clicking noises

[60oV6]

Hey all,

I drive a late model Lumina with 86K on a 3.1L SFI engine. I know the valvetrains in these engines do make some racket, and I know that piston slap plagues some of these. There is a different noise though that does eventually go away, I thought it was piston slap but it just doesn't seem to make sense.

I get this noise when I start my car either first thing in the a.m. or after it sits for a few hours and then drive my car (you can hear it with the radio and blowers off, etc) at low speeds. It's actually loudest around 20 degrees F. It's quieter when it's colder or warmer, which makes no sense (the colder part). I have 10W30 in at the moment, and I used to have 5W30 in it prior. The change in oil weights made NO difference in this "new" noise. I added some Restore junk, didn't affect it at all. I also added some of that Stop Leak, but that made no difference for allegedly "creating better seal" and "softening rings" etc. The noise very slowly developed around late November and continually gets worse, and it happens even if it's in the mid 40s outside.

I thought that different oil weights, temperatures, and even the additive garbage I added would make SOME difference, but the noise is at the same intensity and gradually sounds worse over time. i.e. there was just valvetrain racket at idle, but now this noise is there at idle right after I start which seems like oil pressure is not hitting high enough (had this happen in a dodge ram 5.2 when it was -26F for about 10 seconds), but this car does it all the time for a minute at least. hope it's not a bearing. It sounds like only one cylinder doing it on the downstroke. I would just like to know if what I described and how it's unaffected means that is still piston slap or if it could be something in the low-end...I will be taking it in but would love to hear your opinions...

[richtazz]

sounds like piston slap to me. The noise will not quiet down because it is in an area not affected by oil viscosity. Lifter tick will quiet down with thicker oil because the oil will cushion/fill the gap and make it quieter.