AGRECORDS

ok my car knocks at start up for 1-2 seconds when it's been sitting a while...
what's up with that? i was told that a oil filter from the dealership whould prevent this... any suggestions?

nismos14

iTrader: (56)

Are you sure its knocks?

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

It's probably just the timing chain rattling, as opposed to engine knock. The chain rattles until the tenionser builds up pressure. The only fix is to replace the tensioner. This is a common problem on 95/96s.

95MaxTampa

My '95 does the same thing. Been doing it for years.

AGRECORDS

well when i start it when its been sitting a while it sounds like knocking and while that sound is happening my oil light stay's on untill that sound goes away...it last's 1-2 seconds..

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

Thats definitely the chain rattling. Which oil filter and what weight oil are you using?

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Thats oil starvation, not simply timing chain rattle. Try using a Nissan oil filter and switch brands of oil. Try Castrol GTX 10W-30.

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

Thats what I was trying to get to - which is why I asked what oil and filter he uses...

AGRECORDS

i am using Castrol 10W-30 but im not sure what kind of filter is on my car?

2 Da Max

iTrader: (2)

o shiet!! oil starvation! dam my sheit does the same thing..

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

I would make sure that you use a quality oil filter (just use an OEM filter), and try use 5w30 weight (Castrol GTX is a good choice).

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

check your oil level see if you have sufficent amount in there.

tmnjmax

If you have a FRAM filter on there get it off now. I noticed the same problem with my 97 max right after stupidly installing a FRAM - cheap check valves cause oil starvation on cold starts. Never use FRAM on the VQ- only Nissan oem.

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

I have the same problem on my 95, and I have a FRAM filter on there. I just ordered some OEM filters so I am hoping this solves the problem. When I crank the car after sitting for a while it cranks and vibrates/knocks like it is not getting oil.....I am really just hopping on the thread to see if there are any suggestions I have not thought of. I should have my filters this week, so I will report back if this fixes the problem I am having.

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

did the problem go away after you put on another filter other than the fram?

ukmastermind

on my 95 se, i have the same problem. I used Lucas Oil Stabilizer and it seems to have cut the rattle down a bit. Also if you raise oil pressure to about 2000 rpm and then shut down the engine, the rattle wont be as bad or not occur the next morning. But i really hate doing that.

ukmastermind

as far as oil and filters go, i use valvoline 20/50 with Purolator filters...seems to work well

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

That is the wrong viscosity for your engine. 5w30 or 10w30 is what you should be using.

tuner001

i noticed that when i use thicker oil in the engine it has the same symptoms then a rather large cloud of black smoke. the lucas product line helps and a bit of restore didnt hurt either

egxflash

thats way heavy oil. more viscous oil will most certainly hide a lot of noises but after switching to 20/40, i went back to 10/30 and boy was there an improvement in engine response.

DuMKuH

iTrader: (14)

I have the same problem and have posted about it before, I use synthetic oil Mobil 1 with there filter( shame on me but I didn't see which one) and I think its 10w30...Didn't do the oil change yet, but next time will put in 5w30 hope it hekps me..

ukmastermind

are you basing that on the owners manual?
several expierenced engine builders recommended that i use a higher viscosity oil especially since i have a "worn down and loose" engine w/ 130k miles and have summers in excess of 100 degrees. Also its valvoline "maxlife"..seems to be ok

tmnjmax

The problem went away immediately- but I did find metal particles in the oil at the opening to the FRAM filter. Luckily it doesn't seem to have done any permanent damage- car is still running strong.

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

You could be low on oil and the knocking is the sound of a rocker.The sound goes away when to car gets warm and the oil expands. Happened to my friend with his Z32TT. . . Just throwing that out there.

killerVQ30DE

I heard a rattle/chatter on startup THE FIX WAS repairing the clutch on the a/c compressor.. on startup the belts would try and turn over but the clutch was sticking on the a/c compressor, the chatter was the belt forcing the clutch to turn over... had my a/c clutch fixed.. chatter on startup is gone now

2 Da Max

iTrader: (2)

dam i think i have some fram filter on mine too, i took my car to the quick lube [figured it wouldve been cheaper and less messier but i was wrong] neways only the past week this has been happening to me and its only been 1k miles since the oil change


what damage could this do to the engine??

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

hmmmm.... I never thought of this, but I do know my ac compressor does not work and the belt is still going to it....something else I will need to look at.

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Are you basing this on engine builders that have no experience with the VQ? No matter what the mileage is, a 30 weight oil is best for the VQ. 130k in the American-made engine world means worn-down and loose. 130k in the VQ world is just fine if the maintenance is up to date. All a higher viscosity oil will do is sap torque. Besides, the oil passages are designed with a certain oil pressure and viscosity in mind, and oil pressure goes down with a higher viscocity oil.

nismology

iTrader: (8)

VQ's don't have rocker arms. Hehe...

chuckwagon

I just bought my maxima 2 days ago and yesterday it threw a CEL! Autozone told me that the #6 cylinder was misfiring. I also needed to take it in for an oil change and right after i brought it home it started to drive really rough for about 5 mins then it would smooth out. I thought it was just a faulty spark plug! But i read about the oil starvation and it explained everything! I went to the dealership for an oil filter and a set of spark plugs. It runs better than ever! Thanks for all the help!

2 Da Max

iTrader: (2)

does anything get damaged during that knocking noise? because i have a fram filter

i just checked my oil today and its real dark, very dark. it only has about 1500miles on it since i last changed it. im not due for another oil change for another 2k miles wtf?

im using 10w 30 gtx

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

No real damage (unless there is so much slack in the chain that it can skip a tooth - but I've never heard of that happening yet).

You can't judge oil by its color. I wouldn't rush to change the oil just because its dark and you have a fram filter. Just be sure to use a better oil filter from here on. The only real way to tell what is going on with your oil is to get a UOA - blackstone labs, dyson analysis (search for these in google).

JoeB

I usd a fram filter once and had the same problem. Actually worse on a hot day the oil pressure light would flicker at idle. A new filter and 10w30 solved that. I still get a little knocking on hot starts and the oil light flickers for a second but then it's fine. Funny thing is I have no problems when the engine is cold. I think it's just engine wear (181k miles) starting to show.