Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Cold weather noise...

So ever since it has gotten quite cold here, ive noticed there is a chatter when i start my engine in the morning. I changed oil recently (though i was getting the same noise before) I have been using mobil one, and recently gave castrol syntec a try. Anyhow it sounds like chatter from the valvetrain, and it goes away immediately. Is this bad? Is it becasue there is not yet oil covering the valvetrain? I dont see any way around it short of cranking the engine and not letting it start, or getting a block heater? It's a 2000 SVT.

This is a common occurence. nothing bad really. Some people say it is no oil on the chain yet. I say nope. If I start my car just right on cold days, it doesn't do it. I have a feeling it has something to do with the starter, not a professional diagnosis though.

My car does the same thing. Goes away in a few seconds. I highly doubt it's no oil on the chain. It would do this in the summer too then, when the motor gets hotter, making the oil thinner. I don't worry about it.

What you are hearing are your lifters. The lifters, located in the cylinder heads are some of the last parts of the motor to receive oil from the oil pump. In cold weather, when the oil is thicker, it takes longer for the lifters, which are hydraulic, to "pump up" with oil. In essence, the lifters are momentarily "starved" and therefore they chatter a bit.