SOLVED: Is this 2013 Scion FRS Engine Knocking/Tapping normal?

[JS + BRZ]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Try recording it... My sound only came on after the car was hot. It doesn't happen when it's cold.

It also happened when I reved in neutral/park. But under load, the car noises drowns it out so it's hard to listen for it.

I'll try to record it next time I hear. My friend was in the car with me. He noticed it right away too. It would make the sound upon part throttle/full throttle.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I think I posted in here earlier (getting old) but I have heard/felt the hard knock but it only happens at around, IIRC, 3500 RPM. I wonder if it isn't a bubble trapped in the valve timing mechanism. I've only heard it twice and both times it was super hot and immediately following some "spirited" twisties.

Hmm.. mine was making the noise throughout the powerband. But this only happens when I have my A/C on, super hot outside, and during/after the spirited runs.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

I'll try to record it next time I hear. My friend was in the car with me. He noticed it right away too. It would make the sound upon part throttle/full throttle.



Hmm.. mine was making the noise throughout the powerband. But this only happens when I have my A/C on, super hot outside, and during/after the spirited runs.

My wife heard it immediately. Like you, only during partial-to-full throttle.

[JS + BRZ]

Yep! No noise when coasting. Not sure what it is.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

The ticking/tapping sound came on again the other day during the canyon run. It was HOT outside around 100. Had my A/C on. The tapping sound was pronounced on throttle and no sound when coasting.

Anyone knows about this? Thank you!

I have this exact same sound! Please if you find out let me know.

Thanks

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

I have this exact same sound! Please if you find out let me know.

Thanks

If its not when ac kicks in, it's a unbalanced or not symmetric rocker arm. Eventually it sticks or clicks wrong and bye bye engine. Could also be a pump issue.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

If its not when ac kicks in, it's a unbalanced or not symmetric rocker arm. Eventually it sticks or clicks wrong and bye bye engine. Could also be a pump issue.

Well I no longer have the car. Someone else problem now.

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

Well I no longer have the car. Someone else problem now.

You get a new car?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

Well I no longer have the car. Someone else problem now.

Thaaat's the spirit.

[pantdino]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

I'll try to record it next time I hear. My friend was in the car with me. He noticed it right away too. It would make the sound upon part throttle/full throttle.



Hmm.. mine was making the noise throughout the powerband. But this only happens when I have my A/C on, super hot outside, and during/after the spirited runs.

Sounds suspicious for oil that has gotten too hot and is now too low in viscosity. Perhaps the hydraulic lifters are not staying pumped up. I assume your car does not have an oil temp gauge.


I know we are supposed to run 0W-20 oil regardless of temp or use, but that is illogical, really.


I was running 5W-40 oil in my Abarth in the Los Angeles winter (if you can call it that) but in the summer when the oil got to near 100C the oil pressure at idle was only about 1/2 bar (so about 7psi). So I switched to 5W-50 Castrol. Problem gone.


I suspect if you had an oil temp gauge you would have seen 100 or over *C.

[JS + BRZ]

Originally Posted by pantdino

Sounds suspicious for oil that has gotten too hot and is now too low in viscosity. Perhaps the hydraulic lifters are not staying pumped up. I assume your car does not have an oil temp gauge.


I know we are supposed to run 0W-20 oil regardless of temp or use, but that is illogical, really.


I was running 5W-40 oil in my Abarth in the Los Angeles winter (if you can call it that) but in the summer when the oil got to near 100C the oil pressure at idle was only about 1/2 bar (so about 7psi). So I switched to 5W-50 Castrol. Problem gone.


I suspect if you had an oil temp gauge you would have seen 100 or over *C.

I do a lot of canyon runs and track days. Sometimes I see the oil temp go up to 250-260F. I'm running Motul 8100 5W-30.

[pantdino]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

I do a lot of canyon runs and track days. Sometimes I see the oil temp go up to 250-260F. I'm running Motul 8100 5W-30.

I noted on another thread these engines don't have hydraulic lifters, so that's not what you're hearing


You might want to research online or go to bobistheoilguy.com to see what the viscosity of 5W-30 wt oil is at 260F. If the engine is designed to run on whatever the viscosity is at 212F, you will see how far below that you are at 260.


IIRC the twin-turbo BMW 335i was programmed to go into limp home mode at 260F because the oil cannot lubricate adequately at that temp. Don't know what viscosity that car used.

[chas3wba0]

Mine turned out to be a loose bolt in one of the header flanges. Torqued it down and the noise was gone. It's worth a try.

[BRZnut]

Originally Posted by pantdino

Sounds suspicious for oil that has gotten too hot and is now too low in viscosity. Perhaps the hydraulic lifters are not staying pumped up. I assume your car does not have an oil temp gauge.


I know we are supposed to run 0W-20 oil regardless of temp or use, but that is illogical, really.


I was running 5W-40 oil in my Abarth in the Los Angeles winter (if you can call it that) but in the summer when the oil got to near 100C the oil pressure at idle was only about 1/2 bar (so about 7psi). So I switched to 5W-50 Castrol. Problem gone.


I suspect if you had an oil temp gauge you would have seen 100 or over *C.

I've noticed the sound similar to what the OP posted on page one (that he found was rocker failure) once or twice but only after car is fully warmed up , with lots of stop and go driving, and when the car is at idle but only when the idle is at its lowest point.(which would be when oil pressure is at its lowest)


Which makes me wonder if this is an oil pressure issue from using the 0w-20 oil and if moving up to 5W-30 would help.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

You get a new car?

Yea a 1999 Alero 4 door car for now.(Free so can't complain) Wife is due in 5 months(first kid) and we will be going on my income only for a while. So I have been saving up as much money as we can while she is still working. Thus the car was an easy choice. I was positive on the car plus lower insurance and no car payment.