Dry start with Quaker State Ultimate Durability

[Coastal]

I just recently changed my oil to 5w30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability and I'm getting a momentary dry start sound when I crank the truck. It only last a second, but what has me concerned is that it did not do it before. I just bought the truck used and the previous oil did not do this, however, I do not know what the previous fill was. It was from a Nissan dealership so it was either Nissan Ester or whatever bulk 5w30 they use more than likely. I'm running 5w20 Ultra in my wife's Expedition and it really seemed to quiet the engine down vs the Motorcraft that was in there. With the Quaker State Ultimate Durability and Edge being somewhat related at the base stock level, I wouldn't have thought the UD would do that.

I had a pureone on the truck and took it off to verify that there wasn't a problem with the filter, but the Super Tech filter I used has the same results. Thinking of draining and putting in something different, but I hate to chase my tail with synthetic fills. My fallback plan if I still have the same noise with other synthetics is to try MaxLife. Not because of high miles but it seems like a very good oil for the price. I would prefer to run synthetic though as I would like to go the full 7500 OCI without worry. Any ideas? The vehicle is a 2007 Nissan Xterra 4x4, VQ40DE, with 55k on the clock.

 

[chubbs1]

First off a dry crank is totally normal when you change your oil. The filter is empty and it takes a moment for the oil to circulate. There is no problem at all with the oil. That is a powerful engine, read the spec's to make sure you are putting the right weight in. I'm pretty sure it is 5w30 though.

Bottom line: No need change the oil.

 

[unDummy]

Nissans and Vq's tend to abuse oil. I prefer to go thicker in them. Use a thicker oil like Maxlife full synthetic, Mobil 1 High Mileage or Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Castrol Syntec 0w30, or any 0w40 or 5w40 oil.

 

[Coastal]

It does it on every restart, not just the initial after the oil change. At least every restart after the oil has cooled down. There is no noise on hot restarts.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I`d use a top line 40 weight and a blue Japanese Nissan oil filter.

 

[aquariuscsm]

See if you can get one of these for your VQ from your Nissan dealer:

 

[dubie2003]

I have used Mobil 1 5w30 in my 07 Frontier (VQ40) without issue but I am thinking about going to the 0w40 or GC in the future. I do not have the drystart sound and I am using OEM filters but will be using P1s from now on due to an awesome AAP deal.

Are you sure it is a drystart sound or is it just the truck cranking over? It is basically a stroked VQ35 so it takes an extra second for it to finally kick which may be what you feel is the difference.

SideNote: Some great forums to join are thenewx.org and clubfrontier.org. You will be amazed on the amount of info that is out there.

SideNote2: Make sure you check for the secondary timing chain whine (mini supercharger) and the 5th gear shutter (radiator/ATF cross-contamination) since both issues seem to pop up and are costly when they do.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Coastal
It does it on every restart, not just the initial after the oil change. At least every restart after the oil has cooled down. There is no noise on hot restarts.


Yes, I noticed this too!

When I first bought my new 04 Altima 2.5 S, it never had a dry start up noise that I noticed. After the first oil/filter change, I started noticing a dry start up noise with just about any oil and filter including PureOne filter. Only on cold start ups.

The filter is horizontal on the passenger side and when I would park on either flat ground or if the passenger side was a bit lower than the driver side I wouldn't hear any noise. But, if the passenger side of the front end was a bit higher than the driver side of the car, I would experience start up rattle.

It's as if the oil in the filter was being drained out when the passenger side of the car was at a slightly higher point, leading me to think that the ADBV was not keeping oil in the filter. I tried several filters...Nissan filter, Purolator PureOne and Premium Plus, Super Tech etc. The new Purolator Classic & NAPA silver seem to be OK as does the new(er) SM/GF-4 oils!

But, also, I noticed the slight difference changing from the old SL/GF-3 stash to my SM/GF-4 stash with not only the start up rattle but the first few miles of driving after a cold start up.

I realize that SL/GF-3 was replaced by SM/GF-4 somewhere in '05 but, I had a stash to use up first which took me into '06 or further.

I am also hoping that the new SN/GF-5 oils reduce even further, that timing chain rattle that I sometimes experience while driving those first few miles on a cold start up in the morning/evening. The current SM/GF-4 oils have reduced this noise somewhat from the previous SL/GF-3 oils.

One thing that I noticed about my '04 Altima 2.5 is, it does not like an over sized filter. The start up rattle and while driving seem to be even worst than with the normal thimble(PuroClassic #14610) filter so, I stay with the small filter. I have been using the #14610 exclusively now! I seem to have the best succuss with it and I don't want to change.

