Clatter noise after oil change

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I've got a crate 360 magnum in my 91 half ton dodge Truck, This engine was purchased brand new in 2003 by my father and right now it has 20 thousand miles on it. It does have a hydraulic camshaft and I believe the lifters are hydraulic as well.
Anyways the past 2 times I have changed the oil on this engine I have heard clatter for a couple of seconds and then it goes away and when it goes away is when the oil pressure builds back up. I have changed the oil in this engine countless times and I never remember it making any noise at all, and it has me concerned. The only thing I have done different the last 2 times I have changed the oil is I'm running a little bigger oil filter.
I used to always run a wix 51085 oil filter because that was all I could fit with the headers I was running. I got new headers last summer and the pipes exit a little different which allowed more room for a bigger filter, and I was under the impression that it was a good thing to run the biggest oil filter you can, (more filtering media) The oil filter I have ran the last 2 oil changes is a wix 51068. Is it possible I never heard any start up noise when running the 51085 because the oil pressure built up faster with the smaller filter? That's the only thing I can come up with. This engine only has 20 thousand miles on it and it has always had synthetic oil ran in it after break inn. I did a compression test on it with the engine warm and the carb opened all the way up and each cylinder is at 150 psi on the dot and I live 4000 feet above sea level, 150 psi at 4000 feet above sea level is very good, so I know this engine isn't worn out.
It just scares me to hear it making noise, this engine was 4000.00 back in 2003 and you cant even get a crate engine from mopar these days without spending at least 10 grand.
Should I go back to the smaller wix 51085 filter when I change the oil again? Or am I better off running the bigger wix 51068? I have read online (this site included) that start up noise after an oil change is nothing to worry about and I wouldn't be worried about it if it had done this every time after an oil change, but like I said I don't ever remember hearing it make noise after an oil change, the last 2 oil changes it has made noise and the only thing I am doing different is running the bigger wix 51068 filter.
By the way I do fill the oil filter up before installing it, and always have. And my oil pressure is the same as it's always been, When cold it sits 60 and when all the way warmed up it idles in park at 25 and when it idles in gear it makes 20, and when I give it throttle it jumps up to 65. So there is noting different with the oil pressure.
Anyways I'm just looking for some suggestions and opinions.
 
If the oil pressure has always been the same I dont see what difference the oil filter will make unless you havent used the original size filter before. Also you are makungthe assumption its oil pressure related...did you change oil weight or brand?
 
FWIW: "Hydraulic cam" MEANS that the lifters are hydraulic. In this case they're also rollers.

But I digress.

One thing I'm not clear on: are you hearing this noise on EVERY engine start sincce you started using the bigger filter? Or just the FIRST re-start after you changed the oil? If its just the first start with a new filter then seriously DO NOT worry about it at all!

If it happens consistently with the bigger filter, then here's my advice: ditch Wix in this application. Smallblock Mopars are an application where, for whatever reason, Wix filters seem to have a lot of overnight drainback problems, at least for me and especially with the 51515 size. I had much better luck with Purolator or Champ-built Mobil 1 (and other brand) filters. I love Wix, but this is something I've seen consistently, so I just don't use them on smallblock Mopars.

By the way- lifter "clatter" like that is actually harmless in itself- but it does indicate that oil system drainback is going on.
 
Originally Posted By: pjc360
no I only hear this noise on the first start up after an oil change.

That is typical on engines with hydraulic lifters, especially OHV engines. There is no reason to worry.

The only way to prevent it is to totally fill the filter before startup. Unfortunately, not all cars make that possible.
 
Its taking more time to pump the filter full of oil. Until its full, there is no oil pressure to the oil galleys. As stated above, don't worry about it as long as regular starts are quiet.

My maxima does the same because the filter is mounted horizontally. If yours is at a 45* angle you should be able to fill it half full to alleviate some of it.
 
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that's what I figured, I never heard it before with the wix 51085 because its a smaller filter and it filled up quick enough to where I didn't hear anything. Now I'm running a bigger filter so it takes longer for the oil system to build its pressure.
It just concerned me because I never did hear any noise after an oil change with the smaller wix, and the last 2 oil changes I have used a bigger filter and the last 2 times I have heard it make noise on the first start after changing the oil.
Would it be smart to just use the smaller filter on my next oil change so I don't have to hear that clatter again? when I hear that sound it makes me cringe lol. I just really do not want to do anything that's going to hurt this engine.
 
by the way I filled the filter up as much as I could before putting it on, I'd say it was at least 3/4 full.
 
