More noise with PU 5w40

[Gilitar]

I've been using Mobil 1 0w40 and was lucky enough to get a case of PU for free a while back. My impression is that there is more noise with the PU especially at start up. Anyone else tried it and noticed the same? I went ahead and bought some GC on sale at Autozone to try before I go back to Mobil 1. I wonder if PU is missing the esters that Mobil 1 has and this could be the difference?

 

[Quattro Pete]

I went from GC to PU 5w-40 on my 530i. Haven't really noticed any difference in noise... maybe my ears aren't sensitive enough.

 

[2oldtommy]

IMO "noise " is a subjective judgement and really doesn't help in any scientific way in this forum FWIW. Oldtommy

 

[deven]

If you miss Mobil 1 0w40, I urge you to try Royal Purple 5w40. I started the car yesterday when my temp gauge said it was 10 outside, and the thing started like it was 40 outside. No whine, no knock, no hesitation. Very smooth just like my pale ales! I am going to be changing to RP 0w40 for next fall just to compare.

 

[Gilitar]

2oldtommy,

I know it's a subjective judgment. My hearing is pretty darn good though.

deven,

I used RP in my Hemi Ram several years back. It seemed to be a pretty good oil.


In the end I like to experiment with different motor oils. You never know until you try it....

 

[Audi Junkie]

Seems to contradict what others report.

 

[sr17]

I too have noticed that my Accord makes a clatter on start up that I have not heard before I changed to Ultra - now 5K miles ago.

I am going to change to something else to see if it is the oil, or not.

Valves were adjusted 15K miles ago, so I have a hard time imagining that could be the source of the noise?

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
IMO "noise " is a subjective judgement and really doesn't help in any scientific way in this forum FWIW. Oldtommy


Sure, it's subjective, but that doesn't make it untrue. The OP wasn't claiming that PU should be taken from the shelves or that more wear was occurring - just that it was noisier. It *would* be "scientific" if he had taken controlled sound level measurements but I personally don't place that burden of proof on the OP.

Since I observe different noise/smoothness levels from different oils in my ride, I like to hear reports like this and know exactly where the OP is coming from. I've switched from an oil (which gave excellent UOAs) because of noise.

 

[Finklejag]

My brother has 400 miles on his PU 5W-40 OCI, and it's burning oil already in his VW 2.slow. It usually starts burning around 2K with other 5W-40's. It looks like PU 5W-40 is a thin 40 weight to start. He will use up the two free cases, and go back to Maxlife 10W-40.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Finklejag
It looks like PU 5W-40 is a thin 40 weight to start.

The VOA I did showed 14.5 cSt @ 100C. Not exactly thin, IMO.

 

[Gilitar]

Originally Posted By: Finklejag
My brother has 400 miles on his PU 5W-40 OCI, and it's burning oil already in his VW 2.slow. It usually starts burning around 2K with other 5W-40's. It looks like PU 5W-40 is a thin 40 weight to start. He will use up the two free cases, and go back to Maxlife 10W-40.


I've heard that changing oil chemistry can cause some consumption initially.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Seems like a waste of good oil in a 2.Slo.

 

[Finklejag]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Finklejag
It looks like PU 5W-40 is a thin 40 weight to start.

The VOA I did showed 14.5 cSt @ 100C. Not exactly thin, IMO.


Pennzoil's data sheet shows it as 13.1 cst @100C. I go by that rather then what Blackstone or Wearcheck reports.

 

[Johnny]

Well, if it's to thin, burns off, or makes noise, don't use it. To many others oils out there that are easier to find IMHO.

 

[Finklejag]

We won't be using it after the "free" stuff runs out. This oil is over priced to start with.

 

[Johnny]

But wasn't it nice you got it for FREE!

 

[Gilitar]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
But wasn't it nice you got it for FREE!


It sure was nice! I just changed it out and put some GC in today. I look at it as a free flush as I only put about 2k miles on the PU. I still use lots of other SOPUS products such as Regane.

 

[unDummy]

I hate noise and noise is one of the reasons why I switch to synthetics over 2 decades ago.

I also find that certain oil filters can be noisy. Did you use the same oil filter brand and PN?

Some oils flow back better than others. So, you have less "oil insulation" and more noise.

Have you checked your oil level?

The UOAs of PU have been leaning toward it being a superb oil.

Mobil1 0w40 & Pennzoil Ulra 5w40 datasheets compared:
cst @ 40: 75/74.4
cst @100: 13.5/13.1

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_0W-40.aspx
http://www.pennzoil.com/documents/PENNZOILULTRAEuropean5W40.pdf

Alabama isn't the master of cold weather. So the difference between 5w and 0w shouldn't noticeable.

If you don't like the 5w40 PU, then run it 5k and change it out. The noise is PU wrestling with all the sludge/varnish leftover from the previous oils

 

[OldBaldy]

Weird...my experience with startup noise in my B6 S4 AUdi V8 is exactly the opposite...the PU is the quietest oil (by far) of those I've used so far...and these V8s are notorious for cam chain clatter at startup.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: OldBaldy
Weird...my experience with startup noise in my B6 S4 AUdi V8 is exactly the opposite...the PU is the quietest oil (by far) of those I've used so far...and these V8s are notorious for cam chain clatter at startup.


Just as a point of discussion - the noise I observed with a particular very popular Euro grade syn oil was not startup clatter and it was not knocking. It was threshing machine hash noise at all temps, most prevalent off-idle. GC is much quieter than this oil, but Rotella T is even more so. After my winter OC of GC (last of a stash) is gone I'll be switching to T6 which I also expect to be quieter than GC. I was curious about PU Euro (if it's even available here) as well based on the anecdotal cleanliness stories I've read.

As others have said, with a few great options out there, there is no reason to live with something that's noisy when excellent protection can probably be found from something that isn't (in your particular engine model).