Rav4.3 Turbo Whistle / Whine

April 15, 2015

Hi

I have a 2006 RAV4.3 which has developed a whistle at app 1500 rpm when increasing or decreasing revs.

I am told the RAV4.3 turbo does not have problems? The power is still there, the fuel consumption is good but the noise is worrying. I have checked the air intake and pipes and looking at the impeller wheel and all looks OK. The actuator linkage looks OK and moves.

Can anyone tell me what and how I can check anything or is this a specialist job. Or am I just being paranoid about noise?

April 16, 2015

Hi my wife has a 2006 2.2 XT3 from new it whined from new and still whines now, can't hear it when the radio is on but when it's not it is a bit noisy, reported it when it was new but she was told it was normal, I have worked on many 2.2 Toyota's all whine a bit some are very noisy, I think it depends on the end float when manufactured some are a bit better than others but in tolerance

April 16, 2015

Hi. Thanks for the quick reply. I'm assuming you're talking about the end float in the turbo shaft? I got this in 2012 with 60k on it. It was quiet then but developed what I can only describe as the "diesel knock noise". Under load or when accelerating, the knocking noise goes away, It's only under light load. Anyway. Ended up it was a faulty injector. Got Denso remanufactured replacements due to the other problems e.g. difficult cold starting, poor fuel consumption and a definitive but small vibration when I went above app 2000 revs. The injectors solved everything but the "diesel knock noise".

But. Back to the whine/whistle noise this whine/whistle has appeared when accelerating and decelerating around 1500 rpm so I'm assuming something has changed. If there are any checks I can do to put my mind at rest, I would be grateful to any of the many respected RAV4 experts that are members of the forum which is not to say I doubt your comments. I would just like to be able to find a reason for the noise that's there now but wasn't before. I've just added the Archoil AR6600 to half a tank of fuel and give it a 60 mile motorway run. I suppose I'll have to wait to see if makes any improvement.

Am I right in saying if the vanes were contaminated and/or sticking then there would be power loss and sluggish acceleration?

April 20, 2015

I would try a new air filter element. but the change of noise may be down to just the weather is warmer, Try new oil fully synthetic at the next oil change, I have servied many Rav4's and other 2.2 toyota's and the difference between using a better oil is there, I get less blue smoke and some off the older 2.2's burn a good bit of oil but the amount burnt is less using synthetic, but your 2012 will be OK for using oil, and try blanking the EGR valve, and it may soind strange but you just may be listening for it, the turbo is in a bad place.