Noisy at startup in the mornings... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Loose Screw** · 10-21-2025, 09:16 PM

Revision: 2 months latter and it turns out a big part of the noise problem was one of the exhaust donut flanges needed to be tightened!

My old Chevy single point FrankinEngine with a serial number stating the block is a 1984 has always been a little noisy at morning startup with using an STP premium oil filter and Castrol Conventional 10W-30.
I just changed to an AC blue oil filter and Havoline Conventional 10W-30 and now my engine clatters a lot more for about 3-5 seconds. I have a cutoff switch at the coil and if I prime the engine for 3 to 5 seconds the clatter is not that bad.
I bought another STP filter and going to change out that AC. Maybe the chatter has something to do with the drain back valve. If the filter change doesn't help the clickity clack then I'm changing the oil back to Castrol...
Gonna hate wasting that AC and Havoline oil change....

**dmjlambert** · 10-21-2025, 10:12 PM

Perhaps just add a quart of Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer and see if it quiets down.

**Loose Screw** · 10-21-2025, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Perhaps just add a quart of Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer and see if it quiets down.

Hey dmjlambert, have you watched the movie Antihalation?

**1970cstblazer** · 10-22-2025, 07:54 AM

If you want to quiet it down a bit, short of a cam and lifter or oil pump replacement, use Amsoil Z rod oil and a correct WIX , old stock AC, or Amsoil filter. I use it in all of my vintage engines, and it does seem to make the valvetrain almost silent on all of them. None of them had any irregularities prior though.

**Loose Screw** · 10-22-2025, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

If you want to quiet it down a bit, short of a cam and lifter or oil pump replacement, use Amsoil Z rod oil and a correct WIX , old stock AC, or Amsoil filter. I use it in all of my vintage engines, and it does seem to make the valvetrain almost silent on all of them. None of them had any irregularities prior though.

Thanks, I got a call in to the Amsoil guy. I guess I got to try it at least once in life.

bnorth · 10-22-2025, 08:13 PM

IMO add Lucas to what you have as that is a cheap easy experiment.

**Loose Screw** · 10-22-2025, 09:37 PM

What about Marvel Mistry Oil?
Lucas is Thick VS MMO thin...and then there's zinc additives which the Amsoil above already has it packaged in it.

I'm Not a real big additive person even though on about the third oil change on my wife's Honda I started putting a shot of MMO. Even fairly new with only about 5K miles on the car at start up that little engine was noisy. And Yes the Marvel quieted it down. The Honda now has 100K and always gets a shot of Marvel at Oil change.

Oh, I don't want to turn this into a thread that belongs on BTOGs, but I swear my 50K mile 2004 4.3l drips when I run Synthetic and Not when I run conventional....

**dmjlambert** · 10-24-2025, 12:58 AM

I love that thick stuff, it is thicker than honey. Just pour it in there and it'll be fine. Annihilation movie, no, but I like Sci-Fi and that star cast so I'll check it out.

**Sheepdip** · 10-24-2025, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loose Screw

What about Marvel Mistry Oil?
Lucas is Thick VS MMO thin...and then there's zinc additives which the Amsoil above already has it packaged in it.

I'm Not a real big additive person even though on about the third oil change on my wife's Honda I started putting a shot of MMO. Even fairly new with only about 5K miles on the car at start up that little engine was noisy. And Yes the Marvel quieted it down. The Honda now has 100K and always gets a shot of Marvel at Oil change.

Oh, I don't want to turn this into a thread that belongs on BTOGs, but I swear my 50K mile 2004 4.3l drips when I run Synthetic and Not when I run conventional....

MMO all the way! My Grandfather was a MMO user as was my father and now me. I have put a lot of miles on SBC's with MMO in the crankcase and I always add 2 oz. per 10 gallons in the fuel tank with nothing but good luck.

Things I don't experience, noisy lifters, gummed up/leaky carbs, and deteriorated rubber fuel lines. It's also an excellent fuel saver for your lawnmower, generator, etc. fuel can, not to mention being good for your small engines.

