Engine Noise - Sounds Like Valves Tapping on Acceleration

[EastonTaco]

Have a Gen 4 TRD Sport for about a month and currently about 2500 miles. Since the beginning I have heard a rattling sound like valves tapping on acceleration. It does not always occur, but it is frequent. I waited until now to allow some time for break-in and I have also tried several fuel brands and octanes with no difference. Have also used Carista to turn off engine sounds. No difference with engine sounds on or off. No problems with power and the truck runs great otherwise, just not a great sound coming from under the hood. Any thoughts from this esteemed group before I go in for service.

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[LincolnSixAlpha]

It's a noisy 4 cylinder engine. I wouldn't worry about it. Few things to consider, 1) Modern engines are noisy, especially fuel injectors, 2)My truck (maybe yours too?) didn't come with any sound insulation on the hood, 3)Toyota doesn't further provide engine noise insulation with an engine cover on this engine like they do in the Lexus/Highlander models that use this very same engine, and 4) your engine is covered by a warranty. In short, just run it like you would any other car. I have just over 10K and the engine has quieted down a little.

 

[Gfenza89]

Toyota engines use direct and port fuel injection (d4s) they are extremely loud and change noises and it switches between modes or uses both. Some models from my understanding have a vacuum pump which is also naturally noisy. Modern motors have a lot going on but with Toyota…..at least you don’t have carbon build up on the back of the intake valves like every other manufacture

 

[HoptownBob]

Mine does that also. I have 4600 miles on it. I have taken it easy up till now. Yesterday I decided it was time to run it hard just a little I floored it a couple times and got it up to 90 mph. Today it didn’t seem to make that noise as much. I’ll see over the next few days.

 

[TacoFreak]

I vote for fuel injectors. The injectors in Toyota engines have always been noisy and this engine has two systems for twice the noise. That is totally normal and you will get used to it.

 

[EastonTaco]

Hi All, thank you so much for your input, I'm not an engine guy so this helps me understand it a bit more. It sounds like something I'll have to get used to. I traded in my 2021 TRD Sport for this truck and otherwise I am very happy with the truck. The few things I did not like about the 2021, mainly the seats, have been addressed with the Gen4. Now spending all my money on mods to make it mine, LOL. This is a great forum, thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[TacoFreak]

@EastonTaco A couple of other points on engine noise. I don't remember if Sports have a hood insulation blanket or not. If not, adding one makes a big difference. I think turning off the fake engine sound and noise cancelling would also make injector noise more noticeable.

 

[bitflogger]

Have a Gen 4 TRD Sport for about a month and currently about 2500 miles. Since the beginning I have heard a rattling sound like valves tapping on acceleration. It does not always occur, but it is frequent. I waited until now to allow some time for break-in and I have also tried several fuel brands and octanes with no difference. Have also used Carista to turn off engine sounds. No difference with engine sounds on or off. No problems with power and the truck runs great otherwise, just not a great sound coming from under the hood. Any thoughts from this esteemed group before I go in for service.

Turn your default active noise cancellation back on? Have a high tune exhaust with lots of sound available to the driver? I say the latter because my wife's modern German engine is mechanically loud just like the Tacoma but exhaust note and low profile tires hide it.

Yesterday I talked to dealer about arranging first service at 5000-6000 miles with time to hopefully get a rattle fixed. The service director said they now have hundreds of this engine sold and they're all similarly loud. He pointed out Toyota's been fantastic about addressing real problems but the noise is just part of the design.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

Toyota engines use direct and port fuel injection (d4s) they are extremely loud and change noises and it switches between modes or uses both. Some models from my understanding have a vacuum pump which is also naturally noisy. Modern motors have a lot going on but with Toyota…..at least you don’t have carbon build up on the back of the intake valves like every other manufacture

That’s a very good point you bring up regarding both the direct and port injection Toyota uses on this engine and carbon build up in rings and intake ports. Often overlooked by those who may not understand I’m all the nonsense (my feelings) around direct injection engines. I, for one, am not a fan of Direct injection engines for this very reason.

 

[ramtour2]

There is a video floating around somewhere where the lead engineer brags about not including an engine cover. I wish the person interviewing him had asked why no hood insulation. It’s a cheap move by Toyota to save a few bucks. I got a survey request from Toyota and among the questions was what is my biggest complaint. I put engine noise from no engine cover and no hood insulation.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

That makes two of us. I thought that the hood insulation was a cop out, and yes I'd also like an engine cover too. All to save a few cents on manufacturing costs, and increase revenue. I think that they want $400 bucks for the hood insulation, that's highway robbery.

 

[TacoFreak]

Yeah - the hood insulation is way too expensive and should have been on every trim. It is common on most quality cars/trucks so I don't think it is a cop out, but just Toyota cutting costs without regard for vehicle quality. It would do a lot more to stop the noise than a plastic engine cover could IMO.

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