98 corolla, 191k, when cold, it makes pinging noise

[Beekeeper2020]

After it warms up, the pinging sound goes away.
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER has been replaced.

Anyone who knows about this issue, what do you do to fix this problem?

Thanks!

[Bdub215]

do you have a video of the sound? i have my suspicions.

[leakyseals]

Pinging would be fuel related. Assuming you mean ticking at startup..most likely the vvt-i cam gear is sticking, problem with the oil filter, dirty internal engine. Don't recommend replacing parts recommend changing oil to synthetic. Should make things better after a few thousand miles.

[pdq]

If the noise is an engine tapping noise, that's pretty common for this gen corolla when the car is cold.

I've assumed it's either valves needing adjustment or the timing chain bumping against the rails, but never traced down the exact problem.

[irbryanxp]

Originally Posted by leakyseals

Pinging would be fuel related. Assuming you mean ticking at startup..most likely the vvt-i cam gear is sticking, problem with the oil filter, dirty internal engine. Don't recommend replacing parts recommend changing oil to synthetic. Should make things better after a few thousand miles.

1998 didn't have VVT-i.

[leakyseals]

Originally Posted by irbryanxp

1998 didn't have VVT-i.

I thought some did. Same issue though, engine needs an internal cleaning