Amsoil & Mobil1 EP drivetrain noise!!

[MrWideTires]

In case you need to know the specs: It's a 2004 Sentra SE-R SpecV (QR25DE) just slightly modified, it takes around 4.2 quarts.

It has 1/3 Amsoil Signature Series 0W30, and 2/3 Mobil1 Extended Performance 5w30, with a Pureone 14610 filter.

For some reason with this combination I get very notisable valvetrain noise.. so much that I'm scared of taking it over 2000rpm for the first 5 minutes. After this I am definitely going back to GC 0w30... but why would this oil combination give me so much valvetrain noise

 

[StevieC]

Could be the filter choice and not the oil... Or maybe a mechanical problem that the "thicker" GC is covering up?

 

[Pablo]

Why are you mixing oils?

 

[bepperb]

Not the beloved PL14610, say it ain't so.

I dunno. All day people have been griping about M1 and valvetrain noise. Maybe there is something there. Let us know if the GC cures it. But really, I wouldn't be scared. The oil is definitely there. Tappy valves are happy valves. It's the quiet ones that get burnt.

 

[Johnny248]

Is that a hydraulic valve train?

 

[kr_bitog]

Originally Posted By: MrWideTires
In case you need to know the specs: It's a 2004 Sentra SE-R SpecV (QR25DE) just slightly modified, it takes around 4.2 quarts.

It has 1/3 Amsoil Signature Series 0W30, and 2/3 Mobil1 Extended Performance 5w30, with a Pureone 14610 filter.

For some reason with this combination I get very notisable valvetrain noise.. so much that I'm scared of taking it over 2000rpm for the first 5 minutes. After this I am definitely going back to GC 0w30... but why would this oil combination give me so much valvetrain noise

Just leave it there, the noise will be gone after the two mix completely.
I have the same experience, I used SSO in my car. After running 7k kms,I check the dipstick and I find the oil level slightly above half full mark, so I add EP+Pennzoil remains, and at my surprise the engine noise getting louder.
However slowly it getting quieter after few hundred kilometeres, and very quiet after I idle my car for half an hours.

My guess is SSO has lot of anti-friction additives, but less detergent, and EP has more detergent, but that is just my wild guess.

 

[aquariuscsm]

On your next oci,use a good dino oil and I bet your valvetrain noise will be gone.

 

[kr_bitog]

Not really, I have tried the Toyota dyno oil, but it give coarse noise after 5k km.
So far, only 2 oils passed my startup noise test after passing 9k kms, M1 EP and SSO. I am lazy to change OCI and do flushing/auto-rx, so I am happy with 10k OCI on SSO.

It is interesting many people in my town using SSO swear by getting better fuel consumption, but for me no difference, just feel the engine getting a bit more torque.

 

[mechtech2]

My theory is that M1 has very similar and consistent molecules, instead of a bunch of mixed up ones. This allows noise to be more effectively transmitted in certain frequencies.
M1 has recurrent noise complaints, and it's not the quality of the oil that would be in question.

 

[cjhepburn]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Tappy valves are happy valves. It's the quiet ones that get burnt.

Nice, I'm going to use this saying.
I guess at least you know they're moving.

 

[PT1]

There are hundreds of reports of more engine mechanical noise with synthetic oils versus dino. Just the nature of the beast. Mechanical noise from synthetic or 20w oils in NOT an indication of higher levels of component wear occurring. My Harley sounds like a sewing machine with synthetic 20w50. Put in dino and it is quiet.

 

[Alamogunr]

I've had the same experience with Schaeffer's 5W30. Thought it was a problem until I had a UOI at approx. 9000 mi. Good report. Usually noise is gone in less than 5 min. Will reach 10K in about 2 mo. Trying to decide whether to order more or go to M1. Hard to argue with success.

 

[addyguy]

It's two top-rated synthetic visciously battling it out for crankcase domination! Live, on Crankcase Television!!!

 

[chiks]

Originally Posted By: MrWideTires
In case you need to know the specs: It's a 2004 Sentra SE-R SpecV (QR25DE) just slightly modified, it takes around 4.2 quarts.

It has 1/3 Amsoil Signature Series 0W30, and 2/3 Mobil1 Extended Performance 5w30, with a Pureone 14610 filter.

For some reason with this combination I get very notisable valvetrain noise.. so much that I'm scared of taking it over 2000rpm for the first 5 minutes. After this I am definitely going back to GC 0w30... but why would this oil combination give me so much valvetrain noise

Try going with Pennzoil Premium.
I did and the valvetrain is quite like it does not exist anymore.