Hi, have done a search on engine rattling on startup, came across some post about different oil weights.

I Have a 2002TJ, its done around 63000 kms, about 5 months out of factory warranty, I have just done my second oil change since Dec '05 when I bought the car. I am using Valvoline Durablend 5w-40, which is the weight they recommend in the mitsi owners manual, well they say using any other can increase fuel consumption etc. Well after first oil change car was running pretty good. Just did 2nd oil change 2 weeks ago, same oil but now the Temps have turned south (I am in Canberra) and its started rattling really loud.

The funny thing is that if you turn the car off (after runing for a minute or less) then back on again the rattle is gone. I always thought the lower the first number (i.e. 5w) the better it flows when it is cold, meaning that to me the tappets should 'fill' up quickly on start up, not that they should be draining much when the car isn't running. I have not noticed anywhere near as bad a noise when the car is hot at all.

I am thinking that I should try a heavier oil like the 15w-50 as this is what the guys at the Woden mitsi/holden parts dealership tried to sell me in the first place, they were quite surprised when I said the manual said 5w-40. To me a modern engine with close tolerances and only 63000 kms should be able to keep using the same weight as when new, only changing to a heavier weight when it gets a bit worn.

IS anyone else using a 5w-40 with/without any dramas?
Or is it a brand thing, I have always used Castrol and MObil 1 in previous cars but getting the 5w-40 grade in those brands is pretty expensive.

any ideas?

"The funny thing is that if you turn the car off (after runing for a minute or less) then back on again the rattle is gone."

Have you pulled your PCV valve and cleaned it - sounds like its sluggish to me.

:stoopid:

But wait, I got extra infor for you. Apprently if you changed grade from Mobil1 to some other brand, the mixture can be conteminated. You are required to use flush solutions ESPECIALLY if you used Full Synthetic, as they tend to stuck on to your engine and pouring different oil will make things worse. The recommended oil is given at most websites, 5-40 are considered the higher better grade oil. Most manufactures recommend Semi Syn oil actually, these are like Mobil Super Syn, Shell Helix Plus or Eco, Castrol Magnetic or others.

Otherwise it may just be the PVC.

Thanks, will check out the pcv, the rear bank is where the noise is coming from.
failing that some different oil will be going in. The durablend is a semi-syn so it should be good.

Sorry! But what you said about the oil isn’t true. You can basically mix every engine oil and nothing should happen. The oil companies have to make sure that every person who wants to fill the engine with oil doesn’t make a mistake and destroy an engine. Imagine something goes wrong, and they didn’t have a huge WARNING!! DON’T MIX OIL on the oil can. Every one would pull them to court and sue them. Specially in the USA.

Synthetic and non synthetic oils should not be mixed, just like oil and water.

Try Pentite HPR10 in your engine, I have used it in many cars in tis club and no complaints at all so far

You can get a synthetic / dino-juice blend, no problems with that.

The oil does NOT fill the lifters on the 3rd gens - they are filled with diesel when they are fitted, and it is unusual for them to need any attention.

Cheers
Heath Young

I find pensoil is preety good i use 15w-40 in my had no drams. In my other car I had I was use pensoil 15w-50w had no prob would get the rattle a little bit on the first start and it was okay.

I use a fully synthetic racing blend that is very hard to get as it is a very niche brand of oil and is not sold in stores, it is very thin and makes a huge difference to the vehicle, it also burns a bit which is to be expected being so thin, and the engine noises are more audible then before, but I would never go back after using the stuff cause it is awesome oil.

A few drag cars around our area use the oil and swear by it, if anyone wants some I can get it for you but it is in 20l containers.

You can get a synthetic / dino-juice blend, no problems with that.

The oil does NOT fill the lifters on the 3rd gens - they are filled with diesel when they are fitted, and it is unusual for them to need any attention.

Cheers
Heath Young

That may be so at assembly when cleaning them however even Mitsubishi states that they need to be bled with oil. The lifters are the same from the Sigma right through to the TW's. The oil does pressurise them, if the oil quality is bad or pressure low then you will have problems.

I used Penzoil recently when I could not get the Penrite, within 2000k's my oil pressure dropped and the ar sounded like a train at idle.

at the time when my lifters went i was using castrol magnetic