Loud engine on start up 1997 corolla

[Deelam]

Hi, new to this group. I own 3 toyotas. My son,  who is a new driver, has a 1997 Corolla. It's a tank. Clean, no leaks or lights, doesn't burn oil. The car has 123,000 miles. One thing I noticed it that the engine is very loud. Just a normal engine sound, but loud. It's louder on start up, and does quiet down after about 10 minutes. What could this be? My son wants to take the car to school in Florida but the loud engine makes me worry. We had a new timing belt and water pump done about 3 months ago. It was loud before the timing belt change. Nothing else major has ever been done to the car. Just routine maitence. I don't think it ever had a tune up. Could that be the problem?

[oldcodger]

Hi,

Could be so many causes, some things that come to mind  -

The valve clearances - checked / ok ?

Valve oil ways, have they had a "valve flush addative /oil change" ; if they become semi - blocked then the valve assembly can run noisey until the oil gets through

Is it the actual engine - could be wearing bearings in things like the A/C, steering or water pumps or even things like belt idler pulleys; was the cambelt one changed ?

Cracked / leaking inlet or outlet manifold / gaskets, also a known problem with a baffle in the inlet manifold rattling on some models -  details in forum somewhere.