do not switch to synth if your car is over 50K.

synth is thinner, so it doesn't coat as well. older engines need the most protection due to wear and tear.

 

My Hondas have always been noisy when the engine is cold. Even the '04 makes a little noise at first. If it doesn't go away when the engine is fully warmed up, then maybe you have a problem.

 

Well, it slows down and it gets quieter when it is warm but never really goes away. What is the "maybe... problem" you are thinking of? By the way the car runs great and there is no hesitation or lack of power it's just the noise.

 

Sorry, I disagree. The synthetics coat, and protect better than conventional oils. They also flow better when cold which allows them to reach all areas of the engine quicker than conventional oils would. They also keep the engine cleaner than conventional oils as well

The synthetics protect better than conventional oils, no one disputes that. The only dispute is whether or not your engine needs that extra protection. At 50k on the clock, Id say that Honda engine is barely broken in, and would switch with no hesitation.

 

ok heres i a continuatiion from the oringinal topic http://skepdic.com/slick50.html

 

It's a very large misconception that thicker oil coats and will protect an older engine better at start-up. The opposite is true: thinner oils flow better and quicker, lubricating the engine quicker.

 

Honestly I don't know. Has the mechanic who adjusted your valves indicated that there's more noise than it should be? Maybe you should start there, if it really bothers you. 130k on a well taken care of Honda engine is not very high mileage, but I suppose that if the oil hadn't been changed at proper intervals or allowed to run low, you could have more wear than normal.

 

Makes sense, the thicker the oil the longer it takes to warm up and move around.

Good article about Slick 50, good thing I never used it.
Keeping it natural... or synthetic that is.

Anyone have ideas as to the ticking my engine is making?

 

Thanks MRKSTS,
No, he didn't say there was more to noise then usual. He did ask me if I was doing this because there was a problem and I told him that it was nothing major just the noise, so he knew why I was there. I've been going to this shop for many years now and he always tells me when he sees something. Maybe it's just me being sensitive. It only bothers me if there is something wrong. I read in a number of posts that it is normal for these engines to tick. I was wondering if anyone had a quick fix or if this was a warning for something breaking down.