Normal cold start sound?

[OneTimeAccount]

Changed to Liqui Moly 5w-30 and noticed this noise after a track session. Stock engine, no tunes and zero mods. Not sure what it is, if it’s always been there, or normal. Only hear it on cold starts when everything is cold. When warmed up it’s non existent. The faster, higher pitched ticks are injectors but it’s the lower thud/tick that I’m trying to figure out:



and here’s the sound when warmed up. You’ll noticed the sound has gone away:

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[Motorknut]

I used to have a ticking noise on the bmw N52 engine. Cold starts, particularly after the car hadn’t been started in a long time, or was not fully warmed up before it was shut down - then the ticking would happen on the next start up. Attributed to insufficient oil reaching the lifters. Went away once the engine was fully warmed up. I used 0w-30 oil then.

Not sure if it’s the same issue, but there’s a YouTube video of the noise captured (link below), maybe you can do a comparison.
Update on N52 ticking

 

[OneTimeAccount]

I used to have a ticking noise on the bmw N52 engine. Cold starts, particularly after the car hadn’t been started in a long time, or was not fully warmed up before it was shut down - then the ticking would happen on the next start up. Attributed to insufficient oil reaching the lifters. Went away once the engine was fully warmed up. I used 0w-30 oil then.

Not sure if it’s the same issue, but there’s a YouTube video of the noise captured (link below), maybe you can do a comparison.
Update on N52 ticking

It sounds a bit like that but not as loud and when warmed up, either gone or very very faintly intermittent.

What did you do to solve your issue?

 

[Motorknut]

It sounds a bit like that but not as loud and when warmed up, either gone or very very faintly intermittent.

What did you do to solve your issue?

I sold the car.

Okok, so I did report it to bmw, but as usual, if they can’t observe it, they don’t fix it. And it happened so rarely, I just tried not to drive the car for too short distances, and the ticking hardly recurred. But if I had known that there is possible damage caused by this (as reported by some owners), I would have looked at replacing the HVA part w the updated one.

In your case you may wanna try reporting it to Toyota, or try switching back to oem spec oil. See if the noise goes Away.

Does yours resolve itself after a brief warm up? Then maybe it’s normal. My n52 would still be tapping away as I drove out the estate … less than 1km distance. I’d have to cover at least 4km in a drive to avoid the tapping noise occurring at next start up.

 

[OneTimeAccount]

I sold the car.

Okok, so I did report it to bmw, but as usual, if they can’t observe it, they don’t fix it. And it happened so rarely, I just tried not to drive the car for too short distances, and the ticking hardly recurred. But if I had known that there is possible damage caused by this (as reported by some owners), I would have looked at replacing the HVA part w the updated one.

In your case you may wanna try reporting it to Toyota, or try switching back to oem spec oil. See if the noise goes Away.

Have you tried revving the engine gently and see if the ticking changes ?

Honestly probably would’ve done the same thing if I wasn’t completely in love with the car haha.

I wasn’t aware it could damage stuff. I’ll look into the issue a bit more as I’m not very familiar with it and If I do report it I should probably switch back to OEM 0w-20 anyways.

It isn’t there when I rev it and the car sounds and feels very smooth when warmed up.

 

[Motorknut]

Honestly probably would’ve done the same thing if I wasn’t completely in love with the car haha.

I wasn’t aware it could damage stuff. I’ll look into the issue a bit more as I’m not very familiar with it and If I do report it I should probably switch back to OEM 0w-20 anyways.

It isn’t there when I rev it and the car sound sand feels very smooth when warmed up.

I sold that car for different reasons, but overall the N52B25 engine had too many design issues.

think you prob should report it and see what they say. I’m guessing they’ll say it’s normal, but personally I would switch the oil and monitor if the noise goes away.

 

[OneTimeAccount]

I sold that car for different reasons, but overall the N52B25 engine had too many design issues.

think you prob should report it and see what they say. I’m guessing they’ll say it’s normal, but personally I would switch the oil and monitor if the noise goes away.

