Low RPM Growling Sound

[unkn0wns0ldier]

Hi

I recently (Mid August) bought the 2027 LC and I was super excited to take my family to a ton of place. Yesterday we took our first family road trip to the pacific coast. The whole ride when I was cruising on the highway, all I heard was this low RPM growling sound constantly unless I increased the RPMs and then it would subside. This happens locally too but it goes away due to braking and faster acceleration. Anyway this growling drove us crazy given we upgraded from a Subaru which was amazingly quiet. I understand going from a crossover to a truck frame has its differences but this seemed way worse than that a small difference. Imagine listening to a diesel farm engine running your whole road trip, that's what it felt like. a vehicle in 2027 costing over 60,000 cannot be this bad. Has anyone had this issue? Please suggest what can I say to the dealer to fix this.

 

[Jon]

I think I know the noise you're talking about and would agree that the engine sound is a bit grumbly and a little strange at low RPM, but in my '26 it's not so loud that anyone seems to mind. Of course the radio is always on but not usually high.

Tell the dealer and have them drive it or ride with you. While you're there see if you can drive another one (even a used but unmodified one) and see if you notice the same noise.

Good luck! This vehicle certainly has its quirks.

 

[unkn0wns0ldier]

yea I'm going in tomorrow... the thing is we are going from a crossover like subaru and I still have one and the 9 year old subaru is SUPER quiet and here is a ~70k vehicle that just makes it hard to sit in for a long drive.... anyone figure this out, it would be of great help!

 

[DubDub]

I have always said that this little 4 sounds a lot like a low displacement diesel. I am also pretty sure I know the growl you are talking about, and I’m certain it is normal. What is appealing to me is annoying you kind of thing.

To be completely honest, I think there isn’t going to be a solution that eradicates it for you. I would suggest maybe taking a look at the various sound deadening threads in the forum, especially this one by @eurocarfanatic : j250-wind-noise-upgrading-to-the-gx-550s-acoustic-front-door-glass-yes-you-can. It isn’t going to completely remove sounds transmitted by something physically attached to your vehicle, but I bet it helps. This little putter of a motor sure has some quirks, and tons of character that many get used to, some absolutely can’t get over, and probably even fewer (like myself) endear. Good luck!

 

[unkn0wns0ldier]

I have always said that this little 4 sounds a lot like a low displacement diesel. I am also pretty sure I know the growl you are talking about, and I’m certain it is normal. What is appealing to me is annoying you kind of thing.

To be completely honest, I think there isn’t going to be a solution that eradicates it for you. I would suggest maybe taking a look at the various sound deadening threads in the forum, especially this one by @eurocarfanatic : j250-wind-noise-upgrading-to-the-gx-550s-acoustic-front-door-glass-yes-you-can. It isn’t going to completely remove sounds transmitted by something physically attached to your vehicle, but I bet it helps. This little putter of a motor sure has some quirks, and tons of character that many get used to, some absolutely can’t get over, and probably even fewer (like myself) endear. Good luck!

Interesting.. thanks for sharing that post! The noise, however, is coming from underneath the vehicle from the engine as opposed to road noise based on my hearing at least. I don't know how much the glass would help. I feel it has more to do with low rpm lugging as if the vehicle is expecting me to constantly have the vehicle in high RPMs which makes no sense given most of the time on highways we would be cruising

 

[DubDub]

Interesting.. thanks for sharing that post! The noise, however, is coming from underneath the vehicle from the engine as opposed to road noise based on my hearing at least. I don't know how much the glass would help. I feel it has more to do with low rpm lugging as if the vehicle is expecting me to constantly have the vehicle in high RPMs which makes no sense given most of the time on highways we would be cruising

That’s what I was talking about. The engine growl you are hearing is something I see as a lovable quirk on mine. I just referenced that thread and others because the sound deadening topic goes well beyond glass. Worth digging in for a but, but I’m not going to try and provide a synopsis for hundreds of hours of work and experimentation.

 

[mnm]

Interesting.. thanks for sharing that post! The noise, however, is coming from underneath the vehicle from the engine as opposed to road noise based on my hearing at least. I don't know how much the glass would help. I feel it has more to do with low rpm lugging as if the vehicle is expecting me to constantly have the vehicle in high RPMs which makes no sense given most of the time on highways we would be cruising

Yeah I all of a sudden noticed this in my vehicle as well. Totally know what you're talking about. Took it to Toyota and they didn't understand what I was pointing out, told me there are no issues. I suppose I can choose to ignore it, but the car didn't used to feel like this! May get a second opinion.

