How serious is valve clatter on start-up?

[djwarner]

My '02 Q45 with 49K sat in the garage for 4 days with temperatures in the 50-70 range.

When I went to start the engine this morning there was a clatter for about 2-3 seconds though the engine started and idled normally.

It sounds as though a hydraulic lifter had bled down - and yes, I know this is an overhead cam engine.

I bought this car from a Ford dealer who serviced the car before offering it for sale so I assume they used their 0-30 semi-synthetic oil. Oil level is perhaps a pint overfilled if anything and is not using oil.

Any suggestions as to causes and/or remedies.

[Q45tech]

Why would you not assume that they used the cheapest oil available.The first test would be to replace with a premium synthetic then do the same time delay test.

The lifters are bucket type which are very sensitive to oil type and quality vs the 90-01 HLA type.

[djwarner]

I emailed the salesman and he was almost certain the car had gone through their $9.95 oil change line that used 5-20 semi-syn.

My next move was to immediately go to the local oil emporium and repalce filter and oil with Mobil 1 EP 5-30 (because they didn't have 0-40).

Car sounded noticably better on the way home. Glad I'd only put 2K on the car before This came up.

[car nut]

I emailed the salesman and he was almost certain the car had gone through their $9.95 oil change line that used 5-20 semi-syn.

Meh. Hardly definitive. Change oil/filter with some high quality synth stuff and then leave the car for a few days again.

[karay24O]

I'm 99.9% sure that the VK45 is not hydaulic lifters. Nissan has just about completely moved to solid lifters where the buckets themselves are the shims (PITA to reshim )

My guess is the chain tensioner or the VTC.

[elwesso]

9.95 oil change???????

[Infinitiguy19]

9.95 oil change???????

Yeah you never heard of it, used filter, oil and crappy high school drop out service.

[maxnix]

Go to the regional Mobil distributor to get your 0-40W. It is a totally unique Mobil oil that is 100% PAO4. They might give you a good deal on the filters together, and get the little windshield tags too so you know when to change next.

[djwarner]

I've used Mobil 1 in my aircraft engine and in my Ford.

In the aircraft, I developed seepage around the cork gaskets under the valve covers. About that time Mobil1 was found to cause lead to deposit in the engine internals so I stopped using it. (Light aircraft still use 100 octane Low Lead).

Later I tried some in a Ford Focus and soon noticed seepage in various places about the engine. At the time there were few pure 5W20 synthetics and I ended up switching to another brand.

With my Q45 and its engine covers, it's harder to a good visual scan while checking the oil level.

Has anyone else had seepage problems with Mobil 1?