Best type of oil for cold starts?

[dobbslc]

The old Surf is rattling when I start it from cold, it takes a few seconds before it quitens down so I was wondering what is the best oil type in general for this sort of thing. I use genuine Toyota 10w-40 semi Synthetic oil but I have no idea what it is or who makes it, I was also wondering if using a 5w-40would help.

 

[Ubique]

The oil isn't the problem (or the cure) - it's whatever is rattling that you need to address.
Check for timing chain stretch if it has a chain (or chains), check oil pressure by measurement against spec., check for camshaft lobe wear and worn camshaft followers as a first tranche of checks.

Edit: Also make sure it is rattle, not 'diesel knock', if the latter, check glow plugs and have the injectors tested.

 

[Gareth J]

More than likely poor combustion when cold. You could test by cranking it over with a heat gun on the inlet. If it fires up with noticibly less fuss, one or some combination of fuel/timing/compression/glowplugs is more likely at fault.

 

[jo1010]

As above. I'd check where the tick is coming from first...if head then it could be valve clearance.....does it disappear when warmed up?

Edit: use stethoscope or garden hose to pinpoint...

 

[dobbslc]

It's a cam belt on these and I'm ordering one soon as it's 5 years old now.
The glow plugs are a good call and I was going to check them, they were replaced with new ones* a year ago along with getting the injectors reconditioned by Diesel Bob. It does shake a bit from stone cold until it's firing properly.
* They were aftermarket ones from Roughtrax.
I did a compression test before fitting the new injectors and it tested out ok with very equal pressures of (off the top of my head) + 400psi , bang on spec anyway.
Valve clearances were done last year as well, there were a couple of tightish ones so I set them on the looser side but all were within spec. It did make more noise after all this work, maybe the looser clearances or the injectors?

 

[Ubique]

Loose valve clearances would still rattle 'after a few seconds' - I'd still suggest checking oil pressure (and rate of increase) cold & hot. Are the camshaft followers hydraulic? they do wear and can be the cause of cold startup rattle. I've little experience of far-eastern engines so I don't really know the setup.

 

[dave h 2]

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Maybe ??

 

[jo1010]

...
The glow plugs are a good call and I was going to check them, they were replaced with new ones* a year ago along with getting the injectors reconditioned by Diesel Bob. It does shake a bit from stone cold until it's firing properly.
* They were aftermarket ones from Roughtrax.
...It did make more noise after all this work, maybe the looser clearances or the injectors?

Maybe that noise after the work is a clue ....eg. sealing washers not seating?...or.a bad injector after recon?...use the hose pipe ear test to see if its one injector clicking....or maybe cam/cam bearing wear?....

 

[jo1010]

Loose valve clearances would still rattle 'after a few seconds' - I'd still suggest checking oil pressure (and rate of increase) cold & hot. Are the camshaft followers hydraulic?

Solid lifters on those...but *could* still be valve/cam related...

 

[Erie Fred]

Try a block heater.
Post #7 didn't want to load for me, could be the same suggestion.
I have a 2000 watt on the large tractor, and just a small 350 watt on the skidloader.
Both of them I leave on for 1 hour at minimum.

The school buss's around here all get plugged in at the end of the day, and set on a timer
to start warming in the early morning a few hours before start of day.

 

[dobbslc]

As above. I'd check where the tick is coming from first...if head then it could be valve clearance.....does it disappear when warmed up?

Edit: use stethoscope or garden hose to pinpoint...

There's a right cacophony coming from the engine when hot or cold
It's mainly the rattling on cold start that's got worse.

 

[tom2207]

There's a right cacophony coming from the engine when hot or cold
It's mainly the rattling on cold start that's got worse.

probably just piston slap , keep an ear on it for the next ten years or so

 

[dave h 2]

probably just piston slap , keep an ear on it for the next ten years or so

I had a standard piston in a +10 bore once and it sounded just like a tappet

 

[tom2207]

I had a standard piston in a +10 bore once and it sounded just like a tappet

im sure theres a story there somewhere ,,, at least it wasnt a bearing

 

[dave h 2]

im sure theres a story there somewhere ,,, at least it wasnt a bearing

Hepolite Piston stamped +10 but mic'ed up standard the others were OK

 

[harveyp6]

im sure theres a story there somewhere ,,, at least it wasnt a bearing

I was apprenticed in a main stealer in the 1970s and one of the mechanics stripped his engine and found the crank was ten thou worn, so bought a set of ten thou under shells, fitted them and wondered why the engine wouldn't turn over afterwards....

 

[Bornfree]

The old Surf is rattling when I start it from cold, it takes a few seconds before it quitens down so I was wondering what is the best oil type in general for this sort of thing. I use genuine Toyota 10w-40 semi Synthetic oil but I have no idea what it is or who makes it, I was also wondering if using a 5w-40would help.

Just buy a £10 set of ear muffs and remove them after a few seconds.

 

[harveyp6]

Just buy a £10 set of ear muffs and remove them after a few seconds.

Why waste a tenner, just turn the radio up, or better still, go deaf like me......

 

[tom2207]

Why waste a tenner, just turn the radio up, or better still, go deaf like me......

what was that you said ??

 

[dobbslc]

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Maybe ??

I checked the spill control valve filters before, they did have some crxp in them but nothing much and it made no difference when I cleaned them.