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'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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fmaddin
User
Aug 9, 2010, 9:34 AM
Post #1 of 8
(1579 views)
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'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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My car makes about 4 to 6 thwaps on a cold start, and this is how I got there... (kind of sounds like a rotating fan blade hitting rubber for a few blades, then stops)
Old car. ‘94 Lexus ES300 original owner 182k miles. Pretty regular oil changes - non paraffin based oil 3k to 6k ish. (Not done myself). Rear main seal leak for the last 2 years, been adding oil periodically, been getting a bit worse over the last few months. Last oil change about 1k miles ago.
Reverse gear was slipping, could barely back out of my drive (20 degree grade or so) so had my mechanic find a used transmission. Rear main seal replaced and engine mounts replaced at the same time. Only $1,000!
When I picked the car up he asked if I’d heard a tick in the engine before. I said no, when I pulled it around front I heard a tick on start, then went it went into gear it went away. I thought maybe it was quite enough I might not have noticed with the windows up and it was only and ‘idle’ thing. Hours later I go to pick it up from the front I hear the tick again, only it doesn’t go away when I put it into gear. I start driving and it only gets much louder and worse as I accelerate, so I turn around and take it back pretty quick. When I park I notice that the engine oil pressure light is on. The sound was pretty alarming to me. It stayed pretty loud when idling now.
My mechanic says this is very odd, they didn’t do anything to the engine. Said he’d look into things in the morning. At this point I’m looking at new/used cars the rest of the day.
I’m back running and this is the info I have. From what I gather, he did a flush/filter/screen check or something and showed me some small metal pieces that came out. Said he put in 20w50 oil.
So I’m back to my start, my car makes about 4 to 6 thwaps on a cold start, runs great other than that.
A word about my mechanic. I’ve been going to him for over 15 years, everything he’s ever done has held up and has be much cheaper than other places I’ve checked around. I’m sure he’s saved me thousands over the years, so even if something was messed up by one of his workers, I’m not sure I can really be upset.
Opinions on what happened? I realize I should have been changing the oil more often when it was leaking, but the engine was running great before these repairs.
Opinions on using something like Slick 50 helping the cold start?
Opinions on odds it will just quit on me when I least expect it?
Opinions on what I should do? Very frequent oil changes?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2010, 10:02 AM
Post #2 of 8
(1575 views)
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Re: 'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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First, you have to understand that there is no such thing as "Mechanic in a Can" and most of these additives do more harm than good. If you did go without changing the oil for a very long time, that is the reason you have serious engine problems now. Trying to flush that engine would make your problems severely worse than they already were by loosening all that sludge and now it will get trapped in places where it will do much more damage.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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fmaddin
User
Aug 9, 2010, 10:22 AM
Post #3 of 8
(1570 views)
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Re: 'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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I didn't go for a very long time without an oil change, so I'm assuming that is not my problem. I've never used an additive, just wondering if it might help my current situation.
It is a mystery to me what could have happened to the engine related to a transmission/rear main seal replacement, which is why I'm posting.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2010, 10:42 AM
Post #4 of 8
(1568 views)
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Re: 'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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We can't see the engine from here so the only information we have is what you tell us. If you have an internal sludge issue, then it did go too long on oil changes and there is no way to correct that.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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fmaddin
User
Aug 9, 2010, 11:05 AM
Post #5 of 8
(1562 views)
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Re: 'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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So assuming it is a sludge problem, would that typically immediately show itself after a transmission/rear main seal replacement? Car is running fine, repairs done, engine makes lots of noise. I guess there is alway coincidence that it happened at the same time?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2010, 11:13 AM
Post #6 of 8
(1559 views)
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Re: 'Thwaps' on cold start. '94 Lexus ES300
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It could show up at any time. Just changing the oil can trigger issues with the sludge.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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