It seems that when I start the car (if it's been off for more than, say, 20 minutes or so) the oil pump's a lil' slow to circulate the oil and build full pressure. I typically hear a little valvetrain clatter for about a half second or so before pressure builds. I did use the 3.5 oil pump in the swap and everything's running great...I just don't recall the VQ30DE exhibiting this behavior. Anyone else having this experience? I've seen other threads recently re: using other pumps entirely...is this why?

 

Did you use new o-rings between the oil pan and oil pump/engine block? And if you did, are you sure that they were seated properly when you installed the upper oil pan?

 

No, I didn't use new o-rings (as the motor had 600 miles on it and EVERYONE I asked...including two dealers and several other org'ers...said it wasn't necessary) and yes, I am certain they were in the right place. I checked them several times beforehand and as I was installing the upper pan. I inspected each one and they couldn't be told from new, BTW. Strange...

 

How long does the oil light stay on after the motor starts?

 

Well...I just went out and did a "test-start"...the car's been off now for roughly one hour. The oil light went out immediately as the engine started. When I cold-start it in the morning, it always goes off within one second. These are the reasons why I'm wondering if it's simply the nature of this particular beast. Hey Nismology...check my other post about a tiny oil leak I'm experiencing and give me your 2 cents . Thx.

 

Mine does the same thing.

 

Mine did the same thing.

 

Mine does the same thing. It's normal.

 

Well in this case I guess it is ok to be the odd man out.

My oil light goes out as soon as the engine catches and there is never any valvetrain "clatter"

Mind you I had the engine stripped down to just the block (with the crank in it) and every part hit the parts washer before it was re-assembled with all new seals and gaskets used.

 

While I didn't have the motor torn down to the block, it had a Carfax-verified 600 miles at startup, looks brand new inside and has new gaskets (save for the head gaskets of course). I'm relieved, at least, to hear others experiencing the same pattern.

 

I don't think what you all are hearing is valvetrain clatter. My guess is that it's the timing chain and tensioner. I know the 3.5 tensioner has a gasket between it and the oil gallery and the 3.0's doesn't. Maybe that allows oil pressure to build up inside the 3.5 tensioner sooner.

 

Good theory.

 

Ehh..turns out i was wrong. I remember looking up the diagram in the FAST program and seeing a gasket there but i just checked and there isn't one. Nevermind me...sorry lol

 

In that case...bad theory . I was wondering why I couldn't remember removing a tensioner gasket from the 3.5 when I stripped it.

 

it must be the oil filter. when you use nissan oil filter they have some type of valve. do you use nissan oil filters or aftermarket?

 

I'm using a K & N oil filter. The one I used b4 this was another brand (STP, I think). Same oil pickup with both filters.

 

my car makes the same noise.

 

try using nissan oil filters and check back again. is only an oil change and 7 bucks for the filter.