Can anyone with experience suggest as to why my engine sounds like this during a cold start?

Video:
This "ticking" sound only happens when the temperature drops below 0 C and it seems to be coming from the driver side of the engine bay. Air temp for the video was -6 C (21 F).

2003 G sedan 5AT with 136000 KM (84500 miles). She's always been fed 91 octane. Just switched to synthetic last oil change 2 months ago using Penzoil platinum 5W-30. But oil changes have always been done at intervals specified in the manual. I check the oil level regularly and it has always been fine. The only mods on the engine is a 5/16 motordyne plenum spacer.

I'm planning on bringing the car to a mechanic soon, but my work schedule has been really hectic so I don't currently have the time. I hope you guys can help me pin point the cause so that I know what to expect.

Thanks!!

 

 

Does it go away after the car is warmed up?

This sounds similar to my car. It had a rhythmic ticking coming from the front of the engine bay when the weather got cold. It freaked me out too so I took it to the mechanic. He said it was normal and explained it to me but I'm not a mechanic so some things went over my head. Basically oil is thicker when its colder so when you do a cold start, not enough oil is being collected by the oil pump (i think thats the part). When that happens the oil pump makes the ticking noise. When the car warms up the oil thins and the oil pump returns to normal and no sound is emitted. Now I may be off but thats the jist of what was explained to me.

I hope this helps and you car is fine.

 

It does go away after warm up. But not in 2-3 seconds as mentioned from other forum members. I really hope its "normal" for these cars. Hopefully my oil pump isn't going to fail on me soon because of this haha. Thanks for the help BonBG35.

Also, I decided to plug my car in whenever I have the chance to (usually when parked at home). After plugging it in overnight, the noise went away! But comes back whenever the car's been left outside unplugged.

 

mine took about 2-3 minutes to go away. it sounds like its just the cold weather. my mechanic said everything was fine but you never know. if youe ver get yours checked out post back here and tell me what your guy says.

 

Mine does the same thing if it hasn't been driving in a week plus or really cold drops. It's a terrible sound but it goes away after a couple of minutes.

 

my car sounds like this somewhat when it starts up..think its normal..must be with all the people here who hear the same thing

 

One of the local infiniti mechanics said it was the fuel injectors when its cold. Dont quote me on the injectors im trying to remember the convo, but its normal for the car and nothing is wrong with it. Something like a built in safety for when the car is cold and started.

 

That is a very loud ticking noise.

This is just a theory and my speculation :P

- Synthetic oil contains more cleaning additives than conventional oil.
- Synthetic oil cleans out previous grime and sludge built up in an old engine.
- The loosened sludge and grime circulates in the engine and clogs oil circulation.
- Clogged oil circulation system leads to noisy valvetrain noise.
- As the engine warms up this problem reduces.
- You changed to synthetic oil 2 months ago
- You experience the aforementioned problem

Just a thought :P

Change out the oil again.

 

the cam chain tensioners may not be pumping up properly when it is cold. theres is no hydraulic lifters in this engine and the fuel injectors are way quieter than that so the cam chain is kinda the only place to really make that noise. 5-30 is what is recomended normally but i know the dealer near me says to use their 0-20 in freezing temperatures u could maybe check with your dealer and see what they recommend. theres 3 cam chains and 3 tensioners and like 7 chain guides to wear and make noise in there.

 

I have the same thing, i think all Nissan engines are the same.