First post here...

Thanks in advance for any input.

2000 Camry LE 4cyl Automatic
250,000 miles

On a couple occasions recently I have had a tremendous amound of valve noise upon startup.... It does not sound good, the noise goes away after 1 or 2 seconds, but for that 1 or 2 seconds it makes me cringe.. So is this an oil pressure problem?? Is there some sort of oil return valve that prevents oil from draining all the way to the sump that could have gone bad, therfore I am experiencing a oil less noisy startup. Or is this perhaps a timing issue??? Sloppy timing chain or belt or tensioner??

I am pretty mechanically minded, but I am looking for some experienced guys who might have seen this symptom before.

 

just got a 2005 camry le same engine 91k miles does the same on startup but it goes away after like 15 seconds of warming up. Lmk if you find anything

 

My 1999 5sfe does that too and I do not like it. While I was doing my timing belt (and tensioner, spring, idler, etc.) I also fixed the oil leak on my pump cover with a new gasket and shaft seal. While I had that all apart, I bought a new pump rotor and impeller and installed that too. That seemed to help it a bit but it is still noticeable for about 1 second at cold start-up. So, what I do, especially in the winter, is to hit the key and crank the engine and as soon as it wants to start (usually within 1/2 second of cranking) I turn the key off. Then I start it up and there is no noise from a dry start at all. I use a very good WIX 10,000 mile oil filter (I still change every 4,000 miles) with a silicone anti-drainback valve but it was still doing it. The thing I really want to fix is the start-ups when it is like 20 degrees F outside and the engine revs right up to 2,000 rpm and settles back to about 1,700 rpm until it warms up and starts dropping. I would never rev a cold engine that high on my own and I do not like doing that when the oil is as thick as maple syrup. I read on the forums somewhere that I can put a resistor inline with my engine temp sensor and "trick" the engine into thinking it is already a bit warmed up. I was considering installing a variable resistor I could operate from the driver's seat and adjust the idle via the temp. reading but, not sure how this would mess with the injection mixture ratio which needs to be richer to run properly when cold. My 2nd start method sometime works to not only get the oil where it needs to be before actually starting but it sometime makes it run a little slower when it starts the 2nd time around.

Bill