That's what I'm asking, some people say to stick with the larger filters. And the clatter noise doesn't happen on every start, it happens on the first start right after an oil change when using the bigger oil filter.
 
Originally Posted By: pjc360
That's what I'm asking, some people say to stick with the larger filters. And the clatter noise doesn't happen on every start, it happens on the first start right after an oil change when using the bigger oil filter.


A little clatter on the first start after an oil change is nothing to be worried about, especially on an older V8. If it did it on every start then I'd be worried, otherwise don;t even worry about it. On a first start after an oil change the brand new 302 in my '95 f150, the 4.6 in my '02 mustang, and the 2.4 in my wifes '03 accord all have a little valvetrain noise/clatter. It's not a concern.

Also, whether you use the larger or the smaller filter, in my opinion, doesn't really matter as long as you change the oil and filter like you should and use quality products.
 
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I was wondering if running the larger oil filter is why I heard clatter on the first start after the oil change. Because like I said I never heard noise on the first start after an oil change until recently when I decided to run a little bigger filter.
I had always used a wix 51085 filter then when I got new headers and noticed I had more room for a bigger filter I decided to try the wix 51068, and right after switching to the wix 51068 filter is when I noticed the noise on the first start after the oil change.
Is there any benefit to running the larger wix 51068 filter? would I be missing out on much If I went back to the smaller wix 51085? I realize with the larger one I have more filtering media and I'm getting about 1/2 to 3/4 more oil in the engine, is that worth hearing clatter on the first start up after an oil change? I swear this larger filter is a huge part of it, cause after an oil change with the wix 51085 I never heard a noise on the first start after an oil change.
 
I'm not meaning to sound overly obsessive over this, my oil pressure is still good and I don't hear any noise when starting it after the first start after an oil change, and if it's normal to hear a little clatter on the first start after the oil change then I wont worry about it, but I think on my next oil change I will use the smaller wix 51085 so I don't have to hear that noise again, it just makes me nervous.
 
Originally Posted By: pjc360
I will use the smaller wix 51085 so I don't have to hear that noise again, it just makes me nervous.


Sometimes these engineers engineer everything down to the gnat's [censored] and if you change one little thing, it throws everything out of wrack.
 
heh heh just seeing the oil light start flickering and after what seems a lonnng time, finally go out is a jolt. Probably a second. That jolt stops me from doing extended drains. So you takes your choice. Drain as much oil as possible or, do a quick change and get on with your life. The ideal would be an electric pre oiler.
grin2.gif
 
I'd stick with the bigger filter, personally. Its not THAT much bigger- its still a little smaller than the 51515 size that I ran on every 318 or 360 I ever owned (and every 383, 440, and Jeep 4.0 for that matter...)
 
Originally Posted By: GutsyGecko
Keep using the larger filter. Full it slightly better. Let the oil soak into the media and then fill it again. You will get more oil into it



So does this larger filter have the same by-pass pressure rating. If not that could be a/the problem.
If the by-pass ratings are the same then my guess is the clatter is from the top end being dry when the filter gets removed. Not much you can do about that other than turning the engine over with the coil unplugged to build pressure prior to start up.
Check out the by-pass ratings on the stock piece vs the one you are using. If its more than a few psi different then I suggest using the appropriate filter.
Bigger isn't always better.
 
Originally Posted By: pjc360
I was wondering if running the larger oil filter is why I heard clatter on the first start after the oil change. Because like I said I never heard noise on the first start after an oil change until recently when I decided to run a little bigger filter.
I had always used a wix 51085 filter then when I got new headers and noticed I had more room for a bigger filter I decided to try the wix 51068, and right after switching to the wix 51068 filter is when I noticed the noise on the first start after the oil change.
Is there any benefit to running the larger wix 51068 filter? would I be missing out on much If I went back to the smaller wix 51085? I realize with the larger one I have more filtering media and I'm getting about 1/2 to 3/4 more oil in the engine, is that worth hearing clatter on the first start up after an oil change? I swear this larger filter is a huge part of it, cause after an oil change with the wix 51085 I never heard a noise on the first start after an oil change.


Sure you are technically correct because there is less air in the oil flow system to have to bleed out on that first start up. Functionally I doubt it is an issue this has been going on for over 100 years after the first start up after an oil change on engines using an oil filter. If you are concerned about damage just using something like Ceratec or Archoil AR 9300 to insure no metal to metal contact on start up.
 
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