Strange engine noise
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 6
From: AZ
GS 350 Strange engine noise
Just bought a used 2016 GS350 with about 54,000 miles on it. Car is beautiful and drives great. I have however noticed that on cold starts and shifting into reverse there is a strange noise coming from the engine. If I shift back to park it gets louder. I am concerned this may be causing premature wear on engine components and I would like to drive this car for a very long time. It goes in to the dealer on Tuesday and will sit overnight so they can hear it Wednesday morning. The link to the video is:
https://youtu.be/zTVHPGUIVxY
This is from a cold start. My wife shifts from park to reverse, then back to park. The sound can be heard very clearly at the 1:07 mark. I have not heard this sound or anyone describing it on any other posts. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you.
https://youtu.be/zTVHPGUIVxY
This is from a cold start. My wife shifts from park to reverse, then back to park. The sound can be heard very clearly at the 1:07 mark. I have not heard this sound or anyone describing it on any other posts. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Last edited by Ameschke; May 7, 2021 at 12:12 PM. Reason: Title
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 6
From: AZ
The AC is completely off. The sound at 1:04 is the transmission being shifted from reverse back to park. Sometimes the engine starts making the sound while in reverse. That is how I noticed it in the first place. It just continues or gets louder as it is shifted back into park.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 6
From: AZ
I'll let you know what the dealer says next week. Other than that noise, the car is perfect. I just want it documented for warranty purposes. May I ask how many miles your GS has?
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Lexus Champion
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From: Texas
Until a cold start engine completely reaches typical operating temperature the ECU makes numerous engine and transmission 'adjustments' (fuel/air mixture, cam timing, throttle response, transmission shifting, etc.) by different means - some of which make noises (e.g. solenoid valves, mechanical valves). This is particularly true for the first few minutes of operation unless the ambient temperature is extremely low, then it takes even longer for normal engine/transmission operation.
I do not recall ever hearing the sound that you are questioning, but it's likely one of the many solenoid valves operating that are triggered by either the engine startup, oil pressure/flow or shifting into gear. I doubt there is anything amiss...
I do not recall ever hearing the sound that you are questioning, but it's likely one of the many solenoid valves operating that are triggered by either the engine startup, oil pressure/flow or shifting into gear. I doubt there is anything amiss...
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2021
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From: AZ
The issue is fairly consistent on a cold start so the dealer should be able to replicate the issue and hopefully diagnose the sound. I have multiple recordings of it as well so I will show those to them. It is quite loud and I can hear it in the cabin with the windows up.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2021
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From: AZ
Ambient temp was mid 80s. Oil level is right between the marks. Very clean oil, dealer changed it before selling it to me. Bought it from a Land Rover/Jaguar dealer right next to a Lexus dealer under the same auto group so I feel like they should know what they are doing. Should the oil be all the way to the upper mark?
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: TX
Ambient temp was mid 80s. Oil level is right between the marks. Very clean oil, dealer changed it before selling it to me. Bought it from a Land Rover/Jaguar dealer right next to a Lexus dealer under the same auto group so I feel like they should know what they are doing. Should the oil be all the way to the upper mark?
I am not sure the dealership fill up the oil up to between the mark is the right thing for them to do. Is that the oil level after the car has been sat for awhile or right after engine stop?
This is mine personal and I'm no technical knowledge about it, I would fill up the oil up a little and check the noise level again, and change the oil after that, because I don't like to mix oil from different brands or weight.
Edit: after a little more research, oil level between the mark is acceptable, but engine will noisier if oil a little low.
Last edited by Longevite1; May 8, 2021 at 12:08 PM.