2015 Camry - loud noise at cold start

[dcd]

I've noticed for some time now that my wife's 2015 Camry with 22k miles makes a louder than expected valve train type noise at startup when it's been sitting awhile. Before today it's only been for a few seconds and not extremely loud, but very obvious. But today, it was very loud and lasted about 30 seconds or so after sitting in the garage a couple of weeks. I don't believe this would be considered normal?

A quick google search in the past showed a lot of people complaining of piston slap issues, so I had just assumed that's what it was. But the videos posted of piston slap seem very subtle and lasts longer than what I've experienced. It seems there were some issues related to VVT that show up in older, higher mileage 2.5L motors that would cause too much oil to drain to the pan. Maybe that's what's happening?

I plan to take it to the dealership tomorrow. Unfortunately it's out of the factory 36 mo warranty window, but I'm hoping there is a 60 mo powertrain warranty that will still cover it, whatever it is. Wish me luck!

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by dcd
I've noticed for some time now that my wife's 2015 Camry with 22k miles makes a louder than expected valve train type noise at startup when it's been sitting awhile. Before today it's only been for a few seconds and not extremely loud, but very obvious. But today, it was very loud and lasted about 30 seconds or so after sitting in the garage a couple of weeks. I don't believe this would be considered normal?

A quick google search in the past showed a lot of people complaining of piston slap issues, so I had just assumed that's what it was. But the videos posted of piston slap seem very subtle and lasts longer than what I've experienced. It seems there were some issues related to VVT that show up in older, higher mileage 2.5L motors that would cause too much oil to drain to the pan. Maybe that's what's happening?

I plan to take it to the dealership tomorrow. Unfortunately it's out of the factory 36 mo warranty window, but I'm hoping there is a 60 mo powertrain warranty that will still cover it, whatever it is. Wish me luck!


What kind of oil is inside?

 

[tomcat27]

Valvetrain noise should not last more than a few seconds after startup

 

[dcd]

Originally Posted by edyvw

What kind of oil is inside?


All oil changes have been at 5k at the dealer under ToyotaCare. Should be Toyota 0W-20 unless Toyota allows them to use something else.

 

[dcd]

Originally Posted by tomcat27
Valvetrain noise should not last more than a few seconds after startup


That's what concerns me. I don't know a lot about engine noises, but there's no way what I heard was normal.

 

[Panos]

Piston slap sound should not dissapear after only 30seconds.Nothing metallic expands thermally after only 30 seconds.It seems like lack of initial lubrication.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by dcd
Originally Posted by edyvw

What kind of oil is inside?


All oil changes have been at 5k at the dealer under ToyotaCare. Should be Toyota 0W-20 unless Toyota allows them to use something else.

Toyota here close to me uses Valvoline. I was there two days ago to install factory block heater and saw it. My question, maybe it is mineral oil and not synthetic. I think changing oil and making sure it is full synthetic is first and cheapest step to figure out what is it.
I would pick any full synthetic and check it out whether it makes difference.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by tomcat27
Valvetrain noise should not last more than a few seconds after startup

Man, I used Castrol 5W40 in 2005 VW Passat. After 4k that oil would make such valvetrain noise at start that I thought my chain tensioner was going bad. I switched to Castrol 0W30 and sometimes Mobil1 0W40, and never had that noise far pass 4k (though M1 was generally "loud" oil).

 

[diyjake]

I hope they get it figured out for you, interesting to see what they say.

 

[tcp71]

Our 3.3 sienna has done that since day one. High idle at cold start is somewhere around 1600rpm and it always sounds like a bit of valve float at startup for 5 to 30 seconds. My folk's 3.3 Toyota did the same. Oil or filter didn't make any difference. 140k miles on it without issue.

 

[BearZDefect]

The Toyota 3.3 (3MZ) doesn't even have a timing chain, so what is that Sienna noise?

The 2015 Camry does have a timing chain, but as already written, unless something is wrong that sound should stop in a few seconds.

Although ToyotaCare has you take in the vehicle every 5k miles, they only change the oil twice - every 10k miles.

This is an engine issue, so it should be covered by the 5 year / 60k mile powertrain warranty.

Good luck, I hope the dealer doesn't just say that everything is normal.

 

[dcd]

Originally Posted by BearZDefect

Although ToyotaCare has you take in the vehicle every 5k miles, they only change the oil twice - every 10k miles.

Good luck, I hope the dealer doesn't just say that everything is normal.


When it was under ToyotaCare the miles were so low that it was changed every 5k due to time lapsing. Thereafter I paid the dealership every 5k.

