2021 JTR - 5W-30 Oil?

[jav_eee]

piston slap?
Lower end sounds typically don't go away when warmed up - they get worse.

Cold, noise:

Warmed up, no noise:

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[MT1]

I currently have a noticeable ticking sound once my engine has fully warmed up. I've been hearing and reading an awful lot about changing my oil to 5W30 to help with the ticking sound. I live in Arizona so the year round temperature does not get very cold but I want to hear from everybody out there has anyone used 5W30 or any other weight oil to alleviate this issue?

Thanks

How many months and miles since the last oil change, and has the weather been warmer than usual? And, are time of the ticks far apart, like for only one cylinder, or like the entire valve train?

The reason I ask, I notice the valve train being noisier on our vehicles when the oil is about used up. That may be in less than 5k miles depending upon heat, idling with AC on, so on.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Cold, noise:

Warmed up, no noise:

It's hard for me to tell over phone videos and then through a computer - but that doesn't sound like either a lower end sound or a valve train noise. It's to me, anyway, a tick that doesn't see to match either. Not a knock for sure.

The reason I ask, I notice the valve train being noisier on our vehicles when the oil is about used up.

About used up - that's a new one for me - so do you have a definition or explanation?
According to my oil analysis reports, the oil life is actually following the oil life monitor VERY closely - like it should since it monitors temperatures, engine loads/towing, idling and other aspects that impact oil life and is pretty much spot on. (even the Motor Oil Geek has said modern oil life monitors are pretty darned accurate)
About used up - you mean additive packages? Mine showed life left after 7,100 miles (and that included some power use).
Now if you use an oil other than recommended and it has a faster loss of viscosity over time than some other oils - that can be an issue.
But my reports also show viscosity being ok for the miles on it.
Some oils lose viscosity faster than others, and some engines can cause oils to lose viscosity faster than others.
So it's important to watch for that.

None of mine seemed any more noisy be it 3,000 miles, 5,000 miles or even 7,000 miles on the oil so I'm curious as to your meaning of "about used up" (yeah, honestly curious)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m not sure. I’ll try to record it next time. One of my previous work vehicles was an f150 with the 5.0. It had a similar sound and ran for 190k+ trouble free miles

Hopefully you'll be one of those reporting 150,000 miles and counting without engine work needed.

 

[MT1]

About used up - that's a new one for me - so do you have a definition or explanation?

Sorry, no money or time for analysis, well, until recently.

I find that the sound of the valve train, when warm, is a good way to know when to check the oil for more than just its level: what color, how quickly does it drip, smell.

The valve train becomes nosier, like the oil has thinned, and is no longer dampening the sounds. Also noting that the oil drips from the dip stick more quickly for the temperature. And then there is that stink of dirty oil, like the filter bypass is stuck. I haven't seen the dirty oil in many years, but thin, yes.

So, if someone reports ticks/clicks when the engine is warm, it might only be time to change the oil, not replace the engine.

On the two other vehicles we have where there is a "change oil" maintenance reminder, one is just an idiot light, the other shows a percentage of life. The idiot light one reinforced sound being a clue when it prompted for an oil change at around 4k mi. and that valve train was noisy; many +100 degree days and traffic I guess, I was not the primary driver. But that oil needed to go, at only three months and 4k mi., according to the idiot light and me. The percentage one is an optimist, showing 20 - 30% left, at somewhere around 9k mi. on M1 20k EP oil, but the valve train noise and color leads me to make change the oil anyway. Eh, 10 years 118k mi. and 9 years 162k mi., I'm probably doing okay.

All of the other vehicles that I have maintained before the current three, for a combined something like 800k mi., had no computer calculated oil life. Use my eyes, ears, and nose and some common sense about lubricants, and get by.

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