Loud Valve Train/Engine Noise at Startup

[llPANCHOll]

First Post here, thanks for your input in advance...

2000 Camry LE 4cy 250,000 miles

A couple times here recently upon starting the engine the has been a loud knocking noise, sounds allmost like a rod knock or a valves slapping pistons.. Whatever it is, its not good! The sound only lasts 1 or 2 seconds and disapears into the trusty old valve train noise I am used to.

Opinions Welcome,..

I thought possibly it was some sort of check valve that keeps the oil from draining all the way into the sump that had gone bad, so that the engine is making a dry start, or slop in the timing chain/belt/tensioner pulley??

I will try to get an audio recording of the exact sound soon.

[uuuuu]

Basic questions: oil level? sludge?

[llPANCHOll]

Well my father put 220,xxx of the 250,xxx miles on it, and he is pretty good about paying someone else to service his vehicles.. Its just due for it 3k oil change, but the oil level is good. It has only made the noise twice, once on Sunday after sitting all weekend and once today when my G/F started it up for her drive home from work. Sludge could have something to do with it as her commute changed from about a 20 minute drive to a short 5 minute drive recently. I am leery of doing any kind of engine flush on a vehicle with this many miles, it doesnt leak any oil and I am in no hurry to knock a bunch of sludge loose and create a bunch of leaks.

[JohnGD]

Is the Engine Oil light on while it's knocking? These 4-cyls are not very good at keeping oil in the lines even with anti-drainback valve for some reason.

What type of oil filter does the mechanic use?

[toysarefun]

Change the oil with Shell 5w-30, put an OEM or Toyota filter on it. Run that about 1000 miles and see what you think. If you want to battle sludge, the last 100 miles of your oil change throw whatever kind of petroleum distillate product you prefer in, grind it up real good and let it drain for hours, then put fresh oil in and see how quick it gets dirty. After a few oil changes you are on your way and the engine will be fine.

I'm sure your Dad took great care on the car, look at the miles it already has, that is a testament, but who knows how many miles he was going between oil changes or if he sometimes put cheap oil in once in a while at an oil change place.

Belive me, I change my girlfriends 02 oil, all the time, and when she goes anything close to 5000 miles, especially in the summer and, especially if she went to some place like tires plus for a 20 dollar oil change before I change it.

The oil can look pretty darn ugly.

[llPANCHOll]

Ill throw some "Sea Foam" in the crank case run it for a bit and change the oil.

[carsrus]

I dunno I wouldent rush out and sea foam the thing. Theres a big chance itll start leaking oil. I would run a bit thicker oil (10w30 if you arent already, thicker if you are) and a GOOD filter. Wix,napa, no fram crap.

It might be valve noise.

[llPANCHOll]

Originally Posted by carsrus

I dunno I wouldent rush out and sea foam the thing. Theres a big chance itll start leaking oil. I would run a bit thicker oil (10w30 if you arent already, thicker if you are) and a GOOD filter. Wix,napa, no fram crap.

It might be valve noise.

Whatever the noise was it hasnt happened again,
It wasnt normal valve noise, it was a clanking slapping racket..

[96CamrySport]

the oil passages are all connected after the filter, so the oil from the passages drains down through the crank bearing passages overnight. Thicker oil makes a noticeable difference in oil pressure. If it happens again, worry.

[JohnGD]

Piston slap maybe? Like the new 3.5L V6.

http://www.remanufactured.com/Engine_Noise_Diagnosis_101.htm

"When your engine is cold, the aluminum piston is small in comparison to it's surrounding iron cylinder. Why? Because with heat aluminum expands rougly 5 times as much as iron. Therefore the rather hollow piston slapping noise will be loudest first thing in the morning. After the engine warms up, the aluminum piston expands more than it's iron cylinder, reducing the excessive clearance between the piston and cylinder wall. So, the test is this:
First thing in the morning, start the engine up and run it for 15 seconds while you listen carefully and memorize the sound and it's intensity. Shut it down quickly, pull the spark plugs and put two squirts of motor oil into each cylinder. Reinstall the plugs, fire the engine up again and listen.

If you have piston slap the noise will have been greatly reduced or even eliminated…..for 15 or 20 seconds that is, and then your nightmare noise will come back like a Marine Corps marching band coming toward you in the parade."

Originally Posted by llPANCHOll

Whatever the noise was it hasnt happened again,
It wasnt normal valve noise, it was a clanking slapping racket..

[eyeball96]

I had a 96 5sfe that made a noise like that, and it was the timing belt be tensioner!

When was the last timing belt, water pump, tensioner change done on your car?