I'm not gonna "go after them" but hopefully they'll show some goodwill considering the timing of it all if I play dumb a bit thinking it's something they did.

As of now I'm waiting for a follow up appointment for them to do the formal diagnosis and recommendation.

If it's a full on replacement of the vvti cam gear ($$$) I'm gonna try to seafoam it and then do my own oil change with a new filter as a last ditch effort.

If that doesn't work then possibly bite the bullet on the work.

Is it that hard to replace yourself ? I’m sure if you get some smarty pants like trollface or bic baws to help out, you guys can probably do the work yourself and save the labor.

I don’t think it’s an engine out repair is it ? All the VVTI crap is up top isn’t it ? Well I guess maybe you gotta take off the side of the chain is damaged or something.

I watch this guy religiously

Mine sometimes makes a grinding noise on startup that I thought sounded like the starter was staying engaged but now I'm thinking it's this instead. It's super intermittent so hard to diagnose.

While trying to find more videos of the noise to compare I found this. These fixes seem pretty straightforward so it might be worth trying them before tearing it fully apart. Apparently there's a TSB for it too so you might be able to have Toyota cover it?

Yeah that's where I learned about the vvti locking pin.


According to RAV4 forums it's an engine out procedure

Thanks, just watched this. Dunno how easy it would be to do the valve covers on a transverse V6 but at least doesn't require engine out. Might be a good second step after the oil change to test out. Fingers crossed.

That said, definitely sounds like something to do with lack of oil pressure. Could easily be an oil filter with a faulty anti drainback valve. Here's hoping...

His problem is because his 2GR is in a Rav4. The engine is literally shoehorned in there and it's a bitch to do anything.

Most, if not all 2GR that's mounted transversely will require engine out repairs to do the VVT-i gears

Your MY would've been a transitional year. Depending on the production date, etc, your oil cap might say 5W30 or 0W20 is ok to use.

An update on this, I ran some seafoam thru the engine for about 180 kms and did an oil and filter change with Mobil 1 0w30 synthetic.

Happy to say the sound disappeared. No idea if it was the seafoam, oil change, or oil weight.

But at least it proved it was something to do with the last dealer oil change.

Now I wonder if I should stick to 0w30. Do Toyota dealers even carry 0w30?

I really can’t imagine it being the oil that’s causing it. Probably seafoam helped clean out the carbon buildup and maybe unstuck a valve that was sticking.

I think it's safe to assume dealers will not normally carry 0W30 oil, or at least it's not popular enough to use in a routine oil change. You may need to specifically request it and pay dearly for it and maybe they will still use 0W20 :)

I put high mileage oil in mine and the noise went away after a week or so. It still happens once in a while when hot outside, but I only use high mileage from now on. Get that oil swelling additives to seal it all back up. Lol

Which brand and weight do you use? I need to switch to a high mileage oil on the 04 Mini Cooper S. I'm still using 5W40. :pokerface:

Shell Rotella T6 all the things

Plz no

I use whatever was called for. I want to say 5w30 for the Rav?

Have a somewhat similar clatter on my 09 rav4 v6 for the last 4yrs. I think its pulley rattle on mine as its intermittent. Very audible at idle but thats when I crank up the tunes and keep driving

HEY! where the fuck have you been!?!?! havent seen you post in a while broski :suspicious:

Bought another townhouse a few months ago so I've been working on it daily. Been making constant and rage-filled home depot/rona runs while beating the absolute piss out of my rav :lol

My rav ended up getting airbags in the rear to carry the loads I was abusing the Rav with ��

Lol I do all our Home Depot runs with the Rav too. No way was I killing myself putting bags of cement into the lifted Grand Cherokee, gimme that sweet Toyota low load bed.