04 4runner valve noise caused by synthetic oil
 

I have a 04 4runner that I bought new. At 5k miles I switched to Mobil 1 5W30 and a OEM filter and have been changing it like this every 5k. Its a 4.7L V8 4x4 and I tow 5k sometimes. It has 45k total milees on it now.

Over the last few months, I am getting a loud ticking when starting it cold. It sounds like valve noise and goes away after a few minutes. Its recently been getting louder. I just changed the oil last night to Castrol dino oil 5W30 and the sound is almost gone. BTW, I live in TX and its hot most of the time.

Is 5W30 synthetic too thin and causing some damage? I've searched the threads and never found this issue - help!

Thanks,
Jeff

In hot temps. 10w30 is better, but if it gets cold then it has to be 5w30.
Synthic with stock filter is your problem most likely, the oil is out lasting the filter. Moble1 oil and Moble1 Filter! Hope that helps.

Please ignore this comment, it's absolutely misinformation. Your OEM filter is perfectly acceptable in this situation.

I'll let somebody else chime in regarding the tapping noise, just disregard the filter.

ticking or tapping?

my neighbor had a tapping sound that was related to improperly aligned pulleys. there was a tapping noise with belt squealing. they shimmed it 3 times before they got it right.

bob

No, 5W30 dino and 5W30 synth are the same viscosity but the molecules are more uniform with synthetic oils.

If you're not getting a ticking noise with dino oil, stick with dino. Or, run synth and dry adding a can of BG MOA.

Also, you said something about "starting cold". How cold?

Corrected I do stand, thanks gapguy!

This straight from Moble1's website.
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...ics/Myths.aspx

Myth: Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance require a special oil filter.

Reality:
While ExxonMobil recommends that you use a high-quality filter, you can use the same type of oil filter that you would normally use with conventional oil. ExxonMobil does offer a very high-quality oil filter that is a perfect companion to Mobil 1. The Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter contains synthetic blend filter media instead of the typical cellulose filter media. With a 99.2 percent efficiency rating (under SAE J1858 Multi-Pass Efficiency Test), the Mobil 1 filter is much more efficient than a typical oil filter. Its new high-capacity design stores more contaminants (two times the capacity of the leading

Hmmm... I've got the V8 with ~45K on it now (tho it's an '03) and don't have any ticking/tapping problems. I've used Mobil1 10w-30 Synthetic and Mobil1 filters since new and changed at every 5K miles.

Don't know what might be causing your ticking. Possibly injectors ? What kind of gas do you normally use ? (i.e. cheapest stuff around vs. Chevron, Shell, Mobil, etc). You might be in need of an injector cleaning if it is regularly the cheapest stuff...

Steve

well, i have an 04 v8 4runner, and it used to run on dino 5w30. now i run full synth 5w30. we have 46000 miles on it now, and in cold temps (under 32, something that AZ doesnt get in 99% of the state) it will make a little valve noise. it did it with the dino oil, and still with the synth. in warmer temps it doesnt make a hint of that noise. matter of fact, of all my friends cars( different makes and models, but all newer) they make weird valve noises and such when its cold out.


the gas around here doesnt require any fuel injector cleaners, even the 87 octane since we have enough alcohol blended in our gas.


i wouldnt worry about it.

I don't

Been running Amsoil 0W-30 + their EA057 filter for about 7 months. No problems. At approx 60k km today.

Prior to that (16000 km ago), I ran Mobil1 5W-30 with synthetic filter, again no problems.

Started using synthetic around 6k km mark but always used a synthetic filter. I think Fram was the original filters I used.

i need to clarify that the noise goes away very quickly, only a few seconds when its cold out.

if the noise doesnt go away, then i would worry