 

[unkn0wns0ldier]

That’s what I was talking about. The engine growl you are hearing is something I see as a lovable quirk on mine. I just referenced that thread and others because the sound deadening topic goes well beyond glass. Worth digging in for a but, but I’m not going to try and provide a synopsis for hundreds of hours of work and experimentation.

yes understood, thanks for your input! I'll report back my findings tomorrow from the dealership

 

[Reds1958]

Hi

I recently (Mid August) bought the 2027 LC and I was super excited to take my family to a ton of place. Yesterday we took our first family road trip to the pacific coast. The whole ride when I was cruising on the highway, all I heard was this low RPM growling sound constantly unless I increased the RPMs and then it would subside. This happens locally too but it goes away due to braking and faster acceleration. Anyway this growling drove us crazy given we upgraded from a Subaru which was amazingly quiet. I understand going from a crossover to a truck frame has its differences but this seemed way worse than that a small difference. Imagine listening to a diesel farm engine running your whole road trip, that's what it felt like. a vehicle in 2027 costing over 60,000 cannot be this bad. Has anyone had this issue? Please suggest what can I say to the dealer to fix this.

I find that switching to the sport driving mode made things a little quiter. But not alot. Unfortunately, for anyone annoyed by this turbo noise, it’s the sound of this generation of Land Cruiser s.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I think I know what you are describing, I think that's just the way this engine is. If it turns out to be a 400 000km + engine it will just become something that is at best endearing or at worst quirky. This is just the way she is I think, a little extra vibration and noise at low rpm. I do not expect a fix. Sport mode will drop ylu down a gear under load and you will encounter it less often.

 

[wpage]

Another thread mentioned there is a dealer enabled/disabled factory software option to quiet the growl. Not certain if this was true or just a hearsay type remark. If the noise is really a problem for your family. Ask your dealer service crew about it...

 

[LC250MD]

Was your car equipped with the cat back exhaust option?

I test drove one and personally hated the “ exhaust sound enhancement”

If it is so equipped, perhaps the dealer can be pressured into swamping it to the stock exhaust, which quieter, particularly when the engine kicks on from battery mode

 

[ultane]

I find that switching to the sport driving mode made things a little quiter. But not alot. Unfortunately, for anyone annoyed by this turbo noise, it’s the sound of this generation of Land Cruiser s.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[ultane]

I think I know what you are describing, I think that's just the way this engine is. If it turns out to be a 400 000km + engine it will just become something that is at best endearing or at worst quirky. This is just the way she is I think, a little extra vibration and noise at low rpm. I do not expect a fix. Sport mode will drop ylu down a gear under load and you will encounter it less often.

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[ultane]

Was your car equipped with the cat back exhaust option?

I test drove one and personally hated the “ exhaust sound enhancement”

If it is so equipped, perhaps the dealer can be pressured into swamping it to the stock exhaust, which quieter, particularly when the engine kicks on from battery mode

Welcome to the asylum.

 

[unkn0wns0ldier]

Please correct me if i'm wrong in my understanding.
This growling sound is happening because of lugging i.e we are at lower rpms but the system is asking for an upshift in gears as apparently that's how Toyota got the fuel efficiency with this v4 'hybrid' motor. Assuming that previous point is correct, I would think driving in ECO Mode the whole time should be better right since in ECO mode, it stays in the current gear longer therefore the system isn't looking to upshift

 

[GR8Santini]

Any chance your LC came with the LC TRD exhaust as a port option? They are a bit louder on low exhaust tones/engine lugging. You can look on the window sticker, or just check the rear tailpipe to see if you have a resonator.

 

[unkn0wns0ldier]

Any chance your LC came with the LC TRD exhaust as a port option? They are a bit louder on low exhaust tones/engine lugging. You can look on the window sticker, or just check the rear tailpipe to see if you have a resonator.

yes my LC has the cat black exhaust

 

[NoMe cruiser]

Please correct me if i'm wrong Toyota got the fuel efficiency with this v4 'hybrid'

You must have a different motor than I do. I have the in line 4 cylinder.

 

[GR8Santini]

yes my LC has the cat black exhaust

Cool you got options.

• Replacing the cat back is your best option to get it quiet. Seriously might be worth asking your dealer if they’d trade it out being so new.
• Some think it’s too quiet. A member on the forum could trade you their stock quieter system for your TRD - it has value. It’s all easy bolt on/off.
• Or you can put add aftermarket resonator on your current tailpipe - somewhat quieter.
• Or you can buy new OE tailpipe which comes w/ resonator. Would be quieter, but you still have a free flow center muffler.