how to stop start up noise.

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My saturn ive noticed when Its really cold out around 20 degrees when started up for the first 3 seconds you hear what I believe is timing chain rattle after that for a couple minutes just the normal engine noises when one is cold. How can I eliminate the rattle and why does it happen. It does not last long at all but dangitt it drives me insane.
 
Hummm...

What oil & weight do you run?
Is it full of oil?
How old/how many miles on the oil?
What oil filter is in it?
 
Also, what oil filter are you using. Maybe the antidrain back valve is not holding the oil in the filter causing real noisey cold start ups.

Whimsey
 
I had Altima with chain, and it was always nosier in winter on start. You can use 0w oils and add can of LM MoS2.Filter with silicone ADBV for winters. That's all you can do about it.
 
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You could try using an oil with esters in it. Esters stick to the insides of engines and prevent dry starts. See the paper on esters in the Articles section on the home page:-

"Lubricity: Polarity also causes the ester molecules to be attracted to positively charged metal surfaces. As a result, the molecules tend to line up on the metal surface creating a film which requires additional energy (load) to wipe them off. The result is a stronger film which translates into higher lubricity and lower energy consumption in lubricant applications"
 
I don't really know if you can do much about that noise but try a lighter weight oil or a synthetic that MAY flow faster. It might just be something your particular vehicle does and nothing to worry about. I was going to say use a different oil filter (I had a Nissan pickup that ONLY made startup noise with a Fram filter) but I don't think a Bosch would do that. My Grand Marquis will make a very slight split second knock sound when starting on a cold morning. Never had a problem though in thousands of miles of operation.
 
If I remember right, his car burns lots of oil, so Syn may not be best for financial reasons.

chevyboy14: You could try MMO as that will thin out the oil some and it may save you a few bucks.
 
My Mom's old Saturn does this, but it also sits for weeks between uses. If I start it cold within a couple days its fine.
Is this new, or has it always done it? If its something new, you might try changing the filter. Who knows? Maybe its bad.
 
Not sure this is the first winter ive had it. And im getting quite a bit better oil consumption now that in the past. It is going about 2000 between quarts now. I recently went on a road trip to see a friend and my last piston soak helped alot. Considering when I started it was a quart every 300 miles lol.
 
Since you're using a 5w30, you may want to try a 0w30 for the colder temps. Our vehicles spec 5w30 for winter, down to some negative value, but starts are much easier with the 0w30 starting at maybe 25*F.
 
Change the oil filter to a Wix made and see if it goes away, then top-off with some MMO(like a pint) and see how things go. Drive that oil change for 3,000 with MMO.
 
Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Change the oil filter to a Wix made and see if it goes away, then top-off with some MMO(like a pint) and see how things go. Drive that oil change for 3,000 with MMO.


Sounds like the best route...
 
First you must determine what the noise actually is.

Some motors have piston slap, some have bad carbon build up, some have loose timing chains, and so on.

If it's a very high mileage engine I'd consider Kreen to rule out stuck rings and/or carbon knock. Quick and easy.

Probably a good idea for anyone over the 100k mile mark.
 
Im pretty sure it the timing chain. But by time you hear it its stops. It has a littke valve clatter for a couple minutes but nothibg of concern. The timing chain was tight when I did the valve cover gasket a couple months. Ago.
 
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