Lifter Clatter on Start-Up

[solocus]

My daughter just picked up a 99 V6 3.8L camaro with 135K on the clock and sometimes it has bad lifter clatter for about 10 seconds after start-up and then the engine sounds perfect. After an oil change before the oil has circulated to the lifters it is really, really, bad for about 10 seconds. I have never heard the initial clatter after an oil change louder than on this 3.8L. The oil pressure on start-up is fine according to the gage. A warmer day or a cooler day seems to not really matter. So my question is why does this happen and would a lifter change fix this? I first thought the one way oil filter valve might not be holding the oil in the top of the engine. That still might be it even though I replaced the filter and it seems not as bad. It seems to be fine for several weeks after an oil change and gets worse as time and mileage goes on. Does oil viscosity change that quickly? Do the check valves in the oil filter go bad that quick? I wouldn't think so. Anyway, What would you all think.

[transamtom1]

Re: Lifter Clatter on Start-Up

I got the same thing on my '01,I use synthetic and still have it.

I tried changing to 5/30, and different brands, Mobil1,Pennzoil,Quaker no difference.

[supersixx]

Re: Lifter Clatter on Start-Up

I have the same deal on my 2000 camaro

[whitdog54]

Re: Lifter Clatter on Start-Up

I think your problem is just a sticky lifter. Its a common problem. Got in on my 00' bird with only 61k. Right now I'm not worried about it. But down the road I wanna go cam or 1.9 rockers. So When I do that Ill just replace all the lifters and other parts. So unless its really a big problem I wouldnt consider it urgent. But you do want tog et it fixed sometime.

I'm not positive if just changing the lifter is the answer to the problem.