Yep, you can't beat Pennzoil or Havoline oils. You must be a BITOG'er as well?
I've been hooked on Kendall GT-1 (Conoco-Phillips) 5w-30 for a year or two now. I can get it by the case for just over $1/qt a few times a year. Not a bad price for a synth blend. As far as startup noise goes, mine is very subtle, and lasts about 2sec upon cold startup. A very slight rattle. The 4.2L atlas I6 in my 2005 trailblazer had a similar (but different) startup noise and I had a piston slapper 1998 GM 4.3L that had it's own unique thud-thud-thud.
Joel