

I don't mean to say you don't have something you need to look into, but those videos don't sound too far off of what mine sounds like. Especially the second one.

 

[scottryana]

Glad to hear the dog is doing OK! glad the cruiser was there to make sure you made it. Now get both of them fixed up!

 

[BRob2756]

Thanks for the messages, appreciate the support.
Great news on both fronts. My dog is fine - he is happy and healthy. Luckily, I have been around dogs my whole life and knew the peroxide trick. I got him to throw up before heading to vet. Once at vet, they gave him charcoal to absorb any remaining chocolate and sent him home for monitoring. Almost 48 hours later, happy to say he is doing fine!
On the truck side, got good news as well. I could not isolate knock and had a fresh set of ears take a look. They drove it, scoped it all over engine and pullys and determined it was exhaust related. Heat sheild rattling and a slight leak at the Y pipe. I feel much, much better. Thanks for all responses and advice!
-Rob