2020 sr cold start rattle

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Vbaraj3625

New Member

I have a 2020 sr tacoma 2.7L 4 cylinder. It does this noise on cold start. Not every cold start but quite often. Does anyone know what it could be and how to fix it? The truck has 80,000 miles on it. The noise goes away after around 30 seconds after a cold start. Once the engine is hot the noise doesn’t come back. Any help is greatly appreciated
 
The weather is cooling. So, at start the engine oil will be a bit heavier viscosity. Just give the engine a moment to pump the oil around.

When I get in the truck at 6:15 am, I start the engine, fasten seat belt adjust radio volume. When the little red man who is blowing bubbles on the dash board goes out, then I shift into R (for race) and back out of the garage. This "routine" takes roughly15-20 seconds post start for the bubble blowing warning light to go out.

I have heard the cause is in the VVT control system.

Frankly, I'd check the oil level and be sure the recommend oil viscosity has been used.
 
Actually been told on these 4 bangers, you need to run a high quality 0w-20 synthetic oil, that meets ILSAC GF-5 standards, and change it every 5k miles, or sooner, otherwise they tend to build sludge as they work harder in these mid size trucks than a v6....Told a heavier viscosity solves nothing.
 
@tacojoel. The heavier viscosity I'm referencing is due to temperature changes that impact the viscosity.

I would not recommend a heavier oil for an oil change. Only use the viscosity recommended in the Owner's Manual, or conveniently printed on the oil fill cap.
 
Thats what was recommended in my post #5. A friend of mine that works as a tech at a local toyota dealer has said to me never use a cheap oil in those 2.7 engines and change it regularly. The vvt-i system has tiny oiling passageways that over time using cheap oil, and letting it go too long between oil changes will cause sludge to build up partially fouling these oil passageways eventually causing this rattle till enough oil gets up in there.
 
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tacojoel said:
Thats what was recommended in my post #5. A friend of mine that works as a tech at a local toyota dealer has said to me never use a cheap oil in those 2.7 engines and change it regularly. The vvt system has tiny oiling passageways that over time using cheap oil, and letting it go too long between oil changes will cause sludge to build up partially fouling these oil passageways eventually causing this rattle till enough oil gets up in there.
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I use high quality oil and filter. Lighter viscosity so it circulates faster especially in cold temps but it still rattles like a ***** on a cold start. Not sure what the previous owner used but I had the oil pan dropped to check for sludge and there wasn’t any. I didn’t check anywhere else though is there a way to clean or check the VVT system?
 
Only way I know is to pull it apart if gunk'd, or buggered up. Some older vvt-i systems were just a bad design causing the rattle until repaired. Solenoids can go bad to depending what vvt-i system it has. I'm sure if you do a search on YouTube they with expose the vvt-i system on these 2.7 engines whether oil controlled, or electronic. At any rate the problem needs fixing asap, or you can end up with catastrophic engine failure.
 
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2013 2.7l does it since i got at 50k miles. try a few drain and fills of the power steering fluid., i think it rec;s DEXRON II/III ATF , i initialy used valvoline maxlife ATF which is DEXRON VI which is very thin fluid i got a PS Pump rattled bad when very cold, since then i used the toyota rec'd DEXRON II/III which is slightly thicker viscosity a little better in cold weather IMO
 
Thats odd. I've never heard of power steering pumps rattling let alone failing. Their racks are another issue. Heck I had almost 300k miles on my gen1 tundra's power steering pump, and it was still working fine. I did have to replace the rack, and the lines to the pump due to corrosion.
Btw, toyota recommends dextron III atf for their power steering systems.
 
tacojoel said:
Thats odd. I've never heard of power steering pumps rattling let alone failing. Their racks are another issue. Heck I had almost 300k miles on my gen1 tundra's power steering pump, and it was still working fine. I did have to replace the rack, and the lines to the pump due to corrosion.
Btw, toyota recommends dextron III atf for their power steering systems.
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my power steering pump had an rattle when it was under 32 degrees very cold, other than extreme cold conditionsm no rattle
 
Vbaraj3625 said:

I have a 2020 sr tacoma 2.7L 4 cylinder. It does this noise on cold start. Not every cold start but quite often. Does anyone know what it could be and how to fix it? The truck has 80,000 miles on it. The noise goes away after around 30 seconds after a cold start. Once the engine is hot the noise doesn’t come back. Any help is greatly appreciated
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this kind of sounds like the oil from the pan is not circulating and then the noise cut out as soon as it circulated, most be very cold where your at
 
Kev72912 said:
I use high quality oil and filter. Lighter viscosity so it circulates faster especially in cold temps but it still rattles like a ***** on a cold start. Not sure what the previous owner used but I had the oil pan dropped to check for sludge and there wasn’t any. I didn’t check anywhere else though is there a way to clean or check the VVT system?
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i would just continue to change the oil at whats recommended for your year some are 5k some are 10k miles depending on the year. motor oil comes with detergents in it to help clean the sludge and by doing the routine OCI for your year may help it, i bought mine 2013 2.7l with 50k miles and had some rattling/knocking in very cold weather 32 degrees or less at startup
 
From what I've been told, once the vvt-i begins to rattle like that, it must come apart to be repaired. Components inside have failed due to lack of proper lubrication. Allowing the noise to continue will end up in catastrophic engine failure. Even toyota has admitted they had a design flaw in early vvt-i units causing them to fail. Later year vvt-i models with electronic solenoids are suppose to be ok as long as proper oil changes are done.
 
billssr5 said:
my power steering pump had an rattle when it was under 32 degrees very cold, other than extreme cold conditionsm no rattle
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Weirdness, it is!
I never thot about that and diagnosing diy the rattle on the relatives gen2 in the cold temp starts

I thought it was the engine oil ow20 and was going to check the oil control valve filter thing on the side when it starts again

Power steering pump???
Does your rattle go away after it warms up?

The ps fluid in this gen2 is still factory fill
But it has been rattling since the 60k miles were turnt
 
Those older vvt-i units can become buggered up internally allowing tiny metal pieces to get into the pump resulting in engine failure. Thats why its very important when you hear chatter noises like that to get it in the shop asap, and have it checked out.
 
I asked the toyota shop about it on an occasion or two
And they had not a clue about that noise, never heard of it it

How do metal pieces in steering pump get into engine tacoJoel that is mystery!?
 
JayQQ97 said:
I asked the toyota shop about it on an occasion or two
And they had not a clue about that noise, never heard of it it

How do metal pieces in steering pump get into engine tacoJoel that is mystery!?
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Not steering pump you silly boy....the engines oil pump.
If it's a noise related to the engines vvt-i system, you need to see a shop that works on a lot of various toyota's.....preferably a well established toyota dealer, like ones around here. I guarantee if that engine has a vvt-i system thats making those ratcheting noises....they will tell you what it is.
 
I don't think they know they hand from they bum round here at times :confused:
Not a mechanic, just a hack...
 
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