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Ticking sound in the Lexus 3.5 liter engine (350)

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

Reply to
Graybeard
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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.

Reply to
Ray O

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."

Reply to
johngdole

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