That rattle is probably from the fact that there's no oil pressure for that first second or so and no oil in the top end of the engine. Sounds to me like you guys are being extremely picky about normal engine startup noise.

If you think a small rattle is bad, you don't even want to own a Miata or an E36M3... Drive either of those cars hard and you will have "ticktickticktickticktick" for a while afterwards until the hydraulic valve lash adjusters re-adjust...

 

Mine has that rattle also only when I start it in the mornings, but not every morning so I forget about it until it happens. Mine only rattles during the engine start for just a second. It sounds like something is loose and with the engine shake at start-up it just rattles. But like I said, not every start-up causes it. I wish it would so I could take it to the dealer and re-create it for the mechanics. Oh well...

 

Although your car is not oil starved, after it has sat for a while, you will no longer have the same "pools" of oil sitting at the top of the engine. After a "cold" start, it takes a few seconds for oil to get pumped up to the valve train, through the oil jet bolts, etc before it "quiets" down. You've got a lot of moving parts in the head and piston slap, as already mentioned, can also be present. All these noises get dampened when the oil has started to flow.
Anybody ever sit on top of a motorcycle on a cold start?

 

You might give synthetic oil a shot, that seems to quiet things down a bit.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by yearbookman
Mine has that rattle also only when I start it in the mornings, but not every morning so I forget about it until it happens.

 

I have this same problem on my 96 Saturn. My cousin is a mechanic for Saturn and told me it was a common problem on high mileage cars, a "cold knock." Means the rings are getting worn and the repair AIN'T CHEAP. He DID say that the car should be okay for a long time yet, just to watch the oil.

 

My car used to do that - usually after sitting for at least a couple of days. It seemed to me that it kind of sounded like valve clatter. It would only happen for a second or two.

I used to just "bump" the starter a few times and that would usually eliminate the clatter.

I agree with SJSHARKS - switched to Mobil 1 at the last oil change and it seems to have gone away

 

I have a rattle that bugged the crap out of me at every startup, but it ended up being quarters in the cup holder.

 

I am getting this rattle now. same as scott's.

what's the deal?

 

it's cold.