Scion TC - Cold Start Knock That Last a Second

[Josh48065]

Well, to explain more, I just recently purchased a 2007 Scion TC Manual with 92k miles. (That uses the 2AZ-FE engine)
When I purchased the car I put Redline 5w20 and a P1 Oil filter in it.
Anyways, after owning the car for 5 days...Just recently (yesterday and today) When I do the INITIAL cold start of the morning, I hear a knock that lasts for a second, or at the most two seconds. The scion runs fine otherwise when at operating temperature.

The seller purchased the Toyota Extra Care warranty that is good until 100,000 miles that is transferable if I want to pay the 50$ to get it transferred.
I'm not sure what to do about this.. Would it be worth the price to purchase the warranty if Toyota will do something about it?


The only other thing I can think of is that when i changed the oil, the oil filters are so small on these cars is that when I tightened it BY HAND I crushed the bottom of it just a little bit. (Size of a quarter) This may not be a big deal, but I keep thinking that I crushed the anti-drain back valve and its causing it to knock for a second until it gets oil pressure.

Any suggestions will be helpful!

 

[DrDusty86]

Take her in...

 

[Artem]

Change the $5 oil filter before you spend $50 on a warranty that will expire right after your next oil change.

I have a 2006 tC 5 speed as well and the engine makes all kind of strange noises during the initial cold start (this is even more evident during the current cold winter temps).

As I recall, it has been making these noises for the last 40k+ miles. The car currently have 106,000 miles on it and runs great after it's warmed up.

I wouldn't worry about a little knock that lasts a second or two. Now if it was knocking constantly, it would be a different story.

I'd also move up to 5w30 during your next oil change. The wife tried 5w20 in our tC during it's younger days and reported more oil consumption and more engine noise.

Just my

 

[Lead Shoes]

I would try another oil filter before I jumped to any crazy conclusions.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
Take her in...


typical suggestions... and do what? leave the car at the dealership overnight, so the technician can attempt to simulate the noise in the morning when the engine is cold and HOPE that it makes a noise for a second or two and the technician catches it and is able to diagnose the problem on the spot? Come on, get real.

The OP will either be in and out of the dealership trying to replicate the noise (what if all the sudden it doesn't have the knock when the technician will try to replicate it) or they will say that it's normal as it instantly goes away as the engine warms up and send him on his way home. I wouldn't waste my time with it.

 

[Rand]

do those have a timing chain or belt?

and if a timing chain how is it tensioned?

sometimes takes 2-3 seconds to get full oil pressure and pump up.


So what I think you are hearing is possibly the timing chain rattling around for a couple seconds until the hydraulic tensioner "pumps up" with oil pressure.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Toyota Thailand Denso service3 grade filters didnt like my 2azfe in our '05 rav4. Car MUCH MUCH MUCH prefers the toyota/LEXUS japon foam element oil filter (which came on the car!). Toyota p/n 90915-10003 or 4. Try another filter. IDK if that engine likes a 20 grade but the hths on the RL 20 grade should be OK as its not tending to the lower marginal value for a "fuel economy" bump.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1221038

 

[raffy]

I second trying another oil filter first - try Wix, Mobil 1 or Amsoil Ea series. I think your engine is fine since you don't hear the knock all the time. All the Wix's and Amsoil Ea's I've used in our vehicles have had strong shells and one would have to be really strong to dent one screwing it in by hand. Never have dented one that way myself. I don't have personal experience with Mobil 1 filters but I hear they're good.

 

[DrDusty86]

Artie,
Calm down budda

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My parents had a vehicle that would rattle for a second or two on cold start. Didn't seem to be dependent on oil filter. What helped with us was holding the pedal to the floor ( de-flood mode on this vehicle, no injectors ) and cranking for a second or two. That circulated enough oil to stop it from the cold start knock and it would start quiet

 

[harry j]

Try a synthetic oil filter (Royal Purple, Amsoil EaO, etc) and an ounce of Lubro Moly per quart, that should do it.

 

[Hokiefyd]

This was discussed at great length here a year or two ago. The culprit was the cam phasers on the front of the camshafts. I forget if Toyota replaced them or advised the customer that it was a normal noise, but it was not a wear-related noise. I imagine that if you search the internet for Toyota cam phaser noise, you'll find a lot of information and videos about that. You can compare notes to see if that's likely what your car is doing.

 

[Doog]

I would ask this question on Toyota Nation and you will probably get the real answer.

 

[Rolla07]

I'd also move up to 5w30 during your next oil change. The wife tried 5w20 in our tC during it's younger days and reported more oil consumption and more engine noise.

Just my

[/quote]

+1

 

[AdRock]

Put a stock filter from the dealer on it and see what happens. I had this exact same issue with my 2003 Tiburon after the first oil change. I put an oem filter back on it and it completely went away.

 

[Trav]

Its a simple question. Would i buy a factory warranty on the power train that last 8K for 50 bucks on a 92K car i knew nothing about?
You bet i would and have that sucker on their doorstep tomorrow AM to get the knock at least documented in case of future issues.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07

I'd also move up to 5w30 during your next oil change. The wife tried 5w20 in our tC during it's younger days and reported more oil consumption and more engine noise.

Just my

+1

[/quote]
This is absolutely backwards advice for a cold start up noise.