Start up clatter gone

[AZjeff]

As previously posted I've had annoying start-up clatter with the 3.3L Xterra since I bought it. 3 OCs using NAPA Gold or Wix and 5w30 Valvoline MaxLife. This OC I used an OEM Nissan filter and 10w30 Pennzoil Platinum + 1 bottle of LM 2020 (to slow an RMS drip). With 3 cold starts and a number of other starts there's no noise to be heard. Well, there's a tiny perception that the motor quiets in about 1 second but you have to be really listening and it's nothing like the 2-3 seconds of clackity-clack I've had. Hopefully it'll last.

 

[Danno]

Could be the OEM filter providing better oil pressure at start. Hyundai had same situation with their OEM filter.

 

[BrocLuno]

Could be...

But, if you decide to follow this up with another test (?) I suggest spinning on a Fram Ultra with the same oil in there and just top off. See if it's the oil or the filter ...

I've had engines go both ways. They react to a filter with start-up noise. Or they react to a different oil (same filter) with start-up noise. In either case I'm not happy until I understand what caused it ...

 

[K20FA5]

Different beast, but my VQ40 in my Frontier is quietest with a Fram Tough Guard 7317 at startup.