2007 Prius knocking noise, rattle.

Sounds like valve lifter noise to me.

 

I have the exact same noise on my 2006, burns oil but runs strong. Had that sound since I bought it 35k miles ago, never broke down, even on long distance trips

 

Valve ticking. My 2004 Honda Accord did it for 50k miles with no ill effects (that I am aware of).

Many possible causes and solutions, but it is something that CAN have a serious enough cause that I would get it professionally diagnosed, if I were you and I didn't have a whole lot of mechanical knowledge (if you do have the mechanical wherewithal to diagnose yourself, feel free). Some engines just have a tendency to tick over time and are generally not a problem. With the little I know of Toyota and the Prius ICE, I can't say whether or not the Prius falls into that category, but perhaps some other, more knowledgeable members can help out.

 

maybe try synthetic oil?

 

Synthetic oil doesn't fix it, I'm not certain it's valves, someone was telling me it's the vvti system in the engine. There's a write up on adjusting valves, but it's easier just replacing the engine

 

how many miles on her?

 

I hear some thumping in there in addition to the solid lifter racket. Alot of posters post about top end noise and alot find out they have the beginnings of a spun main bearing. Put the car in inspection mode (youtube: Prius Inspection Mode) and then while its running get under engine and listen with a rod to your ear to the oil pan and see if you can hear some banging in there. Seen alot of them here lately.
Maybe just listening to the engine underneath will tell you the story.

Then change the oil and drain the oil into a nice size container. Look at the oil in the sun for flakes in the oil and shiny pieces in the oil and look real good in the oil filter. Flakes:....look for new motor.

Whats the mileage?

 

Louder under the car is not valves. You can keep driving it and the knock sensor will eventually detect it as it gets worse and pull timing and the car will feel like a dog with no giddeup. Sometimes it will throw a misfire P3002-3-4 also. People have continued driving it after that usually much harder since its such a dog now and that ends quite dramatically with a piston through the block.

Try my rod to the ear to the pan trick. You will not like what you hear.

 

through in a salvage engine and tranny, cheap money.

 

great deals on newer pri out there!

 

yep...about 2 months from now we will see a new guy here complaining about his new to him car making a funny noise ....lol
Cause they'll take that thing right to the auction and somebody will think there getting the deal of a lifetime!!!

 

This is what my engine sounds like......and it's been going on for over 35k miles. I take it on 600+ mile trips and never had an issue. I still have not identified the problem. Sounds like a sewing machine

 

or throw a rod, then come here complaining that these cars are supposed to last 500,000 miles.

 

You don't need a new engine, the car runs fine with that noise. In fact, it's the most responsive of my 3 gen2 cars. This is the best car I've owned LOL

 

The difference is on his engine sound when he went by the wheelwell I can clearly hear lower end booming. Yours all I hear is noisy
top end. His probably saw oil starvation somewhere in it's life probably extreme.

Drakemeyers should probably go to toyota.com/owners and join the the members club. Then search his vin and all the service records the car ever saw in its life will be listed there. Probably some interesting reading. I bet it was dealer oil change maintained.

Moot point...180K is a good run in any car. Drive it till it explodes.

 

Sorry, my phone must not be true enough to hear that as lower end noise. It sounded like valve tick through that tinny little speaker. Just listened on my headphones, and it's clear that's not quite right. If you've got lower end knocking, I agree with the "drive it till it explodes" camp. Sorry.