Engine Clatter for the first minute or so

[Endurance56]

My engine has never really done this till I started using Amsoil 5w30 in it. I currently have 10,000 miles on the truck right now. It has 4000 miles on this oil change and I usually take my cars to 6k on oil changes. The oil level is fine and looks good in color as well (which I know you can't tell by color, but it looks fairly new still).

The dealer changed the oil twice before I started it on Amsoil. I think they used QuakerState but not sure what weight.

This only happens when I start it up after it sits a while, and it makes a clattering noise (not loud, but coming from the valve area it seems). Then it goes away after about 1-2 minutes once the oil pressure reaches normal.

I have read a few things that people recommended me to switch to a 0-40w or 5w-40w oil on the Titan since it seems this engine likes that weight of oil and helps on gas milege. Amsoil doesn't seem to make a 0-40w oil for cars. They have one in 5w40 for euro cars. I could also switch to Mobil 1 0w40 if you guys think its better than Amsoil. Ever since I switched to Amsoil on any of my cars they have all loved the oil and ran smoother. Just this one truck (2004 Nissan Titan) doesn't seem to like it as much or at least this weight.

 

[fuel tanker man]

Make sure you're not using a Fram oil filter.

And I wouldn't assume that the synthetic is better for your particular engine than the old dino was.

Dan

 

[wavinwayne]

quote:

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Originally posted by fuel tanker man:
Make sure you're not using a Fram oil filter.

And I wouldn't assume that the synthetic is better for your particular engine than the old dino was.

Dan

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Ditto....especially the part about FRAM.

 

[Greggy_D]

If it only has 10,000 miles on it, the truck must still be under warranty. Why not have the dealer check it out for free?

 

[97tbird]

I have this problem (mostly on cold days)too, but my engine has over 105k on it. Using MC 10/30 and 10/40 mix right now, with FL-820s filter.

How's your oil pressure?

I'm going to get my idle oil pressure checked (I only have a dummy light on the dash

), and make sure that my oil pump isn't "tired"...
clogged oil pump screen can also be a reason.
No oil/filter will change the clatter if it's due to above reasons...

 

[Endurance56]

Fuel Tanker - I am only using a WIX filter.

 

[Endurance56]

Nothing is wrong with the truck. It seems to be common with different weight oils being used. That is why people were recommending in the club 0-40w or 5-40w. So I wanted some info from you guys on that. I wanted to stay Amsoil, but they really don't have 0-40w that they are recommending the most.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

What oil does the manufacturer say to use in the owner's manual -- in respect to your warm climate?

Also.... 6K on a dino can cause sludge & dealers skimp on dinos too. Oil is still cheap nowadays & that Titan truck isn't.

 

[Endurance56]

I only go 6k on Amsoil. It went 3k on dino with the dealer changing it.

 

[ediamiam]

I would switch back to the oil filter that the dealer was using. Minimally that would eliminate the oil filter you are using as a factor.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I would remove that Amsoil & buy another brand in the spec your owner's manuual recommends. For this next oil change, I would use the identical oil filter the truck came with... then tinker with another "less restrictive" filter like Purolator Pure or Premium Plus next time around.

I like Castrol Syntec personally.... been using it for several years. I'm about to try Mobil 1.. so I won't comment on it yet.

 

[Endurance56]

The manual shows 5w30,10w30,10w40 recommended.

 

[Whimsey]

If it definitely sounds like it's coming from the top end/valve train it sounds like your filter's ADBV is not working. Easiest thing to do is to put a Nissan filter on without changing the oil and see if the noise goes away. I used Fram's for years in my Ford truck that had start up valve clatter. I tried lots of different oils, but always keeping the Fram filter, and the noise persisted. One day by "accident" I used a Motorcraft oil filter instead of the Fram and NO MORE START UP NOISE

. I know you're using a Wix and not a Fram, but maybe the Wix is not "right" for your truck. Just a thought

.

Whimsey

 

[Frank D]

My 2004 Altima 2.5s makes the same noise on cold starts on cold days. Last winter it did it with the the dealer's Valvoline conventional 10w30 and Nissan filter and this winter it is doing it with Mobil 1 5w30 and a Purolater 14610 filter. The noise, which sounds like it is from the valve train, lasts a few minutes then goes away as the oil warms up. No noise in the warm weather. When I asked the service manger about it in January, he said it was from the timing chain contracting in the cold and being very tight and then as it warmed up and loosened up a bit the noise quiets down. Fact or fiction I don't know but it could be true.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Endurance before you go changeing the oil change the filter! Even Wix can have a bad filter every now and again! IF the filter changes does not do it take it to the dealer and have it looked at! The oil is not the issues! Amsoil 5W30 is preety close to the specifaction for the origanal Artic oil for the Army so cold pumping and flow are not an issue with that oil in you ambinet temps. If you have clatter at start up it is one of the following: defect in engine ie oil pump, bypass, valve, collapsed slack adjuster, timeing chain tensioner or it is a bad filter!

I can gurantee that the dealer was not butting 0W40 in this or 5W40 it was either a 5W30 or 10W30!