Help identify this noise, engine experts!

[thunderfog]

I swear, this stuff only happens to me.

Can anyone help identify this noise?



(Not my truck in the video, but noise is identical)

Background:
Toyota Tacoma 4.0L V6 1GR-FE engine

From forum searches, there are many trucks (lots of posts that say "mine does this, too") in the '13-'15 model years that produce this noise on cold starts. It's a pulsating whine that goes goes away after a minute or two of warm up.

It also seems to take about 15 seconds for it to appear, once the pumps and pressure items finish their start up routines. I don't think the noise is just getting drowned out by fan noise etc. at the initial start up...it takes a few seconds.

Those that have taken it in have been told "normal". I've done my absolute best to isolate the noise, but it's really difficult. It does not seem to be a pulley or tensioner...anything like that. Some have speculated piston slap. I personally don't think so after having listened to other piston slaps on youtube...it doesn't seem close to that.

My biggest fear is oil pump. But why would it go away? Any oil pump issues I dug up on youtube had a sound (again, not similar?) that neither pulsed nor went away once warmed up. Can oil pumps be tip top and just noisy? It's well known that that 4.0L V6 is a noisy b@$tard.

Although threads on other forums have been started in 2013 for this issue with no action from the dealer service depts. happening, I cannot find one thread where someone has actually had an issue with that noise.

We are awaiting one user's UOA... it's a '13 with over 20k miles on it. I'll do UOAs as well, but I'm only at 3k miles, so the noisy data from break in metals will not help now. I'd like to get someone to attach a pressure gauge on start up as well.

Can anyone help?

 

[CT8]

Sounds like the air injection pump like on my 2006 4 cyl.

 

[thunderfog]

Originally Posted By: CT8
Sounds like the air injection pump like on my 2006 4 cyl.


Where would that be located? I'll try to give it a listen.

 

[bullwinkle]

Sounds like a power steering pump to me. Assuming it has a serpentine belt that drives everything at once, might have to get a mechanic's stethoscope to figure out which part is bad. Wouldn't a 2015 have some warranty left?

 

[spasm3]

power steering pump, or possibly alternator bearings?

 

[krismoriah72]

probably an idler pulley or tensioner pulley. remove belt(s) one at a time if u have more than one to narrow it down if possible

 

[thunderfog]

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Sounds like a power steering pump to me. Assuming it has a serpentine belt that drives everything at once, might have to get a mechanic's stethoscope to figure out which part is bad. Wouldn't a 2015 have some warranty left?


Yeah, definitely. I'm taking it in this week, and will get it documented. I'll then prepare for the "it's normal" speech, because that's what others say they get told.

 

[SumpChump]

Beleive it or not, my '13 Camry has the same TWO noises at cold cold startup.
Wisconsin cold.

One is the fairly prounounced piston skirt slap. Mine is slightly quieter not by much. The factory coating wears off the piston skirts after sale and a short term of ownership.

The second sound, the whine, i dont have the technical term for. Perhaps you DO have a power steering pump.... If so... That may be it. I have electric steering but have that whine at cold cold startup. It actualls stops instantaneously after a fairly repeatable number of seconds 60 maybe 90. The closest i got was a Toyota mechanic saying it was normal and was an intake path that electromechanically changes legnth by computer by opening a gate or door or something to vary intake legnth/shape. I cant rule that out but it sure sounded like the old "steering whine" to me. But again, i dont have a steering pump at all.

 

[mehullica]

Go buy a stethoscope from Harbor Freight & listen to each pulley/bearing area. You have no air injection on the V6.

 

[The_Eric]

Reminds me of a power steering pump low on oil.


Oil pumps can make noise too but: 1) you usually have to be underneath the engine to hear it. And 2) The only type I've heard make noise are spur gear types- think GM 5.7 & 4.3 (old style)

 

[Luis_G]

This sounds like my 99 corolla when it's cold outside and I am warming it up. After 1-2 minutes it stops and all I get is the engine sound.
I was told my someone I trust it was likely a water pump, but if it wasn't overheating it was still working. Just likely worn.

More than likely it's a pump of some kind.

 

[SumpChump]

Originally Posted By: Luis_G
This sounds like my 99 corolla when it's cold outside and I am warming it up. After 1-2 minutes it stops and all I get is the engine sound.
I was told my someone I trust it was likely a water pump, but if it wasn't overheating it was still working. Just likely worn.

More than likely it's a pump of some kind.

Another Toyota sound vote there.

 

[thunderfog]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

Like I said, this does not appear to be an isolated issue. It goes back to the '13 model year for this engine, and while people have had concerns, I can't find one issue. Of course, I'm very interested to see the UOA that will be coming, mentioned above. If the engine appears to be wearing normally, I'll be more than happy to ignore it.