Engine noise after oil change

So like a typical dick head I decided to try and service my car myself, and I've made all the typical dick head mistakes you'd expect from someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Non the less, I intend to learn for next time.

So when I got around to changing the oil. Removed the old oil, replace oil filter, refill oil. Dick maneuver no. 751 - overfilled the oil. Tried removing some which didn't go well, so dick maneuver no. 752 I decided to remove all the oil again. Refilled with new oil (same oil filter) and this time managed not to overfill, yay!

Anyway... all done, bonnet shut. start the car and it goes! Whether coincidence or not, I notice the inSP notice on the dashboard. I think this is just a 10,000 mile reminder and hopefully not triggered by anything I've done. So I take it for a 50 mile stretch, all great car is running beautifully.

A day or two passes and I start the car again and this is when I notice something odd. For three or four seconds after the car is started, the engine makes a worrying metallic clipping sound, in perfect rhythm to the engine, after three or four seconds this settles down and it all sounds fine. I've never heard an oil starved engine running before, but for those few seconds it's exactly what I'd imagine it to sound like. It doesn't do it everytime which is weird but it's something I'd like to try and sort out if I can. Any suggestions? I used 10w40 ACEA A3 semi which is what's suggested for my car.

My car is an Astra mk4 with 150, 000 miles on it.

Cheers

I had a Vauxhall Cavalier with a mileage similar to yours and had the same thing happen after I changed the oil. It had hydraulic lifters in the valve gear that had a pin that took up any wear between them and the camshaft, It took a few seconds after start up, before the oil pressure put them in the correct position meanwhile, it caused a noise exactly as you describe. I don't know why it happened when the oil was changed, but it did. Maybe it had something to do with the new oil being thinner than the sludge that was taken out. Mine would become quiet again after a few thousand miles, until the next oil change. I don't know if your car has the same set up, but if it does it might explain it.

I think your spot on there stem the old oil with all the cruddy carbon in it as the oil gets older it will quieten down.

Did you use a quality oil filter? I'm sure the other guys are spot on with their diagnosis but I've had issues with Mitutoyo filters on Renault - mind you, these were fitted inverted.
John

A rattle from the hydraulic tappets when starting up from cold on the overhead-cam Vauxhall engines, especially at high mileages, is nothing to be concerned about, provided that the noise goes away within about three or four seconds. How quickly does the oil pressure warning light go out? How much longer, after the oil pressure light goes out, do you hear the rattle? If the oil light "takes an age" to extinguish, it could, especially on a high-mileage engine, point to a failing oil pump or faulty pressure relief valve.

Maybe a bottle of Wynns Hydraulic Tappet Treatment ? (Petrol engine ?)

Hey everyone, thanks for all the comments! I can now report after 100 miles it seems to have settled down which is nice. I only noticed it a few times to be honest and like I say it did go away within three or four seconds when I did, just something I'd not noticed before and since it's my first time servicing my own car I thought I'd check up on it. I can't say for sure but stem's explanation sounds the most likely, it seems to fit the description pretty perfectly. Thanks everyone!

Just to answer a few questions, I replaced all the filters and spark plugs with bosch ones. I've not noticed anything unusual with the oil pressure light, and yea it's a 1.6 petrol engine.

With this information in mind, I was thinking of giving it an engine flush just for the sake of generally giving it some care and attention but perhaps it might not be such a good idea if it's at an age where it actually runs more smoothly if it's a bit dirty. In a weird way... It's an old car I know and it's seen better days, but I'd like to take care of it none the less and it still runs and drives really nicely. Besides I like learning new things like this y'know?

Thanks again.

Did you fill the filter with oil before screwing it back on?

Nozzle

I'd not bother with the flush at 150k miles. Maybe if it had been done regularly for many services. Will it need a cambelt @ 160k ( 2x 80k?) Don't worry about mistakes - I made mine on lawn mowers and bikes from the 50's Now there's computers in cars, I'm lost. But the family Banger is a Vauxhall Combo with the Isuzu - all mechanical, no turbo engine. The Good Car just goes in the main dealers.

Nige F said:

I made mine on lawn mowers and bikes from the 50's

Click to expand...

The 1850's?

I overfilled my micra and is a pig drain some via the sump plug. I got a large syringe and bought some plastic tube from b&q that can fit down the dipstick pipe and suck it out. Much better as the oil won't come out of sump unless plug iz totally removed, leaving me fumbling about trying to get it back in