someone heard me start my car the other day and said I had a dry start and that I better check it out and fix the problem. what is talking about? my car starts fine and always runs alright so I didn't know if anyone here might know what he means by a "dry start". thanks nick
What they probably heard was either some bearing rattle or lifter clack. Could indicate some wear or oiling problem but if the car has sat for some time before starting, is a common noise unless the system is primed with oil first, through the distributor hole. If you have a oil pressure gauge and it reads good all the time, would not worry about it. If you are having low pressure and any other related problems then I would check out the engine completely. Lastly, at your next oil change, take the filter and cut it open(can use a fine tooth hacksaw blade) then pull the element out and look for signs of bearing material or brass shavings. This will tell you if the bearings and such are failing etc. Also could try using a little heavier weight oil such as 15w-40, my choice is Valvoline in Fords, seems to hang on the parts inside and would help cushion those pesky noises at start up that actually come from no oil being retained on the bearings or in the hydraulic lifters. Course if they are really worn out, nothing short of replacement will help.
I just replaced my entire cooling system to get it ready for a long trip. I replaced everything... radiator, hoses, belts, therm and housing... and water pump. after I changed out everything I started to hear a metallic sound from the engine bay at the front of the engine. It did it all the time not just at start up. It didn't do it before so I guess I just figured it was the new water pump. it made it on my long trip and has run fine since. the sound isn't as noticeable anymore. I don't know if a water pump can make a noise like that or not, but I don't know why it would just start that noise after it was changed. it was sorta like a metal rubbing noise maybe with a little clicking. any thoughts on that? thanks nick
the shroud was broke so I removed it. still stays cool alright here in florida. I checked around the pulleys and stuff but didn't see anything rubbing. I used a big screwdriver to see if I could single out where it was and it seems like the alternator makes the most noise, but I can't tell if that's it or not.
just a thought, but it seems every time I put new belts on one of my cars, the alt/ps pump/ idler pulley ... etc. seems to start making some noise (most of the time I can isolate the sound and repair/replace/rebuild the offender) ......... I might be overtightening the belts, or the new "no-slip" belts are spinning the aforementioned pulleys faster and therefore ........ Robert good luck
When you did all of this work did you also change the oil? I had a small block ford in a 79 mustang that after I changed the oil I started having dry start problems. I was short on cash but needed an oil change bad so I bought penzoil. I changed the oil again about two weeks later and spent the money and bought the usual, Valvoline, and never had the problem again. I would not recomend penzoil.
