It would be very difficult. You have a large broadband random spectrum of vibration going on, looking for a very specific, very minor change in a specific frequency band. You'd also need a lot of compiled baseline data to use as a historical average against the "new oil" recording, narrow-band frequency tuning to find the valve events, and enough resolution and filtering to sort out extraneous measurement noise. Acoustic measurements would be, in most instances for this, better.
Of course but I was answering simply. It’s quieter after pouring new oil in.
With a 1/3-octave sound meter, depending on the capture settings, it would be possible but I don't know if it would be useful. A-weighting, continuous capture vs peak hold, etc. You'd still need to identify the frequency band of the specific noise you're after - valvetrain chatter, timing chain noise, etc.
@Pablo already invited people over for a an Oil Change Sound Change BITOG Conference. I have no reason to go, as I witnessed that phenomenon first hand a bazillion of times. But whoever is interested - just figure out the logistics and feel free to enjoy the before/after sounds of the 3.5L Tacoma.
The noise I heard isn't really a tick, nobody would hear it as I drive by....just a little excess valve train noise at idle. I did have a 307 Olds years ago though that had a tick when I got it. I put a used set of rocker arms on the passenger side bank and that fixed the noise on it.
I had the same issue until I started using a 50 grade in my Accent. I have seen plenty of modern engines (believe it or not Subaru is the worst) turn their 0w20 into something the consistency of water. Fuel dilution is my guess
In my case it starts to make a little more noise at under 3k miles. The other engine is always slightly noisier for the first 500 miles at least...and doesn't get any noisier at the end of an oil change. The difference is more apparent with the engine running inside the closed garage.
I often hear sounds of liquid flowing, whenever we park the loudish engine of the Kia, inside my former employer's beer tent.
This was actually an advertising campaign many, many years ago for Pennzoil. The ad stated that something like 7 out of 10 people perceived their car to be quieter after an oil change. I figured since they said "perceived", it wasn't something that Pennzoil was claiming as an actual truth.
Wax will do that
(ears and motors)A few years back 6% of people polled said they could beat a grizzly bear in a hand to hand fight… and slightly more said they could beat an elephant… some people are just idiots and shouldn’t be listened to.
Not in a 2010...fuel dilution wouldn't be a operating issue unless of a leaky injector or damage to a piston ring. Maybe if it's on a track but it's not even direct injection so that probably won't be the case. Shearing won't be it either; it's a true synthetic that like only a handful of others will have little to no shearing at all as well. My stomach instinct tells me two things and the first is I want steak and eggs and the second is it probably needs to have belt replaced, valves and guides inspected for wear. It does have over a quarter million miles so even though it's a Japanese car; a solid maintenance and inspection service might be on the menu.
I see a small flaw here, which is likely easily fixable. No two cars are fully identical: usage, patterns, weather, etc... When we notice the sound difference - it's always the same vehicle, just at different times and old/new oil in the crankcase.
