Ticking Sound

[cyclone87]

Hey guys, how common are manifold leaks on the 460? My 2013 has 73k miles and I've noticed a ticking sound that almost sounds like an exhaust leak but I only hear this when my front windows are down at lower speeds and low throttle input (can't tell if happening at higher speeds due to wind drowning out the sound). No ticking sound at idle, in park, etc. I can't hear this with the windows up either. I can try to post a video but the few I've taken aren't very clear.

I changed my oil just prior to hearing this sound with the recommend 0-20W Mobil 1 but am not sure the sound occurred as a result of the oil change since I live in Southern AZ and I've had my windows up all summer. I saw a thread while researching (on FaceBook) that indicated some people have loose spark plugs that were the culprit of this ticking sound. So, being that the GX is newish to me I went ahead and put in some new NGK's but the problem persists. Perhaps its a timing chain related issue or bad fuel injector? I don' have any check engine lights and it seems to drive normally for a heavy pig with 300 HP .

I'm going to pull the front wheels off this weekend to see if I can find any evidence of manifold leaks but thinking I'll take it in for diagnosis at the dealership next week. Any ideas?

 

[re_guderian]

Hey guys, how common are manifold leaks on the 460? My 2013 has 73k miles and I've noticed a ticking sound that almost sounds like an exhaust leak but I only hear this when my front windows are down at lower speeds and low throttle input (can't tell if happening at higher speeds due to wind drowning out the sound). No ticking sound at idle, in park, etc. I can't hear this with the windows up either. I can try to post a video but the few I've taken aren't very clear.

I changed my oil just prior to hearing this sound with the recommend 0-20W Mobil 1 but am not sure the sound occurred as a result of the oil change since I live in Southern AZ and I've had my windows up all summer. I saw a thread while researching (on FaceBook) that indicated some people have loose spark plugs that were the culprit of this ticking sound. So, being that the GX is newish to me I went ahead and put in some new NGK's but the problem persists. Perhaps its a timing chain related issue or bad fuel injector? I don' have any check engine lights and it seems to drive normally for a heavy pig with 300 HP .

I'm going to pull the front wheels off this weekend to see if I can find any evidence of manifold leaks but thinking I'll take it in for diagnosis at the dealership next week. Any ideas?

Hmm, not sure I'm much help, but my 100 series had a manifold leak (they were common on the 100 series) and it was always there at startup, on idle, and would gradually go away as engine/manifold heated up. How RPM dependent is the tick? Strange that it's not there at idle. Gone when warm, or always present?

 

[cyclone87]

Hmm, not sure I'm much help, but my 100 series had a manifold leak (they were common on the 100 series) and it was always there at startup, on idle, and would gradually go away as engine/manifold heated up. How RPM dependent is the tick? Strange that it's not there at idle. Gone when warm, or always present?

I appreciate the reply! Strangely, ticking only occurs after the engine is warmed up. I don’t hear if for a few minutes then it’s pretty pronounced. It’s noticeable from a stop and accelerating up through 25-35 mph. I’m sure it’s consistently there I just can’t tell between the wind, tires, and other traffic. But, anywhere between 1,000-2,500RPM. Maybe I’ll stick my GoPro under the hood.

 

[Acrad]

I have heard manifold leaks are not uncommon on the 2UZ-FE (4.7L) in 470...but TBH... I can't readily recall one on the 1UR-FE (4.6L) in the last few years. I would never say it doesn't happen but I would have to research the issue if that tells you anything. There may be a report or two that I can't remember in the last 5 or so years though.

 

[r2m]

Can you hear the ticking in Park/Neutral at elevated RPM's? Open the hood and have someone modulate the throttle while you listen around the engine bay for the ticking. And does the ticking change speed as you accelerate or slow down?
If you're not hearing anything when in Park/Neutral, than it is one of two things:
It only happens under load, e.g. driving, then it could be engine related.
It's not the engine but something in the drive train, wheels, tires, brakes, etc. when rolling. A pebble in your tire tread??

 

[cyclone87]

I have heard manifold leaks are not uncommon on the 2UZ-FE (4.7L) in 470...but TBH... I can't readily recall one on the 1UR-FE (4.6L) in the last few years. I would never say it doesn't happen but I would have to research the issue if that tells you anything. There may be a report or two that I can't remember in the last 5 or so years though.

Yeah, I didn’t think it was too common since I’ve been doing some searching for a few weeks now and haven’t found much on the 1UR-FE. I recorded a couple videos tonight and will upload a couple clips. I appreciate the help!