Glad it is still under warranty, but this is going to be a frustrating problem to diagnose. When I started it this morning it seemed relatively normal, but what I heard yesterday was not, even if it was sitting for 2 weeks. I definitely need to get it documented before warranty goes out , but don't want to go through all the trouble just for them to say there's nothing there. I may park it for a week or two to get it on camera before taking in. Even then they would need to park it a week or two to replicate the situation. Seems ridiculous I know, but how else to get it resolved?

 

[supton]

I wonder if it's the timing thing (phaser? whatever moves the cams around) rattling. I have to think it goes and does a calibration at startup to "know" that everything is working as expected.

Both my Toyota's with vvt rattle at startup. i think my Tundra rattles less with 5W30 than 0W20, certainly on a hot start. But very very subjective. Not sure it really matters for the long run.

But that's a rattle and not a "loud" noise. You should video it and post it.

 

[SatinSilver]

I forget where I read this but try the following. Turn key to accessory position where the chimes go on but don't start engine. Turn key to off position and repeat again where the chimes go on. After they go off, start the car. Keep seatbelt off during this otherwise chimes may not go on. Seems to lessen the start up noise for some reason.

 

[dcd]

So the battery on the Camry went bad last night. It was causing the car to do funny things when turned off like lights dimming and flickering, clicking noises, etc.

I bought a new battery and all is well. I'm now I'm wondering if the weak battery could have caused the original problem of the engine running noisy on cold start. I guess I'll know in due time if the problem doesn't come back.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted by dcd
So the battery on the Camry went bad last night. It was causing the car to do funny things when turned off like lights dimming and flickering, clicking noises, etc.

I bought a new battery and all is well. I'm now I'm wondering if the weak battery could have caused the original problem of the engine running noisy on cold start. I guess I'll know in due time if the problem doesn't come back.


Maybe it was a relay or something electrical chattering, but it seems unlikely that you'd have that and not notice weird low system voltage issues too. Post back after the next cold start or two.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted by dcd
So the battery on the Camry went bad last night. It was causing the car to do funny things when turned off like lights dimming and flickering, clicking noises, etc.

I bought a new battery and all is well. I'm now I'm wondering if the weak battery could have caused the original problem of the engine running noisy on cold start. I guess I'll know in due time if the problem doesn't come back.


I just replaced the original battery in the '12 Camry last week. A few years ago i noticed a fair amount of build up on the positive terminal. Put on some felt washers and some Noco treatment and it's been fine ever since. Somewhere around 2012 Toyota went with a low maintenance battery instead of a maintenance free battery. So I also added a bit of distilled water to the battery a few years also. Battery was made by JCI.

What brand/model battery did you end up with? I went with an East Penn made Value Power at Walmart with a build date of 12/18.

 

[dcd]

Originally Posted by SatinSilver

I just replaced the original battery in the '12 Camry last week. A few years ago i noticed a fair amount of build up on the positive terminal. Put on some felt washers and some Noco treatment and it's been fine ever since. Somewhere around 2012 Toyota went with a low maintenance battery instead of a maintenance free battery. So I also added a bit of distilled water to the battery a few years also. Battery was made by JCI.

What brand/model battery did you end up with? I went with an East Penn made Value Power at Walmart with a build date of 12/18.


I didn't notice that it wasn't a maintenance free battery, but I expected it to go bad anytime since my parents 2016 Camry's battery (a year newer) went bad a year ago.

I wanted to get an East Penn Duracell at Batteries Plus since it was $139 and I had a 20% off coupon. But I was in a hurry and had to go to the nearest parts store which for me is O'Reillys. I got their Super Start Extreme for $159 no discount. I think it is made by East Penn but not sure.

 

[SatinSilver]

Yes, the Super Start batteries are made by East Penn I believe. The battery in my brother's 2014 Camry only lasted a few years with no maintenance on it in the Wash DC area.

I had a six year old Rural King battery made by Exide in the Matrix that I replaced with another East Penn Value Power Walmart battery last week also. Build date on that was 1/19 so can't get much newer than that.

The Exide was still starting the car fine but it was getting old and you could smell the battery acid leaking so wanted it out of there. I had to clean under it since it made such a mess. Dirty pig of a battery but the felt washers get the corrosion off the positive terminal.

 

[BearZDefect]

The last Exide I bought (at Walmart) was very messy too, causing corrosion at the posts, more than a felt pad could prevent. It was their top of the line Everstart Maxx.