**70STOVEBOLT** · 10-24-2025, 12:51 PM

Can you specify if the rattle is coming from the bottom end or the top end? I know some of the GM trucks from the 80's would develop main bearing rattle after a lot of miles (over 100K). If it's bottom end, then Lucas or something that has a high viscosity rating would likely help. If it's top end, then you want something thinner to reach the top quicker. All this to say: need more info!

**Loose Screw** · 10-24-2025, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I love that thick stuff, it is thicker than honey. Just pour it in there and it'll be fine. Annihilation movie, no, but I like Sci-Fi and that star cast so I'll check it out.

Your avatar from a distance looks like it's from that movie....

**Loose Screw** · 10-24-2025, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

MMO all the way! My Grandfather was a MMO user as was my father and now me. I have put a lot of miles on SBC's with MMO in the crankcase and I always add 2 oz. per 10 gallons in the fuel tank with nothing but good luck.

Things I don't experience, noisy lifters, gummed up/leaky carbs, and deteriorated rubber fuel lines. It's also an excellent fuel saver for your lawnmower, generator, etc. fuel can, not to mention being good for your small engines.

Yeah, I've Never heard anybody talk bad about Marvel Mystery Oil other than the guys that say "don't add anything, you have bigger problems if you need to add". Again, my Honda New was noisy and MMO quieted it down and it now has ~100K miles.

**Loose Screw** · 10-24-2025, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Can you specify if the rattle is coming from the bottom end or the top end? I know some of the GM trucks from the 80's would develop main bearing rattle after a lot of miles (over 100K). If it's bottom end, then Lucas or something that has a high viscosity rating would likely help. If it's top end, then you want something thinner to reach the top quicker. All this to say: need more info!

I'm pretty sure it's the top. If I do turn the engine over for about 3-5 seconds with the coil turned off (priming) the clatter is almost nonexistent at morning start up.

**Loose Screw** · 10-28-2025, 08:18 PM

Drained a little over a quart of the new conventional 10W-30 Havoline out of the old 350, added a bottle of Resoline ZDDP and half a bottle of Ligui Moly Hydraulic Lifter Additive and that quieted the engine down a lot!

**Loose Screw** · 12-15-2025, 12:32 AM

I'm going to have to revise this thread!
Oil and Additives was not the problem or answer to the ticking noise I was hearing...It was an exhaust leak at the donut flange...I didn't think to check it because I had put new ones and tighten the heck out of them about a year ago, but yeah one side was pretty loose.
Tighten it an No More Ticking At All!

Shaking my head in embarrassment.....

HO455 · 12-15-2025, 09:52 AM

No need to be embarrassed, we've all done it. Made an assumption and ran with it. Myself when there's a new problem I've learned (The hard way

) to go inspect the last thing I messed with, first!

Glad to hear it was an easy fix. That's always a win in my book!

10-21-2025, 09:16 PM	#1
Loose Screw Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: EL PASO Posts: 417	Noisy at startup in the mornings... Revision: 2 months latter and it turns out a big part of the noise problem was one of the exhaust donut flanges needed to be tightened! My old Chevy single point FrankinEngine with a serial number stating the block is a 1984 has always been a little noisy at morning startup with using an STP premium oil filter and Castrol Conventional 10W-30. I just changed to an AC blue oil filter and Havoline Conventional 10W-30 and now my engine clatters a lot more for about 3-5 seconds. I have a cutoff switch at the coil and if I prime the engine for 3 to 5 seconds the clatter is not that bad. I bought another STP filter and going to change out that AC. Maybe the chatter has something to do with the drain back valve. If the filter change doesn't help the clickity clack then I'm changing the oil back to Castrol... Gonna hate wasting that AC and Havoline oil change.... Last edited by Loose Screw; 12-15-2025 at 12:50 AM.

10-21-2025, 10:12 PM	#2
dmjlambert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 4,051	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... Perhaps just add a quart of Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer and see if it quiets down.

