Ticking sound in the Lexus 3.5 liter engine (350)

[Graybeard]

Hi Ray O, you were right:

Well, I took my ES350 to the dealer for the 10,000 mile scheduled service
and told them about the ticking sound heard when the engine was cold and
when accelerating or driving under load - like up a hill. The diagnostic
maintenance guy got in the car with me and we drove around the area, but the
engine was warmed up and I could barely detect the noise.

We returned to the dealer and he got an identical car off the lot and we
started the drive out of the dealers lot. He heard the ping (tick) sound
immediately.

He told me that the Lexus engineers had cut part of the skirt off the
pistons (I guess compared to the Avalon 3.5 L), resulting in a lighter
piston. He said that the sound we heard was "piston slap" and offered no
excuse or remedy!

My advise to all future Lexus 350 buyers is don't buy it. Instead, buy the
Avalon. It has the unmessed-up 3.5 liter engine and runs on recommended
regular gasoline. The car is quieter, has reclining rear seats, and I think
they even put in the same 6-speed tranny.

Graybeard

[Ray O]

Post by Graybeard
Well, I took my ES350 to the dealer for the 10,000 mile scheduled service
and told them about the ticking sound heard when the engine was cold and
when accelerating or driving under load - like up a hill. The diagnostic
maintenance guy got in the car with me and we drove around the area, but
the engine was warmed up and I could barely detect the noise.
We returned to the dealer and he got an identical car off the lot and we
started the drive out of the dealers lot. He heard the ping (tick) sound
immediately.
He told me that the Lexus engineers had cut part of the skirt off the
pistons (I guess compared to the Avalon 3.5 L), resulting in a lighter
piston. He said that the sound we heard was "piston slap" and offered no
excuse or remedy!
My advise to all future Lexus 350 buyers is don't buy it. Instead, buy
the Avalon. It has the unmessed-up 3.5 liter engine and runs on
recommended regular gasoline. The car is quieter, has reclining rear
seats, and I think they even put in the same 6-speed tranny.
Graybeard

Thanks for the update. Piston slap is a complaint that has come and gone
over the years, and while it can be annoying, it hasn't seemed to affect the
life of the engine.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Well, I've always thought the ES is just a glorified Camry. So I'm not
surprised about your concern for its poor quality.

Piston slaps: "essentially, the piston moves sideways and "slaps" or
"knocks" hard against the cylinder bore and causes damage to the
engine pistons and cylinders, excessive smoke emissions, excessive oil
consumption, carbon buildup on piston heads, decreased mileage, and a
loud and obnoxious "slapping" or "knocking" noise, all of which
diminishes vehicle resale value in the trade."

Post by Graybeard
Well, I took my ES350 to the dealer for the 10,000 mile scheduled service
and told them about the ticking sound heard when the engine was cold and
when accelerating or driving under load - like up a hill. The diagnostic
maintenance guy got in the car with me and we drove around the area, but the
engine was warmed up and I could barely detect the noise.
We returned to the dealer and he got an identical car off the lot and we
started the drive out of the dealers lot. He heard the ping (tick) sound
immediately.
He told me that the Lexus engineers had cut part of the skirt off the
pistons (I guess compared to the Avalon 3.5 L), resulting in a lighter
piston. He said that the sound we heard was "piston slap" and offered no
excuse or remedy!
My advise to all future Lexus 350 buyers is don't buy it. Instead, buy the
Avalon. It has the unmessed-up 3.5 liter engine and runs on recommended
regular gasoline. The car is quieter, has reclining rear seats, and I think
they even put in the same 6-speed tranny.
Graybeard

[DaveW]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Well, I've always thought the ES is just a glorified Camry. So I'm not
surprised about your concern for its poor quality.

You've thought a whole bunch of remarkably ignorant things for someone
who posts regularly to a Lexus newsgroup. I'm beginning to think your
girlfriend left you for someone who works for Lexus, or maybe, someone
who doesn't have an inexplicale bitterness towards some car
manufacturer.

What do you drive, john?

[tomit]

If you haven't already, I would add a can of BG 44K to the gas tank
just prior to fill up. I've read that this product has solved some of
the infamous GM engine 'ticking'. If it doesn't help, at least your
fuel system will be cleaner and the carbon deposits, if any, will be
removed.

Good luck!

Tom