 

[cyclone87]

Can you hear the ticking in Park/Neutral at elevated RPM's? Open the hood and have someone modulate the throttle while you listen around the engine bay for the ticking. And does the ticking change speed as you accelerate or slow down?
If you're not hearing anything when in Park/Neutral, than it is one of two things:
It only happens under load, e.g. driving, then it could be engine related.
It's not the engine but something in the drive train, wheels, tires, brakes, etc. when rolling. A pebble in your tire tread??

No sir, no ticking in Park or Neutral. I can get it to tick in Drive while holding the brake though. I have a couple videos that I’ll upload for you guys. The ticking only occurs when the engine is warm, is under load, and under ~1/3rd throttle or so. I can’t hear it after that but that may be due to all the other noises going on . I have a feeling it’s powertrain related. Transmission or otherwise. I know it’s hard telling from someone’s text description online so I appreciate the help!

I need to figure out how to upload these video clips.

 

[cyclone87]

2013 GX460 engine ticking

 

[cyclone87]

Video #2

GoPro is stuck under the GX next to the KDSS cover.

 

[Acrad]

If you weren't aware cats are attached to exhaust manifolds as well on 1UR-FE

 

[djtraks]

2013 GX460 engine ticking

Hi, just wondering if you were able to find out what was causing the ticking noise on your GX. I have the exact same sound coming from mine.

 

[cyclone87]

Hi, just wondering if you were able to find out what was causing the ticking noise on your GX. I have the exact same sound coming from mine.

I was never able to figure it out. I had Lexus look at it and they said it was fine. I noticed that the noise occurs after oil changes but subsides after a couple hundred miles. I’m thinking it’s the valve train and when you drain the engine oil, air obviously gets into the system and needs to work its way out. I’ve gone another 30k miles and have had no issues. I tried 5W-20 oil too thinking the extra weight would remedy the noise but that didn’t help. This was based on what others have done to their Tundras with the 4.6L. Hope that helps and you don’t have something else to sort out!

 

[djtraks]

I was never able to figure it out. I had Lexus look at it and they said it was fine. I noticed that the noise occurs after oil changes but subsides after a couple hundred miles. I’m thinking it’s the valve train and when you drain the engine oil, air obviously gets into the system and needs to work its way out. I’ve gone another 30k miles and have had no issues. I tried 5W-20 oil too thinking the extra weight would remedy the noise but that didn’t help. This was based on what others have done to their Tundras with the 4.6L. Hope that helps and you don’t have something else to sort out!

Thanks for the quick reply.
Yeah it’s weird. Had oil change done less than a month ago so you’re right about that. Took it to Lexus and they’ve had it there almost 2 weeks. They just told me that they have to bring in some special Lexus techs to check it out. At least they have me in a loaner.

I’ll keep you updated with what they tell me.

 

[SensibleFaucet]

Chain-ish Noise At High RPMs

Hey folks, I've tried figuring this out with no luck so far so trying here... New GX owner and I noticed that after the engine is fully warm, I get this rapid light chain noise when I accelerate and get the engine RPMs up particularly under load. It's hard to describe but I took a video where...

forum.ih8mud.com

Does the sound I posted in the thread I started resemble the sound you're hearing? What you're describing (including the engine having to be warm) sounds the same. Lexus also told me the same as you and said I can schedule with a Lexus corporate "master" mechanic.

 

[djtraks]

Update on me taking my gx. Lexus tech told me that they cannot pinpoint exactly what the noise is but it seems to be coming from the drivetrain so they are replacing the entire engine under warranty. Once I get the full report I’ll post it here.

 

[SensibleFaucet]

Wow. What year is your GX?

 

[djtraks]

Wow. What year is your GX?

2018 56k. The ticking sound was exactly like the video posted by one of the users above. After they had the Lexus techs look at it they had to wait for the ok from Lexus to allow the engine to be replaced. I’m really curious to find out what the noise is. It ran perfect and felt good beside the noise.

 

[SensibleFaucet]

Since the conditions you both describe are the same, I'm wondering if your issues/sounds didn't start with how mine sounds right now and develop into that. Are you able to hear what I'm pointed out in my thread in the video I posted?

 

[djtraks]

Well got my gx back. Here’s what was replaced. The bill was almost $18,000!!

 

[r2m]

Well got my gx back. Here’s what was replaced. The bill was almost $18,000!! View attachment 3197203

Wow! A new engine!