What a great site! I have already checked the FAQ and searched for this problem...I may have missed it though.
Thanks for any help.

Car: 97 Maxima automatic, 80k, well maintained w/ Mobil 1 synthetic 5w30. Car is in Houston.

The only consistency is this- after the car sits for 2 or more days upon start up I hear a very rough loud low pitch growl/ping grind for a few seconds and then it goes away. This has happened twice. Two weeks ago and two days after fresh oil change. This second time it made the loud pinging noise and ran rough for at least 15 secs before we turned it off.

what is up?

Thanks

 

check your fluids first.

 

yup...all fluids checked and no leaks.

B

 

could it be the timing chain tensioner?

 

What brand of oil filter are you using?

 

Have you done your 60k tuneup? Are you using 91+ octane fuel?

 

Thanks for the replies.

WIX filter- don't use 91 octane...put in the cheap stuff.

 

there u have it...

 

Anything less than 91 will freak your engine out and make your knock sensor work overtime catching knocks/pings.

 

I can understand the octane issue however why does it only do it on startup and once the car has been sitting for 2 or more days?

Thanks

 

Your Max is letting you know that it can handle 91- octane for a while, but two days is just too damn long!

 

try to change ur oil again with a nissan or better filter. maybe u got a faulty filter. let someone else turn on the car and try to pinpoint where the noise is comming from

 

Get rid of the WIX filter and go back to OEM. Also the 5W-30 is a bit thin for Texas. Go to a 10w-30 weight.

The check valve on the WIX filter may not be holding oil up in your oil passages and causing your cars engine to have a dry start. 5w-30 thin oil is probably not helping the issue either. The two combined are probably causing your problem.

 

oil drains off valvetrain parts,takes some time to get up there when cold,hence the noise.i wouldn't worry.timing chain would make this noise at all times.

 

Had same problem as you, but after every start---after putting low octane in my gas tank because gas station was out of high octane. Make sure you use high octane--engine will knock on start up if there is low octane in your car(will sound like the engine has very serious problem).

 

Thanks everyone.

B

 

And if they haven't made it clear, DO NOT EVER USE LESS THAN 91 OCTANE.

Just wanted to make this EXTRA CLEAR. Peace.

 

This'll make it EXTRA CLEAR:

DO NOT EVER USE LESS THAN 91 OCTANE!!!