Engine knocking - any ideas what could cuase it - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

YotaRunner4 · 01-09-2010, 08:06 AM

I just noticed that my engine (4cyl) is knocking pretty badly. It alsmost sounds like a bunch of golf balls banging around on the inside of the engine. I'm looking for advice of what this may be. Its more prevalent when idling. I checked the oil, its ok. Sounds like its coming from around the top of the motor or possibly near all the belts. The engine only has 38k on the ODO. Any sugestions?

01-09-2010, 08:31 AM

bad gas

YotaRunner4 · 01-09-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedron

bad gas

I did think about that, but I get my gas from the same station everytime (BP). I use 87 octane. I have 3/4 tank now, so I'll have to wait until the next fill up. Maybe they had a bad batch of gas

01-09-2010, 08:38 AM

I would try and put a few gallons of Sunoco 260 GT+ 104 octane unleaded in, that way you'll know if it was low octane gas or not. If you can't get 260 GT+ in your area, whatever the highest test unleaded race fuel you can find will work too.

YotaRunner4 · 01-09-2010, 08:45 AM

I'm not sure where to get any high octane race fuel, but then again, I've never really looked for it. What about a bottle or two of the Octane booster that you can get at Autozone?

BlackCamSe · 01-09-2010, 09:12 AM

Can u possibily post a video of the noise?

01-09-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YotaRunner4

I'm not sure where to get any high octane race fuel, but then again, I've never really looked for it. What about a bottle or two of the Octane booster that you can get at Autozone?

that octane booster only raises the fuels octane by 0.1 points, so if you have a tank of 87 octane a bottle of octane booster will result in 87.1 octane fuel. If you can get a few gallons of race gas 100+ octane you'll substantially increase the octane level in your tank.

Sunoco has a race gas locator on their website. Here is a link to it.

http://www.sunocoinc.com/site/Consum...T100Locations/

YotaRunner4 · 01-09-2010, 09:22 AM

Not sure about a video - never posted video before, only pictures. If I do, it won't be until later as I'm working now.

Pedron, thanks for the info - I'll see if I can find some fuel around my area.

01-09-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YotaRunner4

Not sure about a video - never posted video before, only pictures. If I do, it won't be until later as I'm working now.

Pedron, thanks for the info - I'll see if I can find some fuel around my area.

Call your local speed shop, or engine builder. They'll know where to point you for high octane race gas.

AlmightyCamry777 · 01-09-2010, 11:02 AM

Is it at the top of the engine? It could be normal valve train noise. You don't say the year of Camry but if you have the 4 cylinder that has a timing chain not a belt, your tensioner, gears or chain may be bad.
The easy, but costly, way to check it is to take it to a good mechanic, maybe a dealership, and ask them what they think. Before tearing into it, find out first if your engine is belt or chain, if belt then the problem might be a belt-driven accesory or maybe even normal valve noise.

So long as the engine doesn't use oil and the noise mostly goes away when the car warms up, i'd let it be. Also i might put in different oil next time. Every car i've ever owned has seemed to "like" some oils better than others. Try a thicker or thinner oil (temperature dependent of course), try a different brand, if you are running valvoline try pennzoil or vice versa, or try mobil 1. Or at least add in 1 qt of it with your next change (i do this all the time and the engine seems to run a tiny bit better, but who knows).
When the engine really needs attention it will let you know in a big way, change the oil, check the oil pressure if the noise worries you, and maintain the cooling system and don't worry about the little noises unless they get louder! In fact, the noise may actually go away in time - it will probably either do that or get louder and then you might want to get it checked.

My 2002 V6 with 130,000 miles has often made odd noises from time to time, and since i've torn apart an engine or two in the past, i know what an engine looks like inside and i don't let it bother me as long as i'm pretty sure the noise is harmless. Alot of the time the engine will make a slight "clop, clop, clop" sound at idle, that will then disappear for a few hundred miles, then come back. Also sometimes after a long freeway run the engine will idle a bit rough and tick a little. STP oil treatment seems to help these noises but i really don't think there's anything wrong inside my engine, and i'm reasonably certain it isn't sludged up, so i let it be. If it works, i ain't about to fix it.

YotaRunner4 · 01-10-2010, 07:30 AM

I haven't had any time to further diagnose, but now I'm wondering if its actually the engine or not. Its possible it may be something rattling/clanging on the exhaust, exhaust manifold, or cat converter. Maybe something came loose and is causing the noise. I'll have to put it on jack stands and take a look.

YotaRunner4 · 01-12-2010, 08:37 AM

Update - brought car in this morning. Service writer said it was a bad water pump and that it will be covered under the 60K engine warranty. He also said that he is seeing a lot of issues with the water pumps on the I4s. He said they are junk.

mcdawgg · 01-12-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YotaRunner4

Update - brought car in this morning. Service writer said it was a bad water pump and that it will be covered under the 60K engine warranty. He also said that he is seeing a lot of issues with the water pumps on the I4s. He said they are junk.

True - I had mine replaced at 25,000 miles. It was leaking, but not noisy. My service mgr said the same thing, but blamed it on the new pink coolant, saying that the molecules are smaller than the red coolant and so it more easily gets past the seals. Then, it hardens because the new stuff turns to a solid so that fido, kitty, etc. can't drink it. So when it hardens, the seal takes more abuse, making the seal even worse. Time will tell if this will continue to be a problem.

AlmightyCamry777 · 01-12-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdawgg

True - I had mine replaced at 25,000 miles. It was leaking, but not noisy. My service mgr said the same thing, but blamed it on the new pink coolant, saying that the molecules are smaller than the red coolant and so it more easily gets past the seals. Then, it hardens because the new stuff turns to a solid so that fido, kitty, etc. can't drink it. So when it hardens, the seal takes more abuse, making the seal even worse. Time will tell if this will continue to be a problem.

I use Prestone "compatible with everything" coolant- never had a problem with it. I'm glad i didn't use OEM coolant, considering what you just said...