Dry start before oil gets up in the motor?

[CosmicGrooves]

For a few weeks now, I've noticed that when I frist start the car after it's been sitting a while, it sounds rough... The oil drains down from the engine when turned off and after it's started, the oil is splashed back up into the motor. The first few seconds of starting the car, I can hear it clicking and making some bad, no oil sounds. I've never noticed this in any other car before unless the car was very low on oil. The clicking and dry sound goes away after a few moments, but everytime I hear it, it makes me cringe.

Has anyone else noticed this? I have the 3.3ltr V6 motor. I thought about trying a bottle of Slick 50 to see if that helps. Anyone have any suggestions?

EDIT:
[maybe I should have said a scraping sound, not clicking.]

[PXLpainter]

This has been an issue for OHC cars for years - and I knew a guy who invented a pre-oiler pump that ran as soon as you put your key in the ignition and forced oil up before you turned the crank. I think he got bought out by Ford but they never ended up implementing it in production. If they can't sell you a new POS every 5 years then they won't make money - LOL!

Still a great concept... too bad it didn't make it on the open market.

[CosmicGrooves]

I've never tried Slick 50, but do you think that would help? It's been around for a while, but I don't know how good it actually is.

[jhenty]

you should have oil pressure within 4 seconds at the most, if your car wasn't getting oil by then you would have all sorts of problems and expensive noises.

It must be something other than oil pressure itself, theres many things it could be, can you describe the noise any better? and maybe a location within the engine?

You mentioned clicking which is typical of valve train noises, listen to the cylinder heads closely on startup.

[Turbosolara]

what weight of motor oil do you use?

[CosmicGrooves]

I use Castrol Syntec 5w-30.

[Midias]

NO slick 50 heard bad things if you really want to add something use lucas oil treatment.

[orlin03]

I run 0w20 for the winter months; it builds up pressure quicker in the cold temps. I've tried Slick 50 before; it's good, but I personally like Lucas better. They are both very thick, though, and are better suited for older/high mileage engines. A Teflon additive might be a better choice, as it will not make the oil thicker and still add cold start protection.

[crispone]

I use Castrol Syntec 5w-30.

I am NOT an advocate of Castrol Syntec...


Use MOBILE 1 or AMSOIL (Motul, Redline, Royal Purple, etc... are reputed and rate well in most tests...) or look into third party test comparisons for those WELL rated Synthetic oils and then use them.

That having been said... there are MANY scenarios that could be taking place in your case. I would not want to "narrow in" on anything from what little information was provided.

Oil does "drain down" into the pan... however, a FILM of oil remains on metal surfaces, and provides lubrication until oil begins to flow. (There should NEVER be any METAL TO METAL contact... but a "shearing" of the oil... creating a CUSHION between the parts...) Additionally, lubrications systems are usually designed to maintain some degree of "oil at the head" (meaning the "LEADING POINTS OF FLOW") with SOME manner of "hydraulic" suspension, from the pump out... it is STILL true that until this FLOW equalizes, and the viscosity "transitions", the lubricative properties are attenuated upon start up.

1) What is the "ambient" temperature when you start the car?

2) What is the LAST thing you or your car did before you began to notice this? (change points --> oil, fuel sorce, some service or modification done, brand of products, driving "trauma" to the motor or car in general, etc...)

3) Have there been any OTHER behaviors you have noted? (Such as "engine run-on", fuel smell on start up or shut down, high/low idle, etc...)

4) Has this been going on for awhile? How long?

5) Has it been a "progressively worsening" condition? (Or did it just START fairly abruptly?)

6) How many miles on the car?

7) How often do you change your oil? Check your oil?

8.) Has the car been CONSUMING any oil?

9) Have you run ANY kind of additive in the fuel OR oil?

10) Are you the ONLY driver of the vehicle?


...etc, etc, etc... you get the point.


Can you "record" a start-up and post it?



Hope you/we (sg) figure it out and it is not serious...

11) DO YOU HAVE A GOOD, HONEST, FAIR, DEPENDABLE MECHANIC you can take it to and have it LOOKED AT?


Good luck!


-crisp