And the engine really hated the overly large Puro Prem Plus #24458(discontinued). But, I can still get the #14457 which is sort of in the middle in size and not too bad for rattle. I may be off by a number on the filter application in this post but not when I buy them. I'd have to check the # for sure but, you get my point.

 

[Coastal]

In this case, it was the oil. I switched out the oil to something a little thicker but let the same Super Tech filter on, so I would be able to rule that out and the start up noise has gone away. Considering the Quaker State Ultimate Durability would have that sound on every restart where the vehicle had be off for more than a few hours, regardless of ambient temp and now it isn't doing it at all with the thicker oil. I have to assume that it was the oil. It may not be doing any harm, but I'm not comfortable with that noise. I switched to a 40 weight and the problem is gone.

 

[Coastal]

This was also a dino 40 weight FWIW

 

[ottotheclown]

As usual what did you do before the problem??? That is usually the case, so switch and see what happens. Wonder what dino 40 wt did you use. Lets hear it for dino..

Originally Posted By: Coastal
In this case, it was the oil. I switched out the oil to something a little thicker but let the same Super Tech filter on, so I would be able to rule that out and the start up noise has gone away. Considering the Quaker State Ultimate Durability would have that sound on every restart where the vehicle had be off for more than a few hours, regardless of ambient temp and now it isn't doing it at all with the thicker oil. I have to assume that it was the oil. It may not be doing any harm, but I'm not comfortable with that noise. I switched to a 40 weight and the problem is gone.

 

[Coastal]

The car was preowned. Not sure what is was running on when I purchased it. It was serviced at the Nissan Dealer so it was either Nissan Ester or whatever bulk they used.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Coastal
I switched to a 40 weight and the problem is gone.


VQ`s seem to do the best on 40 weight oils from what I`ve read on the 350Z forums. Maybe try RP 0W40/5W40/10W40 next oci and see what you think.

 

[Coastal]

I'm going to try to stick to the Chevron Family of lubricants, so it will have to be Chevron Supreme, Havoline, or something in the Delo line. Possibly a mix of Delo and PCMO. I can get Havoline Dino all day at Wal-Mart for $12 (5qt jug). Napa up the road had Chevron Supreme 5w30 on the shelf for 3.50 qt. Not that great of a deal, parts stores really can't seem to be competitive on price with Wal-Mart on oil. The did have two quarts of the Synthetic Delo 5w40 on the shelf, but it was a close out. Got those for 3.99/ea, but they won't be restocking and would probably normally cost in the $7 range per quart. Too rich for my blood.

I'm thinking a mix of 5w30 Havoline and 15w40 Delo 400 LE going forward possibly, unless they all of a sudden start stocking 10w30 Delo. For the current fill I'm running two quarts of Delo Synthetic 5w40 and 3.5 quarts of 15w40 Delo 400 LE.

 

[K20FA5]

Coastal

The startup rattle in very normal for the VQ40. I know it sounds bad, but there are tons of guys over on clubfrontier that have this sound for about 1 second at startup and their engines are still going strong.

What seemed to help mine the best is to run the OEM filter. Also the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 seemed to help some too. The thought is that the sound is the slack in the very long timing chain. Since that is tensioned by oil pressure, the quicker you can get your pressure up, the better off you are.

Oh, BTW Nice Truck!

 

[Coastal]

Thanks. I really like it a lot. I've had it about two months and I'm a big fan. I actually thought about the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 awhile back. Not for the mileage reasons but just because it was the only 0w on the shelf. How do you like it so far. I may run what I have for a while. AFE 0w30 is only available by the quart here. At almost $7 a quart, I can find other things I would like to run. I have a vested interest in running Chevron Products. Even thought they can be a little difficult to locate, I'm willing to pay a little more for them.

 

[901Memphis]

The 0w30 Castrol Syntec is thicker than most 30w and will work well in that engine if you decide to change.

Always Mobil 1 0w-40 if you want another high quality choice. People use it in race applications so its good enough for you.

 

[Coastal]

I guess I will be man enough to admit when I am wrong. This didn't completely go away with the thicker oil, but it was reduced. I'll probably give UD another chance, after I use all the Ultra on the shelf.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
The 0w30 Castrol Syntec is thicker than most 30w and will work well in that engine if you decide to change.

Always Mobil 1 0w-40 if you want another high quality choice. People use it in race applications so its good enough for you.



This. Two great off-the-shelf oils with proven records, especially if you like to wind the motor up.

 

[ZZman]

What do you mean by a dry start sound?