edikam

I have 2011 GX 460 with 28000 miles. Just recently I started to notice the noise of the engine. You can only hear it only from a driver’s seat, and it happens when you drop the pedal and engine goes into idling, at stop signs or stop lights etc. It comes as grinding noise and goes away when you accelerate. If the vehicle in parking or at full stop, you can hear this humming light grinding noise. I go outside, lay under the car and hear no noise.
The dealer says it is a normal sound for this vehicle. I tried a few of them, and it is not the sound I hear.
Do you have the same sound?

SaniDel

With 28,000 miles on a 2011 GX 460 you should have had two oil and filter changes and are within 2,000 miles of a third to stay within warranty. Were they done, were they done within 10,000 and 20,000 miles respectively and were they done using the synthetic low-viscosity oil required?

At the rate you are accumulating mileage, you should be having your vehicle serviced by the odometer rather than by the calendar. The GX 460 was new and different in 2010 for many reasons, not the least of which was synthetic motor oil and an oil and filter change interval twice as long as the GX 470 it replaced. Sounds great, but that means it is even more important to change the oil and filter at no longer an interval than 10,000 miles, regardless of the date on the calendar.
Regards,

SaniDel

edikam

Thank you for all that information. Do you think I have that noise because of the oil?

edikam

The oil changes were done as you specified, but extra at 5000, 10000 and 20000.

Craig B

I would ask your service manger to let you go on a test drive with him in another vehicle to prove that it's normal. My 2010 doesn't have any noise from the engine like you describe.

SaniDel

May we know why there was an extra oil change at 5,000 miles as that is not what Lexus recommends?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5755063-post10.html

SaniDel

Neither does my early-production (November 2009) 2010 with over 25,000 miles.

T4Fun

ive changed the oil in mine twice at 5k and 10k. reason - computer said it was dirty. dealer did it free 1st time, 2nd time was about $70

i only put about 5k a year, but that will soon change to upside.

edikam

I changed oil because the dealer said it should be changed. Now as I look at records it is 8821, 16944, 25133.
I just do not see the connection between noise and oil changes.
The noise is only for the driver, it is not heard from passenger’s seat, so it is very hard to point it to the technician or to the service adviser.
When I drop the gas, and engine goes into idle, I hear the noise like the pump is pumping, or something is humming, either transmission thing. It is very hard to describe, but if you listen to your car when engine drops to idle, and even idling, there is a strange sound like lite grinding.

What does oil change have to do with it? I have no idea.
Could it be the dealer put a regular oil instead of synthetic this time?

SharpSpurs

Synthetic vs. Dino should make no difference in the engine sound. I have a 2011 and oil change per the book are 5K or 6 months for dino... Or 10k or 1 yr for syn. No sound as you describe from mine.

Mike

diagtime

GX460's all make a hard to hear sound from the transmission. Some people might describe it as a quiet chirping noise. It almost sounds like a drive belt pulley going bad. some tend to be slightly more noticeable than others. it changes with engine speed. The noise is normal. (if that's the one you're talking about).

and to someone else who said their car said the oil was dirty.......that oil maint required light turns on every 5k after being reset. at 5k, all you need to do is tire rotation.

edikam

Sounds like a good explanation; it is all in transmission, not engine. Yes, it does sound like a drive belt pulley going bad. Is there any way it can be fixed, like changing a fluid, adding fluid?
I am driving a loaner right now, 2012 GX basic, and I hear the sound just (1-10) 3, in my 2011 GX 460 Premium it is 6-7. Could it be something with air suspension that Premium has, maybe a pump?
Interesting thing you can only hear this sound in driver’s seat, not anywhere else, not outside.

diagtime, Can you give me an advise on what should I tell the dealer?

edikam

Sounds like a good explanation; it is all in transmission, not engine. Yes, it does sound like a drive belt pulley going bad. Is there any way it can be fixed, like changing a fluid, adding fluid?
I am driving a loaner right now, 2012 GX basic, and I hear the sound just (1-10) 3, in my 2011 GX 460 Premium it is 6-7. Could it be something with air suspension that Premium has, maybe a pump?
Interesting thing you can only hear this sound in driver’s seat, not anywhere else, not outside.

diagtime, Can you give me an advise on what should I tell the dealer?

T4Fun

i am not sure what "noise" you folks are referring to. i can hear most anything in a car, and i can state I hear no noise from the tranny. why would a tranny make noise out of all the things that could go wrong on a car? esp a lexus for that matter.
there are some undescribable sounds i hear from the suv when i first start the car, like a high frequency squeal that goes away in a few seconds. not sure what that is. anyone get this also? could be suv running thru its checks at start up

yes, the lcd on my gx said 'oil maintainence' required after 5k miles and ~ 1 year of ownership.

SecPole14

Any update on your situation, edikam?

I also have odd noises at idle when stopped, especially when cold.