Engine noisy after oil change

[Dr Imran T]

Afternoon chaps

I recently had an oil change on my old smoker (Honda Legend 2001 3.5 V6)with a fully synthetic oil and genuine Honda oil filter.

First change I put in some valvoline 5w40 fully synthetic oil and changed the oil filter for an OEM one.

After this I found the engine noisy on start up in particular. Sounds more of a top end rattle. So I dropped this oil and put in some 10w40 part synthetic as per Honda recommendation.

It seems somewhat better but not as quiet as before.

Milage is 134,000 and car has had regular changes, however, the last oil that came out was thick and black.

Would it be risky to put in some 10w50 fully synthetic that I have lying around? is there a chance that the oil filter is faulty?

I should add that it does quieten down once the car is up to temp.

Advise please

[Dr Imran T]

Bennachie said:

What oil was in it originally?

Sounds like starvation to hydraulic tappets perhaps? due to filter one way - non return - valve faulty. Is the filter a cannister type? Is it sideways upside down or regular etc.

It ran on 10w40 semi synthetic originally. Engine was definitely quieter before as even my wife commented on this!

Good question re. filter I think it is sideways mounted. Yes it is a cannister type?? as opposed to a cartridge then?

Oil filter was from the Honda dealers and costs 3x price of a non Honda one

I will be very annoyed if the oil filter is at fault, already had to drop the oil once already.

Would there be any damage done to the engine if this is the case then?

[Dr Imran T]

^^ thanks.

I ran the car for about 400/500 miles with the 5w40 oil in. I drove from Bradford to London then came home and changed the oil.

Would it be oil starvation if the noise goes away after the car is up to temp?

How long does it take for the oil pressure to build up?

thanks

[Dr Imran T]

^^ really? not heard that before. I thought these engines were sturdy and capable of huge miles??

Car has FSH from the main dealer with regular oil changes. Noise came about after last change hence my concern.

[Dr Imran T]

Bennachie said:

Is it tappet noise?

Does it go away after a couple of mins?

Change the filter. You can do that without draining the oil.

If it is initial start up rattle then the non return valve in the filter is faulty. Not unheard of from new...

I think it is tappets. It does go away once the engine is up to temp but I feel the engine is not as quiet as it was before.

I've got a new oil filter so I will give that a try and report back.

Thanks all

[Dr Imran T]

Ok Update - changed the oil filter and it really hasn't made much of a difference. The only thing I think that may have brought about this change is the oil.

The mechanic suggested that they may have used a heavier weight of oil or ran it with an additive to quieten the tappets.

I have changed the oil (10w40) as per Honda recommendations. However, I know some people say to run a heavier as the engine gets older/high mileage.

I have a spare 5 litres of Pro S 10w50 that I have lying about in the shed. Might try that at the next oil change.

Thanks

[Dr Imran T]

ch427 said:

dont use 10/50 you will make it worse. Find out for sure the recommended oil for your car,it may be need a 5/30 grade.

Slippery slope this. As far as I am aware a thicker oil is better for noisy tappets. There is a excellent thread on PH about this somewhere. It was very informative. I shall try and dig it out and post it up.