Direct Injection Noise
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: WA
Direct Injection Noise
I did a search and did not find a whole lot of topics on this so maybe it is just bugging me. We bought a 07 last Dec and I started telling my wife this car seemed loud. Now it has 5k miles on it and it is even worse. We took it in and they said it was normal. It is louder in the cabin than my friends E320 dsl. I tell you if this is the best that Lexus can do, I will never ever own another.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: louisiana
This is so obnoxious for me that I'm thinking about selling it, I only have 2700 miles and now maybe it gets worse down the road? No way.
I do notice that somewhere around 80 degrees and with the car warm it's almost bearable. I went through a drive through last night, about 50 degrees out, ticking echoes off the brick wall, sheesh.
I do notice that somewhere around 80 degrees and with the car warm it's almost bearable. I went through a drive through last night, about 50 degrees out, ticking echoes off the brick wall, sheesh.
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,886
Likes: 604
From: USA
Direct injection is loud as the fuel is moving through the injectors at over 1000psi. This is just a characteristic of direct injection. Lexus/Toyota is not the only one with this type of noise. Many manufacturers are moving to this technology so the characteristic sound is not going away anytime soon. But in time, there should be improvements to suppress the noise.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I did a search and did not find a whole lot of topics on this so maybe it is just bugging me. We bought a 07 last Dec and I started telling my wife this car seemed loud. Now it has 5k miles on it and it is even worse. We took it in and they said it was normal. It is louder in the cabin than my friends E320 dsl. I tell you if this is the best that Lexus can do, I will never ever own another.
Or go test drive other vehicles with direct injection, there are many of them, and then go back to dealer and have a meeting to discuss your findings and anything they can do to please you or go to another Lexus dealer svc.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Southern Cal
How often does the noise come about? I test drove a 07 GS350 yesterday and did not hear anything...maybe it was becuase the car was pretty cold. But if you guys could give me some input as to how often the noise comes about it would be helpful. Also, how many of you that hate the noise would have rather gotten a GS430?
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: NJ
The noise is constant, it's inherent to the design. It doesn't bother me at all, but I noticed it even during the test drive. If you didn't, chances are good that you will be ok with it. To me it's very subtle, nothing to complain about, but apparantly some people find it annoying, so maybe you want to drive the 350 again.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,810
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From: So Cal
It's a small price to pay for 303+ hp and 27/19 mpg from a 3.5l NA V6. If you want quiet, trade for a ES/RX350, you'll get the non DI version of a 3.5l V6 with the muted hp and whisper quiet cabin...
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I was driving around in my GS350 last night and as soon as I started up the car I heard it more then usual. It didn't bother me, maybe it was the cold weather in Miami (52 degrees) that made it sound louder. Keep in mind I didn't drive the car for a day and it was low low low on gas. 
Trade off is great IMO. For those who this problem bugs, turn up the volume to around 10 and you will be set.
Trade off is great IMO. For those who this problem bugs, turn up the volume to around 10 and you will be set.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
People in the RX forum are complaining about valve ticking too when the engine is cold, so are the owners in the RAV4 V6 forum. I think the ticking is from the valve design of the 3.5 V6 not the direct injectors itself. Anybody here have ticking noise from a GS460 or a LS, which has direct injection also.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 4
From: CA
honestly, I don't hear anything, but then again, I am the type of person who likes to hear the car's engine roar, so I love engine noise and exhaust noise and road feel. Seems like that's the exact opposite of what typical lexus owners expect from a Lexus - Complete silence.
Bottom line, if you don't hear it, great, enjoy the car, if you do hear every noise in the car, your ears are overly sensitive. Crank up the volume and enjoy
Bottom line, if you don't hear it, great, enjoy the car, if you do hear every noise in the car, your ears are overly sensitive. Crank up the volume and enjoy
Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: Sunny So. Cal.
How timely this post is. I just took my car in for an oil change and told the svc rep about a ticking noise i hear. I also thought it was valves but nope it was the injectors.
This 3rd gen has to be the biggest let down of the 3 (and I have owned all 3), engine noises, tire noises, on a NEW CAR?!?!?. BMW here i come.
This 3rd gen has to be the biggest let down of the 3 (and I have owned all 3), engine noises, tire noises, on a NEW CAR?!?!?. BMW here i come.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 4
From: CA
How timely this post is. I just took my car in for an oil change and told the svc rep about a ticking noise i hear. I also thought it was valves but nope it was the injectors.
This 3rd gen has to be the biggest let down of the 3 (and I have owned all 3), engine noises, tire noises, on a NEW CAR?!?!?. BMW here i come.
This 3rd gen has to be the biggest let down of the 3 (and I have owned all 3), engine noises, tire noises, on a NEW CAR?!?!?. BMW here i come.
man, if you honestly think bmw is going to be rattle free and more quiet than Lexus, you are in for a very rude awakening when you switch.
believe me, we love bmw
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 243
Likes: 2
From: CA
I almost left the car with the dealer when I first got the car because of the ticking. After the car was PDI'ed, I drove it from the back of the dealership to the front where my wife was waiting. She has a keen ear and asked me if I heard a loud ticking from the engine. I didn't hear it but when you start to listen for it, it's there. So we had our saleman come out and he didn't know why either so he got another car from the lot and put it side by side to mine. It also had the ticking sound, so I figured it was normal for the car.
I don't here it much, but maybe some cars are tuned differently and it's just louder because of variations.
I don't here it much, but maybe some cars are tuned differently and it's just louder because of variations.