Start Up Knock Went Away Went Mobil 1

Babyhauler · March 25, 2010

I have debated on this for a while. My 02 EC 5.3 2wd has 146k miles and had a knock on cold starts. I bought with 106k. It seems worse on cold mornings. If I started and drove it without warm up, it was loud idleing out of my flat driveway, and made much noise as I gassed it a little to get to neighborhood speed on the street. More frequent oil changes, 3k-3.5k mi vs 5k mi made no difference. Oil level was always down a quart at the 3500 mi. and that did not seem to matter. Lucas oil treatment made no difference. My new job has me on the road more and I wanted the extended intervals and improved efficiency of the syn oil.

So, I am pleasantly suprised that the engine is not knocking for 4 mornings in the low 40's this week. Now I just have to silence the wind noise on the right side of the truck, change the door speakers that my daughter blew up, tint the windows, change the plugs, get aligned, new front pads and turn the rotors, take somebody to practice somewhere, close some sales, and finish painting my son's room. At least I got the oil changed and the engine quite. That other stuff will be there later.

Babyhauler

jro909 · March 25, 2010

are you talking piston slap? because its inevitable...i have mobil one in my truck and it still has chatter at cold start up...if it is truely piston slap, its not harmful or anything, sounds like you got alot of work to do? howd your daughter nuke your speakers?!

jblakeney · March 25, 2010

I have debated on this for a while. My 02 EC 5.3 2wd has 146k miles and had a knock on cold starts. I bought with 106k. It seems worse on cold mornings. If I started and drove it without warm up, it was loud idleing out of my flat driveway, and made much noise as I gassed it a little to get to neighborhood speed on the street. More frequent oil changes, 3k-3.5k mi vs 5k mi made no difference. Oil level was always down a quart at the 3500 mi. and that did not seem to matter. Lucas oil treatment made no difference. My new job has me on the road more and I wanted the extended intervals and improved efficiency of the syn oil.
So, I am pleasantly suprised that the engine is not knocking for 4 mornings in the low 40's this week. Now I just have to silence the wind noise on the right side of the truck, change the door speakers that my daughter blew up, tint the windows, change the plugs, get aligned, new front pads and turn the rotors, take somebody to practice somewhere, close some sales, and finish painting my son's room. At least I got the oil changed and the engine quite. That other stuff will be there later.

Babyhauler

Don't hold your breath..........Mine does it sometimes....... Some of the coldest days this winter I had no upper valve train noise upon start up. This morning it took about 12 seconds to get it to stop making noise. But I never change brands in my vehicles. I've ran Castrol Syntec 10w30 since the first oil came outtta the drain plug with 450 miles on it.

Lucas ahhhhhhhhhhhhh over hipped.. Go ahead and flame me about the Lucas.... I have seen people put it in new vehicles and blow the gasket off oil filters.

Jbo

Daryl LBZ · March 25, 2010

I have debated on this for a while. My 02 EC 5.3 2wd has 146k miles and had a knock on cold starts. I bought with 106k. It seems worse on cold mornings. If I started and drove it without warm up, it was loud idleing out of my flat driveway, and made much noise as I gassed it a little to get to neighborhood speed on the street. More frequent oil changes, 3k-3.5k mi vs 5k mi made no difference. Oil level was always down a quart at the 3500 mi. and that did not seem to matter. Lucas oil treatment made no difference. My new job has me on the road more and I wanted the extended intervals and improved efficiency of the syn oil.
So, I am pleasantly suprised that the engine is not knocking for 4 mornings in the low 40's this week. Now I just have to silence the wind noise on the right side of the truck, change the door speakers that my daughter blew up, tint the windows, change the plugs, get aligned, new front pads and turn the rotors, take somebody to practice somewhere, close some sales, and finish painting my son's room. At least I got the oil changed and the engine quite. That other stuff will be there later.

Babyhauler

Don't hold your breath..........Mine does it sometimes....... Some of the coldest days this winter I had no upper valve train noise upon start up. This morning it took about 12 seconds to get it to stop making noise. But I never change brands in my vehicles. I've ran Castrol Syntec 10w30 since the first oil came outtta the drain plug with 450 miles on it.

Lucas ahhhhhhhhhhhhh over hipped.. Go ahead and flame me about the Lucas.... I have seen people put it in new vehicles and blow the gasket off oil filters.

Jbo

IDK about that. Every engine Ive seen Lucas used in seemed to quiet down ALOT. Especially the GF's Grand Prix. Its was noisy as hell until I started using Lucas in it. It might be different though because it uses regular Valvoline not Synthetic. I think maybe using Lucas with Syn wouldn't make a noticable difference, but maybe it does with regular oil.

Babyhauler · March 25, 2010

Hey guys,

Thank you for the responses. I just wanted to let others know of something that appears to help if their knocking is aggravating.

10 yr old unsupervised while I was watching ball practice. I guess she liked a song that was on. I could see her, I just could not hear the radio. Now any bass whether music or sports talk brings out the ratltes. Oh well, at least she did not try to drive off.

I have read a lot of post about this noise and I thought I was going to have to live with, especially since the Lucas did not change it. Just warm it up before driving. It was just a nice surprise to have now, 5 quite start ups in a row. Since that cured it (maybe), does that mean I had a real problem with that heavy knock it made. I can't say I have heard an engine and someone said those pistons are really noisy in there. Mine sure sounded like a bad bottom end. Now I can hear my power steering pump whining and hear the injectors ticking as they work. I forgot, also the wonderfull sound of a bus from the engine fan. The LT 1 fans are another project that should improve mileage and reduce noise. All the post seem positive about that. Feedback on that?

I also heard today from a 2 chevy owner that the dealership strongly advised him NOT to change the oil until the oil change light had come on. Early engine failure would soon result. Anyone heard of that?

Thank you again

Babyhauler