After an oil change done for my MY98 UK Turbo at the 60,000 service (done by time, mileage is actually 52k) the tappets seem to be noisier at startup. I know it's a bit of a subaru thing but it bugs me as it sounds a bit pants

Is it just an age thing or would the oil put in at the service ( Subaru main dealer) be liable to cause the increase in cold start noise

Matt.

 

You can sometimes find that once clean oil is put into an engine, you can hear things that previously "where not apparent". Are you sure it is tappets and not piston slap? If simply tappets, you can try adding a "top end treatment" to the oil to shift the build up of laquers in the tappets, see if that helps.

 

arrrggghhh

I wouldn't recommend any treatment stuff in a Scoob engine..

Drain the oil out and refill with 4.5litres of Motul 300v 15W50 and hopefully all will be quiet again.. then each service take some motul along and ask them to fill it with that and remove the price of the sh1te semi synthetic stuff they use off the bill.

Also consider if it is a uniform tap it might be the injectors pulsing.. the tappets tend to peak slightly as the revs drop where as injector pulses remain inline with rpm.. iyswim.

JGM

 

i thought 15/50 is too high in the manual it says 10/40 i thought 10/50 would be fine can anyone confirm this

 

15W50 is perfect... some use 10W60 Catrol for track use.. but I am and so do many run 15W50 on the road with great results..

JGM

 

Chances are the oil is different than what you had last time.
Probably nothing to concern yourself with.
Get someone who really knows what they are doing, to listen to it on start up to confirm all is well. Nothing wrong with a bit of noise when cold.
What is the oil in use.

Check what oil filter has been used. I have experience that leads me to believe that it is important to ensure that only the Subaru O/E filter is used, even though lots of "experts" recon that an after market filter is O.K.

I use various oils from 5w 30 to 15w 50 Motul depending on what I am doing. Frequent oil changes are important.

 

Cheers for the info all, I think I may go along the "take own oil to service" route, may save a few quid as well

Scoobyslut, I am 99% certain it is tappet noise, it's certainly not from piston / crank area. I'm very hesitant about adding anything to my oil I have to say!

JGM, that's a thought, I have to say I haven't listened closeley under bonnet yet, but would the injectors be noiser at cold startup and then get quieter as the engine warms? This is why I assumed it was something to do with a different viscosity (sp?) affecting the tappets when cold. Am I correct in assuming it has hydraulic self adjusting tappets

Harvey, It's whatever the local Subaru garage put in at last service, and surely they would have used an O/E filter I'm not concerned about noise as it's just a cold engine thing I know, just wondered if a different oil would help as it just bugs me a bit

On a seperate note, and perhaps I should do a different thread for, is it better to let it warm up ticking over for 5 mins or to drive off from cold but to keep it of boost??

Thanks again for help folks

Matt

 

If it quietens as the engine warms then yes unlikely to be injectors then.

Personnally I thnink it does more damage to leave it idling than driving it off boost until coolant at least normal temp from first turn of the key etc...

Warming down is important too, off boost for last mile or so or idle for a minute or two.

Idling from cold for five minutes just leave it in its highest wear state for longer, ie. cold engine.. driving off and staying off boost will warm the engine slowly and get it out of the highest wear temperature asap.

JGM

 

Cheers for that JGM, seem to conflicting views about warm up, I think a new thread is in order to get lots of opinions but what you are saying does seem to make sense

Matt.

 

JGM's advice is spot on. Start engine drive off but keep revs down without letting the engine struggle. Last couple of miles after a hard run driven off boost.
Take note that it takes the oil a long time to reach operating temperature, especially in winter. For me it can be 6-10 miles and on the coldest days at speeds up to 70mph on a commuter run the oil has not reached temperature after 18mls.

 

I would definately go for the Motul 300V oil,my MY01 always sounded rattly from cold on Mobil Motorsport oil.
I swapped over to Motul and the car sounded great from startup.

Zippy

 

Snap on my 96 UK..

JGM

 

Cheers folks, sounds like motul is the one to try.

Can I get that from a decent car spares shop or is it best mail order???

Matt

 

I used to buy it from Demon Tweeks but I believe they now only sell 2litres bottles!

So an alternative is Camskill

But due to the car taking 4.5litres and it comes in 4litre cans it is a bit of a pain.. I believe you can deal with Motul direct too..

JGM

 

..and it is available via the scoobyshop I notice.

JGM

 

Unfortunately Motul in their wisdom have decided that 2 litres is the best option and you'll find everyone listing 2 litres

Mike
Camskill

 

how much is the motul stuff?


dohh clicked camskills link and saw it

4 litres and 2 litres for £45 ish