lifter tick cold

so I have some "lifter tick" when I start my 97 Jimmy in the morning. It goes away after 10-15 seconds or so. I figure it's pretty normal for 137,000 miles.

Anyhow, my question is ... why does it 'tick' when I leave it outside in the cold overnight MORE than when I keep it in the garage overnight? Is ten or fifteen degrees temperature difference (little bit warmer in the garage) REALLY changing the lubrication properties of my Mobil 1 Synthetic?

Why does it tick more in the morning when I leave it out overnight?

I would think that since it is colder outside the oil gets thicker in relationship to the thickness of the oil when parked inside the garage! once it warms up the oil is able to thin and get into those small clearances, in this case, the lifters! You should check you oil and make sure it is not mixed with coolant. My friend had this real loud lifter ticking which turned out to the lower intake gasket which was leaking coolant into the lifter valley and washing all the oil off the lifter and into the oil pan. That's why he was getting a loud ticking that would go away after a couple of seconds once the oil was able to get to the lifter.

I have a lifter that does the same thing. The oil "thickness" is so close that just changing the oil makes the ticking go away on mine. Now mine gets a "winter" change.

any info or stats on other full synthetics and their viscocity at 30degrees and below?

The lifter-tick is REALLY noticeable at 30degrees and lower, but is almost non-existent at 30degrees and above.

Do other synthetics (Amsoil?) does a better job at staying thinner in cold temps ?




I have a lifter that does the same thing. The oil "thickness" is so close that just changing the oil makes the ticking go away on mine. Now mine gets a "winter" change.



I have a lifter that does the same thing. The oil "thickness" is so close that just changing the oil makes the ticking go away on mine. Now mine gets a "winter" change.

5w-30 in really cold areas and I would really look at the coolant reservior level closely as this tick is often the first sign of that lower intake leaking often into the valley on the lifters, cam, and balance shaft - small spray in so never see in oil by just looking - all mine did this by 100k and when I pulled the intake the block was the burnt orange color of dex cool.