2007 rx 350
Yesterday afternoon, while I drive home locally, I pickup the strange sound from front under hood. Every time, when I start to accelerate after traffic light stop, the sound come out. When I stop and park on the roadside test the engine, the engine sounds normal. After the car whole night parking, I found the engine oil leak out on the floor and the engine oil check bar show no engine oil.

Below two links are the sound video. I took them while driving.

Above video, the sound not very clear but in between 20' - 25' the sound is about close to what I heard yesterday.

This piece at about 8' -10' under the tunnel, it shows the sound stop when the car stoping.

Thanks for all suggestions.

 

Do not start it or drive it. Have it towed to a local mechanic, an oil hose has ruptured (either oil cooler hose or VVTi line). The noise likely related to low oil pressure, many things rely on it, such as the timing chain tensioner, the VVT valves etc. Prepare for worst, hope for best. Do not start it again.

 

Thank you for your idea. Is this a big project? I mean can I do it myself? Or it has to be done by a professional? I am planning to buy a new car and keep this old buddy and fix it myself. So, if it's a DIY possible project, I will try it my self. Can I have your advice. Thank you very very much!

 

Did some research on oil cooler hose and remind me that this is kind of a defect of this generation of RX 350. It should be metal pipe and the original is rubber or something similar material and it's easy to ruptured. I have even watched the video about how to change this hose. If this is the problem, It's not a difficult problem. I will check it myself first.
Your ideas are very valuable to me. Please offer me more idea about my old buddy. it's been about 17 years. My boys are grown up on him. I really don't want leave this old buddy away. It's been part of my family.

 

Both oil cooler hose (if you have one, it comes with tow prep package) and the VVT oil line are DIY'able and are covered in various posts here and you tubes. 2GR-FE engine.

Start by removing the front belly pan, it is coming off anyway at this point...

 

Thank you very much!!!

 

Start with this video.


The Car Care nut on Youtube is a former toyota tech.

His channel shows all kinds of DIY fixes from beginner to advanced.

 

Thank you very much!
Start to remove both oil cooler line and vvt line. It's kind of hard.
I found the line in blow picture rusty heavily and plan to replaced it together but don't know the parts name and number. Can you help me identify it?
Thanks again!

 

That might be a power steering line, see where it goes...

 

Yeah, that is a power steering line.
Rock auto has them. I was happy with the susong brand.

Still should replace the oil cooler line.

It will be two rubber hoses, not a metal line.

 

You also need to make sure you now if your vehicle is made in Japan or North america.
It can make a difference in some parts.

 

thanks for all suggestions.

 

that rusted line is the low pressure power steering line.

As someone else mentioned, get a sunsong branded one from rock auto. I've been very happy with that brand. make sure to use the clips provided, or re-use existing clips if they are still in good shape.

 

Thanks you very much!!!