My tired 91DX d series started to make a tapping noise on cold mornings. It doesn't stop until a few minutes after warm up.

Is there one oil filter that clearly allows for the maximum flow? One that is least likely to get clogged or gummed up? Would a s2000 filter be better for my 91 DX 1.5L? Or just go with Mobile1?

Filtration is not really an issue as I'll just be changing the oil frequently. (I need to because of other issues.) And i'm not really sure if i need to be concerned with a filter's effect on oil pressure.

Thanks very much.

(I have already had valve clearance adjusted and plan to switch to a thinner oil immediately. And I know enough to avoid the FRAM as if it were herpes.)

 

Why are Fram filters so bad???????????????? What weight oil are you using?

 

Thanks for responding.

I'm currently on 10-40 now because my car is an oil burner (yes i know that i'll eventually need to swap/rebuild the engine). And as i said before i plan to go thinner immediately.

I've read some bad things about the low end Frams (not necessarily the ToughGuards or other FRAMs) And i'd just as well spend an extra 3 dollars for peace of mind.

 

Try adjusting the valves.

 

I think the 10-40 weight oil will cause your prob with the cold starts. Try runing 5-30 and see what that does.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crxben &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the 10-40 weight oil will cause your prob with the cold starts. Try runing 5-30 and see what that does.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Im in the same boat that he is, and the reason we are running thicker oil is that the motor eats 5w30 like candy. My engine runs strong as hell (sohc zc on 15w40 royal purple) I just changed the oil to 10w30 for the cold months.

The problem is that mine has developed a lot of head noise until its warmed up. That has happened since using higher weight oil for about 6 months, so out of experience to you guys that burn a little oil......STICK WITH 5W30......for the longevity of your head and valves and cam.

If you go thicker in the summer to fight blow-by, then when you use a thicker oil, I recomend using a quality synthetic, and not regular dino-juice. The additive packages are much better friction fighters in the synth oils.

 

Thanks to everyone who replied, especially SIred.


This morning the car was spitting out a ton of blue smoke. I was certain that i tore a piston ring or something major. It continued to smoke after i had been driving it for a while.

Then i drove it for a good while more. I had someone else rev the car in nueteral while i observed the tail pipe from the outside. The smoke reduced greatly to a tolerable amount.

So I changed from the 10-40/'motor honey' blend to a 5-30/10-30 blend with a Puralator one filter. I imagine it should be better tomorrow morning.

I imagine that the thicker oil in the cold was not getting where it needed to go therefore rings were not sealing properly.

 

What could also contribute to the noise, the aluminum pistons can "slap" in the bore until they heat up. The sound is more like that of a diesel engine however instead of a distinct tapping noise.

 

Update
Huge difference. Much less noise and much less smoke.

It's kind of strange but the 'Stop Smoke/Motor Honey' product can actually make your car smoke MORE in the cold months. But I'm sure that i'll need to be switching back to the heavier oil and/or Motor Honey next summer.


Thanks, again.

 

piston slap

 

Question for Perfectionist & Chaplain,

A thinner oil would not help a pistion slap, would it???

 

Question for Perfectionist, Chaplain or anyone,

A thinner oil would not help to quiet a pistion slap, would it???

 

No, it wouldn't. It only goes away with thermal expansion. The noise is quite distinct, though. Sounds almost like pre-ignition ping or diesel clatter.