Hi everyone,

Let me start of by saying hello! This is my first actual post here, even though I have been using this site for a while. I am hoping to get some insight into my engine issue, and hopefully find a way to live with it. So....

First off, a little background about the truck. I have a 1994 4x4 with a 22RE. This truck is awesome! I have had no problems ever with it in the 4 years that I have owned it. I am currently in college, and it is my daily driver. I originally bought after it had been damaged after sliding into a guard rail after a bad snow storm. There was a lot of ice. I bought it off of the previous owner, who I knew took extremely good care of it. Always had it serviced at Toyota, OEM everything. Long story short, It needed mostly body work, and a paint job to get it back to good condition. Interior is pristine, and it originally had 185,000 miles on the original motor.

4 years later I just reached 206,000 and the original motor is still in great shape, pulls well, doesn't burn oil, etc. Still running the original clutch as well, and it hasn't slipped ever. However, as soon as the weather turns decent enough I plan on replacing it, because preventative maintenance is better than repairs. I just fixed an exhaust leak on the manifold because the gasket had some blow by on the #4 cylinder exhaust port.

Now, to the current issue. I have a ticking noise coming from the back top end of the 22RE, and cannot seem to get rid of it. I know it is not coming from the bottom end because I have used the good old mechanics stethoscope method, and have isolated it to the top rear. I have eliminated the following as issues

Rod Knock
Timing Chain (replaced at 180,000 by P.O. and inspected by me)
Injector Noise
Exhaust Leak (fixed already)
Valves out of adjustment (I adjusted them hot at Factory specs)


The ticking is noticeable in the cab when driving, and the truck sounds like a diesel when idling in the driveway. It increases with engine rpm, and It is coming from the top end. I have inspected the cam, and everything looks to be ok. I am at a loss for what is causing this ticking noise, and if it is something I can fix, or do I just have to live with it? My apologies for the long essay.

 

Just when did this noise start ??

These engines are great for doing just this if you get the valve cover nuts cranked down to tight .

Sounds like the valves are not adjusted at all!!

Myself I think it sounds more like a sewing machine then a diesel engine.

 

I'm actually have the same symptoms with my 85 with a 22R. I haven't been as thorough with narrowing it down, but it does sound like it's from the top end. I have tried adjusting the valve cover bolts many times, but nothing changes. I even had my head pressure tested and cleaned when I replaced the head gasket, but I still have the ticking. I'm planning on running seafoam or some additive and then caging the oil and adding some Lucas oil stabilizer to see if it does anything. Oh, and I'm also noticing that my oil is dark and smells like exhaust after only maybe 300 miles, not sure if that's related or not, or if yours is the same way.