odhogie

hello everyone,with all the talk about the ims issue and noises associated with such. my 99' exhibits a ticking noise upon cold start after sitting for a couple of days. the ticking last about 15 to 20 seconds then gets softer until it stops. it will not return no matter how many times it is started that day while the engine is warm. i am using 0-40 mobil one oil and wondering if a heavier oil would stop this or is something more sinister at play here. car runs strong and there are no other noises while running. no codes or anything abnormal filtering to my assometer. any comments, ideas or personal experiences with this would be much appreciated

redridge

I run 15w/50.... no valve tapping here...

Macster

Some as has been noted use a heavier oil. A heavier oil can lessen the noises upon startup because the heavier oil drains back a bit less after engine shut down and because the heavier oil effect a better hydraulic "seal" upon cold start which can reduce the noise from start up.

Trouble is Porsche doesn't recognize 15w-50 for use in its engines. At least not now.

However, lets look at my 02 owners manual regarding oil.

For synthetic oils generally higher than 50F 10w-40, 15w-40 and 15w-50 are recommended. For lower than 50F 10w-40, 10w-30, and even 5w-30 is listed.

Now under the table is the sentence: Use only engine oils labeled API SH or SJ or ILSAC GF 1 and viscosity grades of SAE 10w-40 and higher.

Now part of the problem with Porsche no longer recognizing some oils like 15w-50 is that the oil additive package may have changed and it no longer contains additives that Porsche feels necessary and thus took this viscosity class of oils off its list of recognized oils.

Or the oils contain too much of an additive that presents -- over time -- a potential to compromise the operation of the converters. Some kind of a zinc additive (for anti-wear/anti-scuff protection) is often listed as one such additive.

Or Porsche in an attempt to improve its CAFE numbers started recommending a lighter viscosity grade of oils to reduce engine friction and gain some improvment in its CAFE numbers to help in some way appease the greenies.

I've run 15w-50, 0w-40 and more recently (the last several tens of thousands of miles (maybe more) 10w-40 Mobil 1 "high mileage" oil in my 02 Boxster.

If the oil in the engine is fresh -- say less than 5K miles on it -- you can try an oil additive. Swepco makes one that contains 100ppm (or is it 200ppm?) of molybdeum which is an anti-friction additive. One Porsche tech told me that for Porsches that aren't driven very often a bottle of this additive can help quiet the engine upon restart. I tried a bottle, have used a bottle in several oil changes in my Boxster, Cayman S and even in my Turbo, and I can't say I've noticed any change in start up noise.

Here's a link:

http://www.automotion.com/product.as...-_-P883105-_-X


However, I seldom let my cars sit unused for any length of time and because of this they always start up rather quiet without any additive.

Another "cure" for noisy tappets (zero lash valve adjusters) is to just drive the car with more "enthusiasm". The lifters bleed down while the car sits unused. Due to the possible orientation of the lifter body in the lifter bore the lifter and its oil chamber may not be positioned for the most complete purging of air that can enter the lifter body. If any air remains the lifter can be a bit noisy.

More spirited driving, with the engine fully warmed up of course, will work to more thoroughly and more quickly purge the air from these bodies.

More frequent oil changes can help too, if you tell me you're running the oil for long miles and using the car for short trips.

Or you can simply try a heavier 10w-40 or even a 15w-50 oil though of course you don't know for sure if you're using an oil that has whatever additives present Porsche requires for its engines.

Sincerely,

Macster.

ivangene

+1
I am running 10w-40, those noises went away......

Macster

Run a heavier oil is the quick answer. I just couldn't say that cause I can't really recommend an oil for someone else's car that is not on Porsche's recognized list.

But between you and me I'd run a heavier oil. I run 10w-40 high mileage in the Boxster and tried it in the Turbo. Works fine in both cars.

Next Turbo oil change will have Mobil 1 5w-50 oil (that's not a typo of 15w-50 oil either) in the engine. I'm looking forward to see if I can note any difference in engine oil pressure at various engine speeds with this oil in the engine.

The Boxster may also get Mobil 1 5w-50 though I have to order it over the 'net and by the 6 quart case cause I can't find it at any retail autoparts store.

Still if I'm running both cars on the same oil that makes it easier to stock up with oil cause I know I'll use it.

Sincerely,

Macster.

peavynation

Yay!! Another oil thread!

+1 on Macster. I'm running Syntec 5W-50, I'm in a hot climate and wanted the higher weight.

I'm gonna start a thread soon on MY startup noise. Sounds like a miniature jet spooling up, relatively high pitched, and goes away after it heats up a bit. Sounds kind of neat, but only if it doesn't indicate disaster is looming. I don't think my choice of oil has anything to do with it, but I'm also no Pcar-oil-expert.

BruceP

If it were me, I wouldn't just change oil viscosities and call it a day (not that there's anything wrong with that). I use The Viscosity That Dares Not Speak Its Name on my 95,000km motor, and I don't get any ticking other than the first second or so after a cold start.

I offer this not to defend my choice of oil, but just to say that your ticking is not necessarily 'normal'.

odhogie

Thanks to all that replied.while I agree with BruceP, Macster raises some interesting points. I would like to think at 90k there is some wear on the valvetrain components. So the more viscous oil may take up the small fraction of wear in the lifter bores and inside the lifter body. (after all lifters are just little hydraulic jacks with bleed holes to maintain x amount of pressure)That being said, i will try a heavier oil to start off.Proly not till spring as we are about to enter our nuclear winter in upstate NY.ha.ha. If the oil trick does not work i will probe deeper when we put the snowmobiles away.To touch on what Macster suggested. I drive this car the way it should be driven,hard but not abusive and i smile every time i put it in the garage and cover it!

ford_jj

Can learn many things from this, Thanks. Good luck.

AudiOn19s

Smog pump is what you're probably hearing.

As for the ticking, Every 996 I've come across does it to a degree. My local Independant said to think nothing of it. I was always paranoid to run thick oil with our colder winter climate.

Flyfishnick

Mine ticks too at 103,000 miles for a brief period (after sitting for week or more) and my Indy says "Drive it". He only uses the P oil recommended in my oil changes. I'm gonna drive an d not worry