Engine Ticking/tapping On Cold Starts

[CurranShelter]

I noticed quite a while back that my 2004 T2 1.6 VVTi sometimes sounded noisy immediately after start-up (while still idling), and after the cold mornings we've had recently I can definitely say it comes on in cold weather. I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but can anyone let me know what it's all about? It's a sort of rapid tapping / ticking noise which changes speed according to the engine revs as I open the throttle but then soon seems to die away after driving off. It never seems to happen after warm start or on a warm day. A friend said it could be down to poor-quality engine oil, but it's only ever had oil from my Toyota dealer so either there's something dodgy going on there or that's not the problem. What's bothering me is whether there's could be lasting damage to the (now out-of-warranty) engine.

[BlueBlood]

The problem you describe is normal. Engine oil normally drains into the oil pan when you turn off your engine. When you start your engine it tales a few seconds for the engine to pump the oil back to the top of the engine. If the noise lasts longer than a minute when you first start your engine - check your oil level. If the oil level is full and the noise does not go away when the engine is at operating temperature you have a more serious problem.

[CurranShelter]

Thanks BlueBlood, that's reassuring.

[carl_g6]

sounds like piston slap, ya shouldnt rev it to much when it happens.

Could also be more serius like big end bearings, not sure

[ae102]

unlikely to be the pistonsrings - they rattle not tap and especially on quite a new car. are you sure its not the injectors you can hear? use a screwdriver to identify where the noise is coming from. if the noise is the injectors its normal!!

[T600]

Wot Blueblood said