I did the search already. I've got a completely stock 1991 integra with 118,000 on the B18A1. Problem is when I start the car up after is has been sitting more than about 3-4 hours the engine "rattles" for about 1-2 second then runs quiet. A little valvetrain noise for a couple minutes but thats about it. When warm the engine runs very quiet. the car has done this for the two years we owned it and about 20,000 miles.

I thought the STP oil filters I have ben using were draining back so I bought a OEM filter and there has been no change. I use 5W30 oil.

I am trying to determine if it is rod bearing noise or piston slap.

For the record I have a 13 second mustang GT and a 13 second AWD turbo talon. Built them both. So dont be afraid to get to technical. All ideas welcome, please post them right here.

 

Does the noise go away when the oil pressure light goes out? If so then its your rod bearings.

If it doesnt go away until the engine really warms up then its b/c your cylinders are tapered and you're getting pistion slap.

You should be using a heavier oil with that much mileage.

No matter what problem it is you are going to need to rebuild the engine. So I would get some oversized pistons and rings and get it bored out and get new bearings, ect.

 

oil light goes out in 1 second and along with it the noise disappears. how about just putting new rod bearings in it?

 

Switching over to 10W30 will do one of two things.

1.) It will make the noise go away, which means you have a worn rod bearing.

2.) It will make the noise last longer, which means the whole engine has got enough wear on it that the oil pump just can't get the system up to pressure fast enough.

There aren't any hydraulic rockers or anything in the head on that engine, so it's pretty doubtful that the noise would be valvetrain related. If you had a valve way out of adjustment, it would be constant noise.

As for piston slap, a leakdown test along with a compression test will tell you the condition of your bores the best.

 

Since your rod bearings are worn then other things like the rings, cylinder wall, main bearings are also worn.

So my opinion is to rebuild the whole engine to keep you from having to go back in and replace parts one at a time.

If you do only rod bearings make sure you plastigauge (sp?) them to make sure the clearance is in spec.

 

Hi,

did u manage to find out whats wrong??

 

Guys, have u any idea what was wrong?? My ride is doing the same thing...

its an EK4 with B16A with only 55k miles

 

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but i also have the same prob on my b20, and the noise does go away when the oil light goes off, but i could swear that its coming from the valvetrain, im going to do a valve adjustment in a few days to see if that makes it go away, if it doesnt im gonna be pissed if its rod bearings!!!

 

i have the same problem on my 97 gsr but my rattle doesnt go away untill the car warms up. do you guys think that a heavier oil might fix it? and i just bought a turbo, will that make it worse???

 

They say heaveyer oil will make the noise less pronounced, i dont see why, i would think it would make it worse... Im just waitin for my parts to get here so i can adjust my valves...maybe you need a valve adjustment too dc2...