Hey guys, just wanted to know if you all get a little tap from your engine in the morning. I bought the car two weeks ago from the dealer. The car is a 2004 sl. When I purchased the car from the dealer they said it had a fresh oil change, but I never trust them. I put in Mobile one super syn and a mobile 1 m-105 filter. I know the oil needs to circulate before the engine gets protected. I do all my oil changes on my cars. I also have a 95 se that I drive during the week. On my next oil I will be using amsoil. This is my first thread so try to take it easy on me. If there is a sticky on this topic let me know. I have checked the oil levels and they are right on. Thanks in adavance. I don't want to put in additives just don't trust them. Does any one knows what can help with cold start up.

 

No, but it is pretty warm (Dallas TX area) where I am and I run Mobil 1 5w30 so the oil should pump up pretty quickly.

 

Thats what gets me it has been very hot up here lately

 

How many miles does it have?

Maybe this is a sign that the oil pump isn't pushing out enough pressure?

 

can you be more specific as to what kind of tap? how loud? from where? for how long?

 

I notice a continious tap on my 05, perhaps its normal.

 

I have about 23000 miles on it.The engine is where the tap comes from. It only last few about two or three seconds then it stops not to be heard. It doesn't do it at all after the engine is warm. The noise is just a tap not real loud I can hear it when I open my window after the car has set for and the engine is cold.

 

LOL...when I read that thread title, I was thinking of something totally different.

 

is it like a "harsh" sound on first start up in the morning?

 

DOHC aluminum motors are noisy. If you really think it's oil starved then check the oil pump. If there is any leakage around it, there you go. Other than that I think it's just cause of the Motor. CHeck your belts too, make sure there are no tears developing from possible missaligned (only very very slightly) pulleys. If you drive hard go ahead and get her a valve adjustment. :-)

If you had a Nissan Consult, might be easier.

Easier to diagnose problems i mean.
*(easier to hit edit)
**(you mean like this?)

 

It's not harsh it just ticks or taps for about two or three seconds. It is a very fast tap when it first starts. By the time the engine begins to idle down from the initial start then it's gone.

 

***oh on wait. how about this.
****(edit: keep your day job )
*****(shoot, wait a minute...this IS your day job )

 

My first thought would be same as Jasonjm; a valve might need adjusting.

Oil tends to drain to the bottom of the motor overnight, so there is a second or so right after startup when there is very little oil on the moving parts of the engine. That would be the time when any part of the engine not in perfect alignment would be most likely to make audible noises.

That is also one of the (many) reasons it is very destructive to race a cold engine.

 

Since it's aluminum, it must expand. In the morning you can be sure the engine has got major shrinkage. When it's all warmed up, the aluminum expands and valves seal tighter with more tolerance with parts all around.

 

My 02' made that same "tick" upon startup, and my 05' does it too and I only have 8,000 miles on mine. I think it's a 3.5 normal sound. Don't know, I'm not worried about it much either.

 

I had the same kinda noise on my 2000 and still get it in my 2004 maxima..,. I always thought it was the aluminum rattling when u first start it, so i thought nothing of it.,,.hope its not serious

 

Hey guys, just wanted to know if you all get a little tap from your engine in the morning. I bought the car two weeks ago from the dealer. The car is a 2004 sl. When I purchased the car from the dealer they said it had a fresh oil change, but I never trust them. I put in Mobile one super syn and a mobile 1 m-105 filter. I know the oil needs to circulate before the engine gets protected. I do all my oil changes on my cars. I also have a 95 se that I drive during the week. On my next oil I will be using amsoil. This is my first thread so try to take it easy on me. If there is a sticky on this topic let me know. I have checked the oil levels and they are right on. Thanks in adavance. I don't want to put in additives just don't trust them. Does any one knows what can help with cold start up.

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Tell me what you think of using Amsoil Synthetic? I have used it on 3 cars including my 04 Max. What drain interval do you use? Considerations of warranty when using an extended drain interval?

Thanks,

David

 

Thanks for all the replies. I am now in the process of ordering auto-rx. I did an oil change the other day with mobil 1 super syn. I have a case of amsoil on the way. I am going to try getting everything clean on the inside with the auto-rx and make the switch. I know it seems crazy but a buddy of mine wrecked his car the other day and he gave me 6 quarts of the mobile 1 that he had laying around. He bought it two days before the wreck. If it keeps up I will look deeper into it. My 95 never taps in the morning. I kept my cousins 2005 se 6sp. It didn't do it either. I hope this will take care of it. If all that fails atleast its under warranty :-)

 

My Max is always garaged, at work or at home. Even when I haven't driven it in a few days, I hear no noticeable tap/ping(dino oil). My truck, on the other hand, tap/ping after not driven for 2-3 days. It parks outside in the sun, so there's less or no oil around crank/cylinders. Does synthetic oil really make a difference here, or should I use additives?

 

From what I have been reading alot of people prefer it. I guess it wouldn't hurt though.