Hey guys, this is former "new toy", lost my password....

My 94 22re has recently started making a bunch of noise. It kinda sounds like a diesel when it's at idle, a kind of rattle. Using the screwdriver trick I haven't been able to find the origin specifically, but it may be coming from the valve train, it is also quite noticable under the truck.

History: Bought the truck in the spring with 130K. Engine sounded fine, except the timing chain made noise at start up so I did that with an EB steel rail kit. (BTW, Still makes the same noise at start upfor 2-3 sec with all new parts, I guess this is normal?)

It runs great, so I Drove it for awhile and all the sudden I would get this intermittent rattleing from the engine at idle. I changed the oil it it seemed to go away...for about 1000 miles, when it returned. Louder now, and almost all the time. Changed the oil again and it got a little better but still there, sometimes loud sometimes relatively quiet. I suspected valves, so I adjusted them. No change. What really gets me is that it comes and goes...and 99% sure it's internal.

Then I noiticed yesterday while tag saleing (lots of engine on and off at each stop) that on a restart when the truck has only been off for a short time, the engine knocks for a few seconds on the restart. Sounds pretty bad, then it goes away. Not the same noise as the rattle... but maybe related???

I was thinking oil pressure problem, so I installed a guage last night, and it seems ok on an initial look. On a cold start, pressure picks up to 60psi within a few seconds (shows 0 untill the t-chain slap subsides). Then after idle comes down it settles at about 35psi. It goes up to 80 or so when I give it some gas. I am getting concerned here...and am now worried about taking her on any trips far from home <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Any ideas / comments? This is really beginning to piss me off, I just got it running great but if this #@$% keeps up, pretty soon I'm dump it and buy a new 04 taco....

How can I tell if I have a rod bearing going?

Best way to tell, climb under your rig with an average sized hammer, start banging on the downpipe really hard at a fast pace. When your ears quit ringing climb out from under the rig and think about what you just heard....thats how 22R-E lets you know that a rod bearing is giving up the ghost...it sends the piston into the bottom of the cylinder head. The exhuast system amplifies the sound of the impact. Starts off subtle and intermittant, but gets worse quickly. A recent drop in oil pressure is another indicator of bearings gone wild.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

**Get a mechanics stethescope and poke around the block and headgasket in multiple areas. Localize any noises and then think about the arrangement of parts in the engine...if you hear something in the pan or up at the headgasket mating line good chance that a rod bearings on the way out.