Is this normal for this car with only 63,000 miles on it? It only does it if it sits for about 45 mins or so and bascially flickers then out. Just don't like that quick knock sound. The oil and filter are brand new (Nissan oil filter) using 5w/30 castrol oil. Light never comes on when I'm driving and engine is quiet.

 

Oil pressure switch or oil pump is dying

 

what do you mean by a quick knock sound? does it sound like the chain rattling?

 

I don't know what you mean by "knock" but the one second oil light is normal. Well, normal for a nissan. My altima did it, both my maximas do it. It just lights up for a quick second when you start the car and then disappears.

 

Sounds like a bearing knock, but it's only for a quick second. Only happens if it sits for 40 minutes or so. Engine is very quiet running.

 

Keep an eye on the oil level. If mine does that I usually add some and that solves the issue. My car loves to eat oil

 

i have noticed this recently also, a sec or a half sec, kind of like a flicker.
I was wondering if it was on the brink of staying on like in otherwords it was that close to being low on oil but turned off. It could be in my head but it seemed like it did it before an oil change and now after the oil change it doesn't stay on that extra second like it had been doing.

 

From what I know, this is totally normal for VQ engines. It always takes a second to pump enough oil 2 feet up to the top of the engine to get things lubricated. The sound is more than likely the timing chain rattle. I wouldn't worry. Your oil pump is not dying...

 

The noise you hear are the camshafts, like ^ said, takes a little time to pump oil upwards.

 

Ok thanks. I was just wondering if there was a way for this to stop happening. I have just changed the oil so I know it's full.

 

my i30 the same thing...

 

My i30 does this too but it is more of a clatter than a knock for about 1 second or less. Might try some Lucas when I change the oil...

However I don't have a flickering oil light.

 

Use a better filter with a drainback valve and heavier oil (40 weight), imo.

I've had 3 maxis (4 engines) and I've never had this issue. I've never seen it on other maxis that I've changed the oil on, either (or a 350z).
I pretty much only use mobil filters and mobil/castrol 40 weight oils.

 

Ok so the genuine Nissan oil filter is not good? I find that hard to believe. So what weight oil should I use then?

 

I have 01 and I use 10w/30 full syn. It does not like 5w/30 syn. I do my own oil changes now as my local shop seems to think they should use 5w/30. Then I found out they used a blend in and charged for full syn. No way is anyone touching my baby! Try 10w/30 for a slight change up.

 

If it has a drainback valve, then use heavier oil and see what happens.

 

Ok i will. I am also going to try the Mobil 1 filter. Thanks for the help.

 

I always had really good luck with purolator pure one oil filters. They are built excellent and not overpriced like Mobil one And Bosch. Granted the M1 and Bosch filters are crap anyway.

 

This recently started to happening to me. I have friend that used to work @ the nissan dealership he told me that it was a common problem but nothing to be worried about. It was just the oil pressure off by a small fraction that causes the flickering on start. He said just make you keep an eye on your oil level. If it starts happening while your driving then it might be an issue.

 

I didn't think of it until seeing this thread. I used to have the same issue. Oil I use is 5W/30 or 10W/30...whatever the shop uses. They use a NAPA filter.

I did notice the same oil light, but no sound, for a second on start up. It completely stopped when I changed out my oil pressure switch. I changed it because oil was leaking through the threads. Maybe the switch was faulty or the oil leaking through was part of the issue. I don't know, but I do know for me it was the switch.

 

Just remember a thicker oil isn't always the answer. I have a newer Xterra with the 4.0 and it sometimes makes a clatter on startup. Not very loud and most people would not even notice it. Last time I was @ the Nissan dealer they showed me 2 other brand new xterras that sounded the same. They highly advised not running a thicker oil since the motors have such tight tolerances, you may not get oil flowing into places like it should.

 

As a FYI I fixed this problem. It was a bad anti-drainback valve in the oil filter. I had tried fram,Nissan and the fix was a Mobil 1 oil filter for 13.00 bucks. Grrr! Glad that did it though. Keep this in mind. Still running 5w/30 to.

 

hey an FYI wont recommend a thicker oil in a MAX learned that the hard way stick with 5-30 trust me

 

No, you didn't.

 

Seems to me thicker oil is just covering up a symptom more than anything...like putting a band-aid on it.

 

0w-30 FTW. Thin at startup when you need it thin and 30 weight when its hot. Should nip your oil light staying on too long in the bud. Highest I go in my engine is 5w-30

 

I've been a mechanic for over 20 years thicker oil covers up your problem. I figured all along it was a oil drain back problem but wanted feedback from others.