VTC's may be going
 

The past couple of days when I crank up the car I've heard something like valve chatter, but it's getting very loud. Looks like I may finally be running in to problems with my VTC's.
Should I ground them as a test to see if they are really causing the noise?

yes and it could be the lifters. oil low?

I was about to change my oil this weekend, I'll go and check my fluid level when the rain/snow lets up some..

Me too! For the past week on initial startups when it's below 40 degrees, I had a chatter for about 1 full second. You know when the revs shoots above 2000 rpm for about a second or two and then goes back down... well, right as soon as the revs go up and I crank up the motor... it chatters for a second. In the past, this only happened when I let my car sit for more than a few days. Now, it happens on every really COLD initial startup. What is the problem? Les, is this your problem too?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!:bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

Cold=longer time for the oil(now thicker) to reach the heads. You could try a lighter cold weather oil. ie.. 5w-30 vs a 10w-30.
And when the problem exists when the car as been sitting is a sign of a failing or faulty anti-drain back valve in the filter. Try using a oem Nissan one(gray not blue!) and see if that helps. All the idiot fram filters I used were the worst for this. I think even the best filters will drain the oil back if you let sit for long enough(ie.. 4+ days to a week) but they should hold well for at least a few days.

I use VE OEM filters and 5w30 oil

Aaron, mine lasts longer than just a second, but you are right. It started happening when the temperature really dropped this week.

Yeap, that is why I have been using the OEM oil filter made for the VE since the first day I owned my car. I've owned my car now for about 25K miles. Yes, the gray one. The stupid guys at the dealership that change my oil can't even get it right. Almost everytime I bring my car in and I don't specify that I need the filter for the VE30DE engine... they will freakin put a blue one on. And I go right back inside.. and say.. you betta change that filter NOW! It ****es me off.

I am going to start changing my own oil, but I run into waste issues, buying a filter, buying oil, buy ramps, buying a garage with a heater...etc. LOL

tru, i was using oem filters till i read what eric said about them...now i use mobil 1 filters and oil, but it is a bit pricey...around $40 doin it myself :eek:

What did he say about them? Mobil is a good filter though.

clicky

after that i just figured i'd go w/ the mobil 1...i know nissan gave us a special filter cause we have vtc's or whatever, but i don trust them that much...

I have 3 VE filters sitting in the garage, but I may try a different filter next time for comparison.