Tap in motor

[Mike B]

I have a 2007 tundra D-cab, 5.7 L motor. I have noticed a tap in the motor that sounds like a valve slap. I have had it to the dealer twice for this but they say it's the nature of the beast. I was once told that the tap was the fuel injector. Has anyone noticed a similiar problem.

[Dick Oestreich]

It has been called a lot of things but it is common to all 5.7's. It is more noticeable when the engine is cold, almost like a diesel sound. It mostly goes away when it reaches normal operating temperature. The prevailing theory seems to be that it is related to the variable valve timing.

[Mike B]

Thanks Dick. You have the noise to a T. It's been pretty annoying and the fact that I got so many different opinons made me feel like everybody was guessing, even Toyota. I was always waiting for something more serious to happen. Thanks again for taking the time to help out.

[Ken Smith]

Hi Mike,
I have the same type of truck with some of the same kind of sounds.
When the engine is under load it sounds like lifters,or worse yet, wrist pins. Levelling out the accelerator gets rid of the noise. It sounds bad. I have had it to the dealer and finally a Toyota rep. came and listened to it. He did a good job on trying to find what it was. A long story short... the VVTi. I was told there was nothing internally wrong with the engine, that this noise was characteristic of these engines. So now I don't worry about it any more. ( If it shells out, Toyota has plenty of documentation, and these engines.)
But the noise is there all the time when under load.

[Mike B]

Thanks Ken, I appreciate you taking the time to get back to me. I had other replies to my concern and they all seem to be along the same lines. Your discription of the problem is on the money. Thanks.

[Chris Zeidler]

It's the timing chain, and it's a common noise, no need to worry about it, I've seen over 200,000 miles on these motors already with the same noise. It's more prevalent in the big V-8 because it's a much beefier chain. :)

[Greg]

I have an 07 Tundra and 07 Sienna. Both make this noise when the engine is cold. This noise goes away once the engines are at normal operating temp. I guess only time will tell.

[Mike B]

Thanks Greg, You are right. I'm finished worring about it. I'll wait to see what happens in the future.

[Mike B]

Hay Chris, Thanks for getting back to me. Your conclusion is a new one. No one has said anything about the timing chain but, I guess it's as good an answer as any of the other's. One thing is consistant, they all say that the noise is "the nature of the beast" 5.7 L motor. I'm done worring about it. Thanks again.

[Chris Zeidler]

No problem Mike, I just passed the 2009 Toyota Sales Mastery Test, so I hope that gives me a little credibility. LOL

[Mike B]

Thanks Chris, coming from a master I feel totally at ease. LOL. Again, thanks for the input. I am confident that it is the nature of the beast and that there are no suprises in the future. PS. Congratulations on your certification.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

I have both the 5.7 liter and the 4.7 first gen tundra and i have to say they both have this type noise on colder temp's and it's Normal.

[Mike B]

Thank you for your reply. I am convinced that it is normal. My concern was that Toyota service (in three dealerships) had no idea what the noise was and felt they had to give me their opinion rather then the actual answer. It was sad. Thanks again.