Friend has an aurion which makes this noise when cold. Been slowly getting worse, but everyone (toyota mechanics, dealers, etc) say its normal. To me, its very much NOT normal for a car to sound like that, especially since it only started doing it when it passed 160,000km.
Anyone else encountered similar noises on 2GR-FE's? More you hear it, the more it sounds like something higher up in the engine, maybe valvetrain. Sounds like metal on metal tapping, being echoed. Seems to be oil pressure related because if you switch off and start again immediately, noise vanishes.
Maybe chain tensioner or something?