I have a 2005 Toyota Camry with the 4 cylinder engine (2AZ-FE). I have had the car since new and it now has 122k miles on it. My daughter currently uses it for school transportation. Yesterday while driving it I noticed a mechanical tapping noise that is coming from the engine. It starts around 2100 rpm and is most pronounced at 2300 rpm and then fades as rpm increases to around 2800 rpm. About 6 months ago (2k miles), I replaced the valve cover gasket, PCV (OEM Toyota), water pump (OEM Toyota), power steering return hose and the oil. I used RGT 5W30 and a Mobil 1 filter. In 2018 when the car had about 100k miles, I changed the tensioner (OEM Toyota), belt, radiator and heater hoses and spark plugs.
When I had the valve cover off it was very clean inside...no varnish or any sludge. The car has had at least 2 oil changes every year before my daughter started driving it (2018) regardless of mileage because my wife didn't drive much and most use was short trips (from 2005 - 2018). Literally the car would got maybe a mile, she'd shut it off, do shopping or whatever, get back in it and drive a mile or so back home. Prior to the RGT, I used almost exclusively Mobil 1, 5W30 EP.
Any ideas? Thanks!
When I had the valve cover off it was very clean inside...no varnish or any sludge. The car has had at least 2 oil changes every year before my daughter started driving it (2018) regardless of mileage because my wife didn't drive much and most use was short trips (from 2005 - 2018). Literally the car would got maybe a mile, she'd shut it off, do shopping or whatever, get back in it and drive a mile or so back home. Prior to the RGT, I used almost exclusively Mobil 1, 5W30 EP.
Any ideas? Thanks!