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My wife's 2013 RX350 with only 57,000mi has had a timing chain rattle on startup for as long as I can remember (she got it at 37,000mi).
It lasts maybe 1.5-2.0 seconds then it runs smoothly.
I have had other cars that did that at even lower mileage, and changing the hydraulic tensioner made no difference.
Once the engine has run that day, startup makes no noise, so I guess the hydraulic pressure bleeds off overnight with the thinner oils used today.
She is buying a 2020 RX350 with only 20,000mi on it, so I will buy her 2013 which the dealership where she's buying the 2020 remarked he hasn't seen such a pristine
older RX as clean as hers in years, which is why I want the car, but I did searches, and while the LS460/600 is known for rattle on initial startup, I didn't see anything
about the RX350 or the ES350 doing that.
I live where it's HOT (might reach 120deg this week), so I am not opposed to using a synthetic 10-30 oil, but that probably wouldn't make a difference overnight
on the leak down. On the other hand, I cannot imagine that a 10-30 synthetic would ruin the engine as some people claim.
Any opinions? Anyone had a reasonably low mileage RX make noise.
60,000mi is not exactly "low miles," but IMHO the engine should be bullet proof until 150-180k if scrupulously maintained with frequent oil changes like this
one has.
You are hearing camshaft gear rattle, specifically the VVTi gears. Fix is to remove the engine and replace two camshafts very few people have this done. On rare occasions the gear(s) catastrophically fail. I have a RAV4 with the problem the car has a bit over 200,000 miles.
Yes your car has solenoids that vary cam timing. That's not the issue, mechanically there is too much tolerance causing rattle until oil pressure builds.There is nothing you can do about this short of replacing both cams.
My wife's 2013 RX350 with only 57,000mi has had a timing chain rattle on startup for as long as I can remember (she got it at 37,000mi).
It lasts maybe 1.5-2.0 seconds then it runs smoothly.
I have had other cars that did that at even lower mileage, and changing the hydraulic tensioner made no difference.
Once the engine has run that day, startup makes no noise, so I guess the hydraulic pressure bleeds off overnight with the thinner oils used today.
She is buying a 2020 RX350 with only 20,000mi on it, so I will buy her 2013 which the dealership where she's buying the 2020 remarked he hasn't seen such a pristine
older RX as clean as hers in years, which is why I want the car, but I did searches, and while the LS460/600 is known for rattle on initial startup, I didn't see anything
about the RX350 or the ES350 doing that.
I live where it's HOT (might reach 120deg this week), so I am not opposed to using a synthetic 10-30 oil, but that probably wouldn't make a difference overnight
on the leak down. On the other hand, I cannot imagine that a 10-30 synthetic would ruin the engine as some people claim.
Any opinions? Anyone had a reasonably low mileage RX make noise.
60,000mi is not exactly "low miles," but IMHO the engine should be bullet proof until 150-180k if scrupulously maintained with frequent oil changes like this
one has.
Bob
Why are you buying a car that is already in your household?
Anyway the chain rattle at start-up may be normal for some 3.5 engines. So I would not be concerned about it.
Last edited by carguy75; Jun 24, 2025 at 05:41 PM.
My 2015 RX350 do not make any chain rattle noise at start-up, but I thought that the Car Care Nut mentioned in one video that the 3.5 V6 may have a loose timing chain at start -up until the tensioners get filled with oil which may rattle but is normal. However, if that start-up rattle is VVT gear related then that is another story it seems.
Did you ever run the car low on oil? VVTI gears for sure if its on start up. CCN said you ever run this car low on oil, its death to its VVTI gears.
Never.
The car uses zero (1/8" on the dip stick) oil between changes. so has never been neglected
The VVTi will destroy your engine from my research (just found it):
(If you watch the video Toyota put in a lot of bad parts, and the locating pins that are supposed to lock the components
to prevent violent rattle until there is adequate oil pressure can seize allowing the rattle, then the
internal parts break and grenade the engines totally. Poorly engineered components and replacing the Phasers costs
thousands of dollars, but should be done if you have VVTi rattle. This is the Car Care Nut a Toyota/Lexus Master Tech
who opened his huge shop in Chicago. He' fascinating and had a hundred YouTubes out. He's the real deal.)
My 2015 RX350 do not make any chain rattle noise at start-up, but I thought that the Car Care Nut mentioned in one video that the 3.5 V6 may have a loose timing chain at start -up until the tensioners get filled with oil which may rattle but is normal. However, if that start-up rattle is VVT gear related then that is another story it seems.
I would not risk it.
Yes, guess I posted mine somehow during the time you were writing my replay immediately above.
Everyone says that it's harmless but the Car Care Nut has seen it all and he says it's very dangerous.
It only lasts under 2 seconds per day on the first startup until oil pressure builds, but I don't know it the
lock pin is not engaging, or, it's not getting oil pressure soon enough.
I wonder if the VVTi Solenoid is leaking, but it seems the locating pin engages when there is NO oil pressure
(a spring inserts the pin until there is oil pressure that unlocks the pin).
I have no idea if it will help as no one has addressed it, but I might try changing the control solenoids just
in case since they are cheap and easy before giving up. I don't know what it costs to change the phasers,
but it has to be bloody expensive. Cheaper than an engine.
The car is absolutely pristine (It's as clean as the '22 she is buying, but is 9 years older, and with only 60k,
I WOULD like to keep it if I can). And the '22 is indistinguishable from a '25 on the showroom floor.
^^^ Just change the engine oil and oil filter every 5k miles and use good quality full synthetic 0w-20 engine oil. Clean oil keeps the VVT and timing chain system small oil passages very clean.
I change my oil every 4-5k miles and my 2015 RX350 190k mile engine is very clean compared to the engine in the video.
My engine with over 190k miles with 4-5k miles oil change using Valvoline 0W-20 full synthetic high mileage engine oil. No sludge or tarnish or rattles.
Last edited by carguy75; Jun 26, 2025 at 07:27 PM.
2013 RX350 Timing Chain Rattle