10-22-2025, 07:54 AM	#4
1970cstblazer All stock and staying that way Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 2,501	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... If you want to quiet it down a bit, short of a cam and lifter or oil pump replacement, use Amsoil Z rod oil and a correct WIX , old stock AC, or Amsoil filter. I use it in all of my vintage engines, and it does seem to make the valvetrain almost silent on all of them. None of them had any irregularities prior though. __________________ 1970 K/5 Blazer CST 4WD, TOTM winner December 2024! Medium Bronze poly, 93k ACT. miles, 350, 4 speed, rear positraction, 16.5" x 8.25" HD Kelsey Hayes wheel option, tilt, tach, vacuum, AM/FM, manual throttle...Dad ordered and purchased new 4/70. Frame off restored 1970 K20, To be a clone of my Grandfather's K20, Dark Blue poly, 350, 4 speed, 16.5" X 8.25" Kelsey Hayes wheel option, tilt, tach, vacuum, AM radio. Latest project truck 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 2WD, Dark Blue/White, 90K ACT. miles, 402, TH400, 4.10 open, tilt, tach, vacuum, A/C, AM/FM, manual throttle.. A mostly original paint never rusted Texas survivor... 2017 Sierra 1500 SLT 4WD, Black, 51k miles, 5.3, 6L80E, 3.42 LS, 20" polished wheels, everything but moonroof and 6.2... 2019 Canyon SLT 4WD, White, 71k miles, 3.6, 8L45, 3.23 LS, 18" wheels

10-22-2025, 08:13 PM	#6
bnorth Registered User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Salmon Arm BC Posts: 282	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... IMO add Lucas to what you have as that is a cheap easy experiment. __________________ 1970 C10 l/b 292/4spd Build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=811062

10-22-2025, 09:37 PM	#7
Loose Screw Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: EL PASO Posts: 417	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... What about Marvel Mistry Oil? Lucas is Thick VS MMO thin...and then there's zinc additives which the Amsoil above already has it packaged in it. I'm Not a real big additive person even though on about the third oil change on my wife's Honda I started putting a shot of MMO. Even fairly new with only about 5K miles on the car at start up that little engine was noisy. And Yes the Marvel quieted it down. The Honda now has 100K and always gets a shot of Marvel at Oil change. Oh, I don't want to turn this into a thread that belongs on BTOGs, but I swear my 50K mile 2004 4.3l drips when I run Synthetic and Not when I run conventional....

10-24-2025, 12:58 AM	#8
dmjlambert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 4,051	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... I love that thick stuff, it is thicker than honey. Just pour it in there and it'll be fine. Annihilation movie, no, but I like Sci-Fi and that star cast so I'll check it out.

10-24-2025, 12:51 PM	#10
70STOVEBOLT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Winona Lake, IN Posts: 7,066	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... Can you specify if the rattle is coming from the bottom end or the top end? I know some of the GM trucks from the 80's would develop main bearing rattle after a lot of miles (over 100K). If it's bottom end, then Lucas or something that has a high viscosity rating would likely help. If it's top end, then you want something thinner to reach the top quicker. All this to say: need more info! __________________ 70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Sliding Rear Window Power Windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear

10-28-2025, 08:18 PM	#14
Loose Screw Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: EL PASO Posts: 417	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... Drained a little over a quart of the new conventional 10W-30 Havoline out of the old 350, added a bottle of Resoline ZDDP and half a bottle of Ligui Moly Hydraulic Lifter Additive and that quieted the engine down a lot!

12-15-2025, 12:32 AM	#15
Loose Screw Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: EL PASO Posts: 417	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... I'm going to have to revise this thread! Oil and Additives was not the problem or answer to the ticking noise I was hearing...It was an exhaust leak at the donut flange...I didn't think to check it because I had put new ones and tighten the heck out of them about a year ago, but yeah one side was pretty loose. Tighten it an No More Ticking At All! Shaking my head in embarrassment.....

12-15-2025, 09:52 AM	#16
HO455 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 12,412	Re: Noisy at startup in the mornings... No need to be embarrassed, we've all done it. Made an assumption and ran with it. Myself when there's a new problem I've learned (The hard way ) to go inspect the last thing I messed with, first! Glad to hear it was an easy fix. That's always a win in my book! __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377



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