Nissan OEM filter ADBV fail or?

[AZjeff]

I've been unhappy with the cold start clatter the Xterra has using NAPA Gold filters, not loud and it goes away quickly but it's annoying and happens right off on a fresh OC & filter, so I bought an OEM Nissan filter for the last OC. It was silent on start-up for the first 1K miles then I started to notice a little noise but not as much as with the Gold. We were away for a week so it sat, when I started it up it was the worst CLATTER I've heard and now it's noisy every morning.

What happened, should I change the filter and if so what brand to try? I know people say it hurts nothing but if I can quiet it I have to, it drives me crazy. 1500 miles on the OC. Thanks

 

[JC1]

What brand and thickness of oil are you using? Was it the same oil for both OCI?

 

[BrocLuno]

Two things contribute. ADBV and oil film retention. Nothing wrong with the Napa Gold ADBV. Yeah sure, one will not seal perfectly now and then, but they about the most effective ADBV out there. Maybe Baldwin might be a smidge better.

But what it really sounds like are two things:

1.) Synthetic oil "drain off" which happens because of the lower surface tension inherent in some synthetic formulas. Depending on the make-up of the oil, it can be worse with some. The longer it sits, the worst it is. There is a residual oil film, but capillary fill is less because it's based on surface tension...

2.) Oil is shearing down to permanently less viscous state. Result is same as above, but for different reason.

Your description fits both.

Change oil brand/type and up one grade. If you run 10w30, maybe look for Delo 15w30 SD (severe duty) which may be one of the quietest oils on start-up out there

I think it's on sale at some auto parts houses

 

[AZjeff]

Previous OCs were Valvoline HM 5w30 (spec'd wt). This one is PP 10w30 + 1/2 bottle of LM MOS because of a rear main drip. The drip is worse now than with the previous HM.

The mystery is the obvious louder and longer start-up clatter now after that week sitting.

 

[Camprunner]

Try some Castrol GTX Magnatec in either 5wor 10w30 many people claim it quiets noisy motors on start up.

 

[cookieman214]

If I'm not mistaken, Nissan V-6 engines use an oil pressure activated cam chain tensioner. Does this describe your problem?

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/quest/16432-67-cure-vq35-timing-chain-rattle-05-quest.html

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: cookieman214
If I'm not mistaken, Nissan V-6 engines use an oil pressure activated cam chain tensioner. Does this describe your problem?

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/quest/16432-67-cure-vq35-timing-chain-rattle-05-quest.html


No. This is start-up clatter that stops after 2-3 seconds.

 

[cronk]

The 3.3 in the older Xterra/Frontiers uses a timing belt, so you can rule that out. (you have serviced the timing belt every 100k right?!)
My wife's last Nissan minivan had one, and I used either a WIX or OEM and never really noticed any difference in noises.
The valves always made a little racket for a few seconds until oil pressure got to the hydraulic lifters.

 

[corndogzombie]

Well id go ahead and just change the filter since its eating at you wondering. Maybe it will stop it, maybe not but if not at least you'll have that scenario out of the way and then you can try something else like a higher grade oil or something.
Really you could go to WalMart and pick up one of those ugly cheap ocod and jus use it as the guenia pig. Its a sufficient enough filter and if it doesn't change anything you wont feel bad about wasting a lot of money on a m1 or some other real filter. Good luck.