Increased Valve Noise After Change To Amsoil

nuts4nissan09

I have been using 5w30 Amsoil XL (7,500 mile oil) since the first oil change (3,500 miles). I could tell a slight increase in valvetrain clicking at first, but two oil changes later the noise is subdued. I have been impressed w/ the oil. Low consumption (1/2 quart added over 7,000 miles) and the oil always looked clean (golden brown). Oil temps range from 207 to 220 in 95+ heat (spurts of hard acceleration-220). I would not worry about the valvetrain. This is a very good oil.

Holliday

Are those temps with an oil cooler installed?

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nuts4nissan09

No oil cooler. I don't intend to track it and don't want the worry of a hose/cooler failure. The high oil temp issue seems to be related to green engines and high ambient temps. Mine is thoroughly broken in and I grab the highest possible gear after hard acceleration. No need to just rev the engine w/ its flat torque curve.

nuts4nissan09

I need to amend what I previously wrote. Just got back from a 1,300 mile flog on the interstate (@100 degrees-80/85 mph) and aggressive driving through tight mountain roads (elevation changes). Temps got up to 225-230 on that 100 degree interstate drive. Cooled considerably on the Blue Ridge Parkway (185-195, 63-74 temps). Did notice that the oilt temps would drop when engine braking/coasting even w/ the engine turning 3,800-4,000 rpm. Also found that going uphill in 4th (@2,400rpm) following slow traffic that the temps rose to 240. Downshifted to 3rd thinking that I was putting too much load on it at too low rpm and the temps remained the same; weird. Must be dependent on torque requirements. Those 240 degree temps had me contemplating a cooler, but I don't have conditions like that where I live (mostly flat). The engine performed flawlessly through this whole drive. Glad I had a quality synthetic in the sump!