Ok...It's -8C outside, and I'm using dealer engine oil.
Everytime I start my engine in cold in the morning, I can hear ticking noise coming out from the passenger side wheel. The colder weather I have, the longer it ticks.
It usually goes away in 1-2 minutes in weather like today (-8C). After worming up the engine, there is no problem at all (no SEL lights). I've checked the oil level, it's good.

I notice my engine has a jitter idle (only drop rev). When the rev drops (according to the tachomater), I can feel heavy punches coming out from my engine or it can just be my imagination.

For some reason, my car feels slower than before. It's easier to slow down when I let go the gas pedal, and the gas pedal feels less sensitive than before. But if I hit it really very hard, the car drives great and engine revs well.

 

sounds like my maf problem

 

The ticking sounds like a noisy lifter. Had the same problem with my last car ticking until the engine warmed up. Drove it like that for almost 70k miles without the problem getting any worse. Not sure what the dealership used but you might want to try a thinner oil. With 5-30 instead of 10-30 the ticking would dissipate a little quicker in my case.

In terms of performance I have never heard of a noisy lifter having any negative impact.

 

Is it expensive to fix? the car works fine, just that kicking noise is annoying.

 

What's different between piston slap and lifter noise?

 

the ticking sound is the timing chain hitting the cover.

the chain tensioner uses oil pressure to work. when its cold, the oil is thick and has to warm up to enable the tensioner to work properly.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNjYIwE4yII
that ticking sound in the movie is longer due to colder temperture.
so your suggestion is fixing the tensioner or changing thiner oil?

 

o yeah...timing chain rattle.
i wouldnt do anything since its normal when its that cold. just make sure it stops before you put it under load (rev it or drive it). if its starts doing it once its warmed up, you have more problems.

 

here is a same rough idle I have...what can it be?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSAg5d6swHQ

 

that looks normal to me. its gonna move around a little at idle

 

I'm pretty sure all these are TSBs

 

there is a TSB for a cold start rattle on 3.0s but its because of a bad tensioner. the tensioner isnt bad on 3.5s. the problem is poor oil flow when the engine is cold or low oil due to the infamous oil burning.

 

My buddy car have a similar problem, when he start his car in the cold, you can hear the valve tapping and then the check engine light comes up. he said sometimes the rpm dip and almost stalled the car. can anyone help?