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I HAVE HAD MY 2007 V6 CAMRY XLE SINCE MARCH 2007. ABOUT 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH AGO THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA,GETTING COLDER. I STARTED THE CAR AS USUAL AND HEARD, IN MY OPINION, WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A VALVE TAP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TODAY AND GOT IT BACK WITH THIS EXPLANATION...THE DEALER CALLED OUT TO THEIR TECHINICAL ENGINEERS IN CALIFORNIA. THE ENGINEERS SAID THIS NOISE WAS AN ACCEPTABLE OPERATING NOISE THAT OCCURS IN SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY (NOT ALL OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM). ACCORDING TO THE ENGINEERS, THE NOISE IS OCCURING IN THE PISTON CHAMBER AND IT GOES AWAY WHEN THE ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOOK 9 MONTHS TO SHOW UP, LET ALONE WHY TOYOTA DEEMS THIS AN ACCEPTABLE NOISE. I HAVE WORKED ON ENGINES IN MY EARLIER YEARS AND HAVE REBUILT TWO (2) ENGINES. I BELIEVE THE NOISE THAT I'M HEARING IS RELATED TO A HYDRAULIC LIFTER OR A VALVE. I'M SUPPOSED TO HEAR FROM A CUSTOMER REP. IN THREE DAYS...I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.  

I know you posted this quite a while ago, but I have the exact problem with my 2007 V6 XLE Camry and I wondered if you were able to get Toyota to identify and fix the problem.  Thanks.  

They would not fix the problem because they said it was an "acceptable engine noise." I went to a Lemon Law attorney. Long story short, they settled for $3000.00 of which the attorney took $2000.00. If you try to use the Lemon Law attorney, make sure you start the suit before the first year or you won't have a case....so the attorneys told me after the fact. Hope you have better luck than I did.