I just switched to Liqui Moly 5w-30 for track purposes per a few peoples recommendations ? they say it’s better for the engine during higher load sessions.

 

[zrk]

Sounds a bit like direct injection + cold thicker oil. Seems ok to me.

 

[OneTimeAccount]

Sounds a bit like direct injection + cold thicker oil. Seems ok to me.

Yeah after some more research and help from everyone I agree. Thanks.

At first it was concerning but I haven’t drove with 5w-30 Liqui Moly in this car when cold, so it shocked me a bit to hear that.

 

[Rocksandblues]

Yeah after some more research and help from everyone I agree. Thanks.

At first it was concerning but I haven’t drove with 5w-30 Liqui Moly in this car when cold, so it shocked me a bit to hear that.

Couple things... if holding on to warranty switch back to required oil and erase your social media tracks.

2- all BMW engines- one secret to long happy life is REALLY let the oil get up to temp before much throttle. Such tight tolerances and clearances every where. Don't know if it says where you are from but double truth if up North.

3- I really like Moly in this and previous platforms. Especially for hard track work. But, you have to balance your own tolerance for risking going outside Manufacturer recommendations. Not just Oil

 

[SD_MK]

Normal. Same thing for me. No issues so far, been tuned and been running liquimoly oil since first oil change at 1k miles. Car has only seen liquimoly, so 25k miles of hard abuse and every oil change is on schedule. 5-6k miles. No issues.

 

[OneTimeAccount]

Couple things... if holding on to warranty switch back to required oil and erase your social media tracks.

2- all BMW engines- one secret to long happy life is REALLY let the oil get up to temp before much throttle. Such tight tolerances and clearances every where. Don't know if it says where you are from but double truth if up North.

3- I really like Moly in this and previous platforms. Especially for hard track work. But, you have to balance your own tolerance for risking going outside Manufacturer recommendations. Not just Oil

You use Liqui-Moly in yours for tracking? I live in the cold Midwest. I use 0w20 for daily driving during cold months. Was recommended to use a thicker oil for tracking so I am but now I’m second guessing haha.

I always let the engine warm up for at least 15 minutes before using much throttle, so I think I’m good there.

Appreciate the help and advice!

 

[OneTimeAccount]

Normal. Same thing for me. No issues so far, been tuned and been running liquimoly oil since first oil change at 1k miles. Car has only seen liquimoly, so 25k miles of hard abuse and every oil change is on schedule. 5-6k miles. No issues.

Whew. Happy to hear another say it’s normal and theirs has the same lower tick/“thud”/clank haha.

I’ve read things from it being piston slap to hydraulic lifter valves to knock.

 

[Rocksandblues]

You use Liqui-Moly in yours for tracking? I live in the cold Midwest. I use 0w20 for daily driving during cold months. Was recommended to use a thicker oil for tracking so I am but now I’m second guessing haha.

I always let the engine warm up for at least 15 minutes before using much throttle, so I think I’m good there.

Appreciate the help and advice!

Yep- I am one of the Moly acolytes.
Bought back in mid 2020 on a Wednesday and was at the track that Sunday- Punted the warranty.
Base lines that Sunday and then been modding and adjusting since.
changed oil to liq Moly at 1500 and then every two months or so depending on events. At 16,000 miles of 80% track work. #knockingonwood

Committed to 2022 in Zupra but may sell this fall and look to a M2 csr- Got to drive a BMW M4 GT4 couple weeks ago and the allure/sounds/feel from a factory and purpose built race car is intoxicating

 

[Motorknut]

I just switched to Liqui Moly 5w-30 for track purposes per a few peoples recommendations ? they say it’s better for the engine during higher load sessions.

im sure for hard tracking purposes, the oil makes sense. Maybe it’s really just about needing more time to get up to temp at that viscosity. if you use the Oem spec oil in winter, perhaps just wait till then to monitor any noticeable change in the noise.

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