Cold Start Knock Question For Blaine

[picturethis]

Saw one of your posts and I wanted to PM you but couldnt figure it out.

This one below about a cold start knock. —— Im having a similar situation with my TJ. Can you tell me if what BG product worked for you and how long did it last?

I guess all that depends on your experiences. I bought an 04 TJ Unlimited with 200,000 miles on it. At any cold start, it had a lifter tick that was a knock. It was loud enough that you thought a rod was going. I did all the normal stuff and then changed the oil and added the BG products engine magic crap. I don't recall which one but I know who I got it from and after about 5 cold starts, the lifter knock has departed and not returned. Had it not done so, I would have tossed in some MMO at the next oil change.

 

[mrblaine]

Saw one of your posts and I wanted to PM you but couldnt figure it out.

This one below about a cold start knock. —— Im having a similar situation with my TJ. Can you tell me if what BG product worked for you and how long did it last?

Knock or lifter tick?

 

[picturethis]

Intermittently at cold start when its 40 degrees or colder, sounds like a knock for about 1-2 seconds then it goes away . No constant ticking

 

[mrblaine]

Intermittently at cold start when its 40 degrees or colder, sounds like a knock for about 1-2 seconds then it goes away . No constant ticking

Not the problem I was having. Sounds like you have an oil problem.

 

[toximus]

We have that problem around here. It is technically an oiling problem but not one that can be fixed as far as I'm aware. I've had it happen on a 4.0L with 20k miles.

The best things you can do are 1) make sure the oil filter drain back valve is functioning 2) use a synthetic 5w30 oil 3) keep the Jeep in a heated garage.

 

[Steel City 06]

3) keep the Jeep in a heated garage.

I imagine a block heater or engine oil pan heater (or both) could also suffice.

A freeze plug heater is maybe $20 and a heater pad maybe $25.

 

[toximus]

I imagine a block heater or engine oil pan heater (or both) could also suffice.

A freeze plug heater is maybe $20 and a heater pad maybe $25.

That'll heat what's in the pan or nearby the plug but not down the length of the inline 6 to all of the rockers and push rods. The oil in those oiling galleries will still be cold until what's in the pan gets pushed up there. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but it's also not going to solve those initial seconds.

All that said, I have been doing oil analysis and I can't find any correlation between cold winter starts causing any more wear than warm summer starts. Assuming everything else is working and a synthetic 5w30 is used.

 

[jeepguy03]

What oil filter are you using? I've actually had this happen with a few different oil filter brands. Sometimes the anti-drain back valve fails, or some other issue with the filter, and it can cause a knock at start-up. Each time I replaced the filter and the knock went away. I prefer to use Wix filters (or Napa Gold, which is made by Wix). The part I usually use is Wix 51085 (or Napa 1085).

 

[Steel City 06]

My experience with the 600 watt freeze plug heaters is that the entire block is warmed to a good degree, and enough heat is released to melt the snow off the hood above about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The freeze plug heaters do allow some heat convection through natural circulation of the coolant, and once the heat is in the block, the block conducts the heat throughout itself reasonably well. Parts not incorporated into the engine block are not significantly warmed.

A pan heater probably wouldn’t be as effective as a plug heater. A coolant pump heater would probably work as well as a freeze plug heater.

 

[toximus]

What oil filter are you using? I've actually had this happen with a few different oil filter brands. Sometimes the anti-drain back valve fails, or some other issue with the filter, and it can cause a knock at start-up. Each time I replaced the filter and the knock went away. I prefer to use Wix filters (or Napa Gold, which is made by Wix). The part I usually use is Wix 51085 (or Napa 1085).

I use Wix/Napa Gold. Walmart carries MOPAR filters that would be worth trying if you find that you've had a bad batch of Wix.