The most likely suspect is the exhaust pipe flange gasket, It is a "sintered metal" donut between two parts held together with spring-loaded bolts. It's a flexible joint that allows the engine to rock back and forth freely without braking the joint.
Sometimes these gaskets set up a squeak at higher mileages. Sometimes the noise goes away over time. If it is too irritating, that donut must be replaced. In some instances the dealer will have an updated, or "superceded" part number to address this problem. Often the two bolts and nuts must be replaced at the same time as it's common for them to get rusted tight and snap when trying to remove them.
If you choose to ignore the noise, it doesn't affect the life of those parts or engine performance.
If the engine rocking is excessive when shifting gears, look at the engine mounts. At least one of them is responsible for controlling engine rocking. Watch the engine while it's running and a helper is shifting gears.
Jul 8, 2026 at 12:19 AM
