Just bought a 92 Sub Loyale Automatic 4x4 with 87k. When I cold start it there is a loud chattering noise that eventually goes away. There seems to be three stages of noise it makes as it warms up and I have a recording of it on youtube.

 

 

This is my first Subaru and was wondering if this is normal.

It's probably the lifters bleeding down and then pumping back up after the engine runs for a bit. You can try cleaning them by putting a quart of dex/merc ATF in and a new oil filter on and driving for a week, then doing a full oil change. ATF has a lot of detergents in it, so it will help clean out sticky lifters.

 

If it ticked all the time, it would probably be air in the oil from a leaking oil pump gasket (the "mickey mouse" gasket because of it's shape).

Edited October 28, 201114 yr by WoodsWagon

Ok sounds good. I will give that a try. Thanks