I noticed this a couple weeks ago...
When doing a cold start the engine makes this rattling sound, almost like shaking a spray paint can but a lot louder. It only does it for a second or two and then everything is fine.
It doesn't do it any other time I start it or while I drive the car or let it idle.
Is this just because it is cold out and after oil gets shot up to the head and else-ware that it goes away?
NOTE: I kick my choke up before i start the car upon cold starting to let it warm up.
Try two things, it's very low cost.
One...some oil filters allow oil to drain back when the car sits overnight. Try a Motorcraft oil filter, these are usually good.
Two...try 10W-30 Mobil 1 synthetic.
You don't post where you're at, or just how cold it is there. My guess is that it's cold enough to "thicken" the oil in the pan. If you're running 10w40 you could go back to a straight 30w & take care of most of this.
The rattling you're hearing is, most likely, the rockers against the cam, as the oil pressure builds. This isn't super serious, but needs looking into, as it'll wear your cam more quickly.
The synthetic Starliner suggested is a good idea, as it won't thicken like dead dinos do.
My 76 does the same thing. But, i use 10w30 valvoline oil, a wix filter, and it gets down to the 20s at night currently. Only the first start of the day does this tho. It would seem oil related, but i think it is due to engine wear. Perhaps the oil pump getting worn or some bearings worn. Wix isnt the "cheap" filter and its supposed to be good. i cant imagine it not having an antidrainback valve in it.....
My '74 never rattled, even when the oil pump was on it's way out. I honestly don't believe the pump is going. They're famous for either working or not. I've owned 4 different 2300 4 cyls, I had to put oil pumps in 2 of them. Both times it was oil pressure one day, none the next.
My '84 Mustang 2300 would rattle in the am if it was really cold, but that was before I knew that 20-50 oil wasn't good in the winter.
My 74 and 79 dont do it either. The 74 has a new head and wix oil filter (and i think the oil pump IS going on it tho, since it sheared the pin on the bottom of the distributor, a few months after i replaced it after it did it the first time. It hasnt done it since then tho and thats been over a year... Anyways. Some kind of wear is all i can think. I use the same weight oil and filter on all three, year round. (10w30). The 74 has 99k on it, the 76 has 152k on it and god only knows how many miles are on the 79s engine. The car has 97k, but the engine isnt original. The engine came from a car that was stripped, no cluster to see how many miles it showed. I think its more worn out than the 76 tho (but i havnt noticed that noise yet, but then again since i just got it running and havnt really ever driven it) Another possibility is maybe piston slap? I think it usually lasts longer than a second or two but maybe not in this case.
Piston slap sounds more ominous than a rattle, It sounds like the rods are coming through, and lasts until the piston reaches operating temp. Usually around 30sec to 1min.
Don't ask how I know this, just know I'm replacing a Subaru engine, in a Wagon. >:(
I'm getting positive oil pressure every time, I'm watching my oil pressure gauge and it's reading good and still hitting where it always has.
I just changed my oil in the car on the 20th with a motorcraft oil filter and 10w-30 Castrol GTX which has always been used in the engine since it was rebuilt less than 6000 miles ago.
I'll keep an eye on the oil pressure though just to ensure my pump isn't going out.
It's not easy to help diagnose things like this without acturally hearing the engine.
If it were my car, AND based on what I hear, I would pull the valvecover and inspect all the followers to see of one or more are loose when the car is FULLY cold. To inspect them, make sure the cam lobe is opposite of the follower, and hand-rotate the engine as needed to inspect all of them. If there are one or more that are 'looser' than the others it might indicate that you have one or more faulty hyd. adjusters or worn followers. Press down on all of the adjusters to see if any of them collapse by HAND. If none do, but you have a loose follower or two, pull them out and look for a liine of wear accross the contact area.
If I found anything that I thought is exessive wear or questionable adjusters, I would ether replace all the followers and hyd. adjusters OR, replace the adusters and swap to a roller cam and followers. A good used roller cam and followers can be purchased for similar money (in some cases) as a set of new sliders.
Bill
It hasn't been rattling lately. As I stated earlier, I changed my oil about a week - two weeks ago. I think it's finally gotten into all the little places and into the lifters now.
Thanks for all the help guys and gals!
Dave1987,
I am just curious. When you rebuilt the engine 6000 miles ago did you put the same camshaft into it?????? The reason I ask is because the 2300 cams are hollow for oil flow.
HappyNewYear_Horse
No, not the original. The camshaft in there now is by Crane, I believe it was a Blue Racer cam. My older brother bought it just before he planned to rebuild the head when he broke the rings on the pistons, but he ended up buying a new car instead. I do not know if this shaft is hollow or not though.
Not sure if it would be of any help, but my car made a similar noise -- a rattling noise coming out of the right side under the hood somewhere when it first would warm up.
I was told by my mechanic friend that it could be the heat stove, something connected with the exhaust.
The only other sound I've heard that sounds rattle like is lifter noise, but it sounds like a tic to my ears more than a rattle.