Cold Knocking solved!!?? Oil and Filter combo

[jlaws]

Just to recap, I bought My Gold 1996 3.1 V6 as a beater a couple yrs ago. My other "recreational" vehicle is now a mint 2000 Audi A6 4.2 V8 with several mods driven on mainly weekends when it is nice out . But my favorite car of the 2 is the Grand Am !! I paid $700 for it and put in $1000 restoring it putting unnecessary new parts in it.

Anyways I was spoiling her with high priced Royal Purple oil changes for a coupe years. Last week was time to change it again. It has been pretty cold in Boston for a couple week and I know our engines are notorious for cold start up knocking (been discussed numerous times). The car was knocking abnormally louder than usual in the morning to the point that my neighbor thought my engine was going as did I. I figured adding a qt of 10w-30 the night before with 5w-30 in the car probably made the sound worse. I starting pricing new engines/rebuild since the car is nearing 150K miles.

But before I overreact and spend $1000's on a new engine I decided to do an oil change. I decided to forgo the $7 a bottle of Royal P and try $3.50 Valvoline High mileage 5W-30 (red bottle with "75001" mile odometer on label) and a standard AC Delco filter (figured best since it is oem) I did the oil change in the drive way in 15 degree temp started up and the noise was completely gone!!! What a relief, I thought I had to put her down like Barbaro :D :eek: :???:

I am going on day 10 and the morning start ups have been still very quiet. Only a very slight tapping, not the normal knocking at start up but it goes away after only 10 to 15 seconds. I can't confirm whether if it is the additives in oil or the Delco filter is free flowing or the fact that typically a fresh oil change yield less engine noise. Try out the combo and see if there is a difference.

[Patchez]

I don't know if my instructor is full of it or not, but, told me that if the engine is designed to have conventional oil, that's what you use. The car is designed in a way that the pistons expand and "seat" against the cycl walls(the rings, but you get the idea) and part of this process involves the oil being thicker when cold. Conventional oil has served us pretty well for a lot of years I guess. A few times I have used the Synthetic myself and don't like how the car sounded to tell the truth. It does make more noise due to being thinner IMO. So, what he said to me was the thinner oil can actually damage the engine if it was not designed for it. Allows the piston to excessively "slap" inside the cycl wall till it heats up. And because the oil withstands heat better it will take longer to heat up causing more damage. Like I said though, IMO, his answer to me is biased.....

[carlover626]

I went and purchased a Wicks filter from Carquest once and my 4 cyl. would have the oil light on for a couple seconds on cold startup. The oil was Castrol High Milage 10w-30 and it was summer.

When I went out and purchased a K&N oil filter and used Castrol HM 5w-30 the oil light no longer was on during a cold startup.

Maybe the K&N would help out on the V-6 startup as well?

I just got a Montero Sport 3.0L V-6, and on cold mornings this does the knock for a few seconds as well...this is the combo I am going to use on my first oil change in 1,000 miles only normal Castrol GTX, not the HM.

Well see what that does for me.

[SE2000]

Originally posted by carlover626
I went and purchased a Wicks filter from Carquest once and my 4 cyl. would have the oil light on for a couple seconds on cold startup. The oil was Castrol High Milage 10w-30 and it was summer.

When I went out and purchased a K&N oil filter and used Castrol HM 5w-30 the oil light no longer was on during a cold startup.

Maybe the K&N would help out on the V-6 startup as well?

I just got a Montero Sport 3.0L V-6, and on cold mornings this does the knock for a few seconds as well...this is the combo I am going to use on my first oil change in 1,000 miles only normal Castrol GTX, not the HM.

Well see what that does for me.

Switching to 5w-30 is more likely helpful than the K & N

[Vhrus]

Originally posted by Patchez
And because the oil withstands heat better it will take longer to heat up causing more damage. Like I said though, IMO, his answer to me is biased.....
It withstands thermal breakdown better, it all heats up the same ;)

[Patchez]

I thought the synthetic would come to temp faster!! Apparently I was wrong...

[pcprophet]

mixing different oils in not recommended due to the fact the different additives they use in the oils, some may cause the additives to cancel each other out. anyway synthetic oil shouldnt be used on older engines due to the fact that there is more clearence inbetween moving parts such as the oil/compression rings, main bearing.. etc. synthic is a pretty good oil to use since is last a hell of alot longer then convenctional oil. but depending on your oil viscosiy, it might cause alot more damage on older engines then newer ones. viscosity means the resistence to flow so when the engines start the oil being pumped to the main bearings is not able to keep a small film of oil between con rod and bearing and well metal on metal contact.

it really depends on were you are living and what climate you are in. for me up in edmonton, we get weather from -40 degrees celcius to around +30 degrees celcius. for me i will always get knocking in the cold only for a minute then goes away. 5w30 i use all year round, works the best for me.

have anyone really looked at the back of an oil container and look at the ratings. compare like a castrolo to a motomaster brand (Candian tire) both ratings are the same and are most likely made at the same plant .. eg ESSO, Petro canada.. etc and since they are (MOSTLY) Comply to the society of automotive engineers/SAE ratings. so take alook at castrol ratings and then look at a another brand for cheaper and you'll see that there are very similar. some guys may be pickey at what brand they use, but really some are buying for just the name, but i know it hard for some guys/gals to put some other no name or other brand that they never used and put it in their car/truck. it kinda like buying an oil filter, some prefer Fram filters, others ac delco... etc

since the piston are made out of aluminum, they expand and contract easily to temperature so on a cold start there is a larger clearence then on a hotter engine, thats why is always good to let the car warm up!!

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by jlaws
Just to recap, I bought My Gold 1996 3.1 V6 as a beater a couple yrs ago. My other "recreational" vehicle is now a mint 2000 Audi A6 4.2 V8 with several mods driven on mainly weekends when it is nice out . But my favorite car of the 2 is the Grand Am !!

GA over A6??? Crazy! But hey if you really like the GA that much better I got one here I'll trade you for the A6 ;) hahaha :lol:

[jlaws]

Originally posted by MantaGreen97
GA over A6??? Crazy! But hey if you really like the GA that much better I got one here I'll trade you for the A6 ;) hahaha :lol:


The Grand Am is like a loyal wife that takes care of me and doesn't ask for much. The Audi is like an attractive girlfriend on the side who is expensive to keep around :lol: