Pegg

The Dude and Strakes, Thanks for your replies. The engine is a 2.2L and no the oil light only comes on when the car is first cranked like all the other lights do - never while driving. The motor was flushed 9 months ago when they first put the 15W50 syn oil in my car. The filter was changed then and also in January when the oil was changed again. I wish I could take a "picture" of the noise cause I don't know if I"m describing it correctly. One guy described it as a metal to metal sound. I just know it ain't suppose to sound like it does. Thanks, Pegg

Thanks for your response. When I would first crank the car, I'd hear this noise from the engine, but when the engine warmed the noise would stop. Now it doesn't stop even when the engine is warm - it's clicking, pinging, constantly. The 15W50 was first put in my car during warm weather and this problem didn't start until the weather turned cold. And if it was just noise because Mobile One was cleaning gunk or whatever that would cause the valve train noises you mentioned wouldn't that have started when this oil was first put in my car not almost 5,000 miles later. The invoice says the oil filter last installed is SO3593AS, don't know if that helps or not. I'm sure when the 15W50 was replaced with the 10W30 about 2 weeks ago, the level was correct because the owner showed me the dipstick. It's been checked twice since then and is okay. Before, I have no idea - I just know when I went to have it checked from time to time, they'd tell me it was okay. Thanks, Pegg

I'm new to this message board and spent most of yesterday reading messages hoping to find some info about my situation. This is kinda long, and I apologize for that in advance, but I really need your help. I bought a 1990 Subaru Legacy AWD SW with 5,000 miles on it in 1990. Last year after much deliberation with myself and others, I decided to keep this car rather than trade and drive it until .... I had it tuned up, both CV joints replaced, front and rear brakes done, new timing and other belts replaced and even had it repainted. It looked like new and ran like a dream. After listening to the "Car Doctor" on a local radio station discuss the benefits of synthectic oil for older cars, I decided to make the switch. Since the garage where I normally had those kind of things done had employed guys who only speak Spanish to do those kind of jobs, I didn't like having to communicate through an interperter, so I decided to take my car across the street from where I work to a place similar to a Jiffy Lube. I assumed they could handle a simple oil change since those are the kind of things they specialize in. I paid to have the system flushed because I was told that had to be done in order to change to the synthectic oil. I went back peroidically to have the level checked and everything seemed to be fine. My car had always made that pinging sound on a cold start but stopped when the engine warned. But when our weather turned colder in December, the pinging didn't stop when the engine warmed. I thought maybe the oil was low, so had it checked and it was fine. In January when we had, for our area, below normal temperatures for a few days the pinging got worse. My coworker told me I should get the oil checked that his car did that when the level was low. I went back again and the level was just slightly below the full line. Since I had almost driven the 5,000 miles they told me I could drive between oil changes, I decided to have the oil changed while I was there. Even though they have the info in their computer, I handed the guy the receipt I had been given and said this is the kind of oil they put in my car last time. By the way, it was 15W50 Mobile One Synthectic. He said that's awfully thick oil. I asked if it should be changed and he said no, that's fine. Well, his comment made me curious so I began to ask others and I checked my owners manuel. This oil change was done on a Saturday. I called the owner back on Tuesday and questioned him about the weight of the oil that was put in my car. He checked the specifications in his computer and at first told me that the manufacturer did in fact recommend that for my car. I told him I was reading the same info in my owners manuel and I thought we could both agree that driving in SE North Carolina is NOT desert driving. He agreed to change the oil to a 10W30. He assured me that with my driving habits - just back and forth to work and around town - that it would take about a week for the new oil to work its way into the engine and the constant pinging would go away. Well, it's been almost 2 weeks since the oil was changed and I still have this constant pinging. I went back last week to talk with him and he wasn't there. The manager told me it was simply normal wear on a car as old as mine that the oil didn't cause it. My car has slightly over 127,000 miles on it. I'm not at all knowledgeable about these kind of things so would appreciate some input from you guys. Do you think that the 15W50 weight oil contributed to or caused the problems I'm having with the constant pinging that's coming from my engine and if so, what do I do now? In the meantime I have had a new thermostat installed and the water pump replaced because it was making a growling sound. The mechanic told me it didn't have to be replaced now, but would eventually fail. As far as I know, the only other problems I'm having with the car is idling rough at stoplights sometimes and a code 35 from the CEL. Any suggestions, input all will be appreciated. Thanks, Pegg