New oil + filter = start up rattle. Change filter?

[Oro_O]

I am noticing a brief (1 sec.?) rattle on start up that has never been present before. It appeared immediately after switching to Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and a MC FL-400S. If the car is unused 24 hours or more you hear it; same-day starts or just overnight and it is not there.

I have run PP in the car in the past and noticed it made a small leak a bit worse and slightly higher usage; it seemed to be willing to work past seals and the valve cover more easily than others for some reason. I had not used an MC-Fl400s on this car before, but had success elsewhere, as do many people. This is a Toyota 1mz-fe engine in excellent condition; the filter mounts horizontally so the drain-back potential is high.

I am tempted to replace the filter with one from Napa today, or possibly another Fl400S I have on the shelf. I find it odd a filter known for stopping start-up rattle (Jeep owners like it for that reason) induces one here.

 

[901Memphis]

Try a Fram Tough Guard

 

[AuthorEditor]

What is the specced oil for the car--5w30 or 5W-20? I wouldn't run 10W unless that was what it was specced. One of the reasons is better flow at start up.

 

[kschachn]

Unless it is well below zero 10W or 5W isn't going to make a whit of a difference. Even then the flow to the bearings is going to be the same.

The only time I've ever heard the sound you mention in my 1MZ-FE was in sub-zero weather and I was using one of those foam type OEM filters I got on eBay. I switched back to my usual Denso or OEM Thailand-made filters and never heard it again. It's an easy try to change the filter except for the mess it always makes.

 

[Oro_O]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
What is the specced oil for the car--5w30 or 5W-20? I wouldn't run 10W unless that was what it was specced. One of the reasons is better flow at start up.


At sub-freezing temps that could be part of it, but not at 65F. Same viscosity.

 

[KCJeep]

Filters can definitely make a difference, but the FL-400s is more known for solving rattle than causing it. Never the less, you could have gotten a bad one or maybe your vehicle just doesn't like it. Either way I would start with a filter switch.

 

[AuthorEditor]

10W-30 is more viscous at room temperature than is 5w30. At the high end they should be roughly the same, but at the low end the lower W number will be less viscous. Since you changed both the filter and the oil it is hard to pinpoint which it is, but I have found lots of oil in Motorcraft FL820S and FL1-A filters after cutting them open. Never cut a FL-400S.

 

[AuthorEditor]

The BITOG Motor Oil University has lots of great information on oil viscosity, including his bottom line that you can never go too thin at startup for oil even at room temperature. I'd go with whatever is recommended for that vehicle in synthetic.

 

[Oro_O]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
10W-30 is more viscous at room temperature than is 5w30.


You have to get down to about 25F to see any difference at all in viscosity, and then it's not much of a relative difference at all until near 0F. Room temp you cannot tell them apart on that metric alone.

Anyway, I will swap in a new filter and cut that one open. I guess I'll use another 400S to see. I have never had this before on any engine that I can recall, or noticed. Am also wondering how bad it really is for the engine, or really not that big a deal?

 

[AuthorEditor]

Quote:
Room temp you cannot tell them apart on that metric alone.

That is not true. Check out the BITOG University at the link I gave in the post above. 5w30 flows better than 10w30 at room temperature.

 

[goodtimes]

I have had the same thing with the same engine when using a filter with a small bypass valve. I think in your case you are using too large of a filter, and this is an example of why it isn't always a good idea. The Fram Ultra XG3614 is cheap and perfect for this engine, or the Toyota 90915-yzzD1. Probably change the filter to the correct size with the Ultra and see what happens is my guess. The engine in good condition should work very well with 5w30, the recommended viscosity for most conditions.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Or
I am noticing a brief (1 sec.?) rattle on start up that has never been present before. It appeared immediately after switching to Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and a MC FL-400S. If the car is unused 24 hours or more you hear it; same-day starts or just overnight and it is not there.


It if only makes start-up noise after sitting 24+ hours, then it's probably a leaky ADBV.