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Is my Prius supposed to make this noise at Idle?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dhman2006, Aug 18, 2018.

  1. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    My Prius has been making "old, beat down" car noise for the past few months. I didn't think it was a big deal in the past, but now it's bothering me a bit. Should I be concerned? What can cause this issue?



     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Are you referring to the valve train noise? The Prius at best sounds like a sewing machine.
    How many miles on the odometer?
    What is the engine oil level?
    What engine oil viscosity is being used?
    Does this bug you enough to spend $1,500 to have the valves adjusted?
     
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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It doesn't sound that bad, I've heard much worse.

    Has your car ever been low on oil?
     
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  4. LEVE

    LEVE Member

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    I'll throw out a guess: Have you checked the Serpentine Belt Idler or the Tensioner Pulley Bearing?
     
    #4 LEVE, Aug 18, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2018
  5. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    I'm not sure what the noise is, but there are about 116600 miles on the car. I just had my engine oil changed and it's almost full now. I usually use full synthetic OW-20 oil. I'd really like not to spend $1500 haha.
     
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  6. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    Sure did courtesy of my local toyota dealer service center. After my last oil change apparently the mechanic forgot to put the cap on. I didn't realize it til about 2weeks later when I started smelling oil. Went back to the dealership and after doing a courtesy oil change they gave a list of things I also need to do. I said thanks and left.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds fine with the volume muted.(y)
     
  8. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    If only I could do that while driving around :D
     
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  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Turn the radio up;).

    Better than mute(y).
     
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  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    That sounds a little noiserier than it should, I think I hear a
    Iilttle thud in there but hard to tell.

    Is this car new to you?

    there Run 5-30 synthetic it will sound a little less sewing machine but the engine has solid lifters so very clakity clak. Thicker the oil the quieter it will run.

    Not sure what you mean by almost full now but it’s best to keep the engine oil in this little motor at the full line always. Only take 22 seconds to check the oil first thing in the am before starting the Car.

    Go on YouTube and search Prius Inspection mode. You set the engine to run continuously non stop in idle.
    In idle get under the frint if the car and listen for bad noises. If you know what bad noises are,
     
    #10 edthefox5, Aug 18, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2018
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  11. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    No I've had it for about 6 or 7 years now. Didn't make that much noises before. Yeah it's almost at the full line. Not sure what you mean by bad noise though. I'm not too worried about the thud. That's the sound of me opening the hood.
     
  12. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Sounds like an exhaust leak to me. By "old, beat down car noise" do you mean loud exhaust? I would suspect the front donut first and foremost, as they are a typical first part to go in Toyota exhaust systems, especially for us salt belt types.

    I just did the front donut and the rear pipe section on my younger daughter's '07 with 180k miles. The donut had basically disintegrated and was about 25% in tact and the rear section hanger weld had rotted completely through the pipe. So two different leaks and the engine note (drone) sounded a lot like your video.

    The front donut lists for $52.81 and the bolts are 2 @ $5.26 each. The bolts both needed the torch to red hot but threaded out with a 14mm socket on a 16" breaker bar without drama (or angle grinder(y)).

    The rear pipe lists for $279.76, the rear donut $22.96 and bolts 2 @ $5.17 each. The rear donut was fully intact but for $23 I replaced it in hopes this will be my one go-round exhaust job on this car:cool:...

    If I'm nuts about an exhaust leak, and you really are just looking to quiet the lifter tick, I'll add that A3/B4 "euro" spec synthetics mute it nicely. Any of the big name 0w-40s Walmart carries for ~$22-$28 are A3/B4. As Ed says tho, with solid lifters you won't completely silence the tick on these sewing machines
     
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  13. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    :D:D:D:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::D:D:D:D
     
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  14. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    My Gen4 engine is not exactly quiet. It's semi-clackity, and has those "sewing machine" characteristics. Why Euro spec synthetic oil and not just U.S. synthetic oil? And how will that thicker 40W oil affect the gas mileage? And Engine tolerances? Don't mean to turn this into another oil thread.

    https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/full-synthetic-motor-oils/pennzoil-platinum-euro/_jcr_content/productDetails.stream/1461698815565/a70e5779bc5c118d413f463890e816788dbfa1e92705df46265999796dfa4bb5/Platinum_Euro_SAE_5W-40_Full_Synthetic_Motor_Oil.pdf
     
    #14 Starship16, Aug 19, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2018
  15. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    I don't think it's the exhaust. I've had my fair share of exhaust related problems with my camrys and that noise doesn't sound like exhaust. That's what's bothering me. I can't figure out what it is.
     
  16. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Have you ever run the engine oil so low it turned on a check engine light or it turned on a red triangle on the dash?

    And where do you get the oil changed and what kind of oil do you use?
     
  17. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    Sure did courtesy of my local toyota dealer service center. After my last oil change apparently the mechanic forgot to put the cap on. I didn't realize it til about 2 weeks later when I started smelling oil. Went back to the dealership and after doing a courtesy oil change they gave a list of things I also need to do. I said thanks and left.

    I still go to a Toyota dealership to get my oil change done, but just to a different one.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    uh-oh
     
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  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    That event damaged your motor. See post #10.
     
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  20. DLC82SV

    DLC82SV Member

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    The dealership that left the oil cap off should be responsible for ruining your ICE.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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