Attention all Subie Whiners: A dull sounding engine tapping noise for the first couple of minnutes is a typical Subaru cold noise, I am on my 4th Subie, 92, 95, 97, 98 they all did it, I put a lot of miles on all of them and never experienced any major engine problems, if it really bothers you 4oz of Gunk Valvemedic per oil change will make it go away for the most part, however I do not know the long term effects of using an oil thinning product, I only did it once as an experiment, happy Subieing
I am in good old Latrobe