terminater

Hello everyone! I own a 2003 LS 430 with 226K miles on it. I will have owned it a year in a few months and I love it! My issue occurs whenever I leave my car parked for a couple of days without starting the engine. Typically i'll come home on Friday afternoon and leave it parked in my driveway all weekend. On Monday morning when I crank it, it will give an awful rattle. It almost sounds like a diesel engine! After about 2-3 seconds the noise goes away. After looking around online it appears the engine oil has perhaps mostly drained into the oil pan causing it to start so rough. I'm wondering if this issue is common amongst these cars. Is anyone else experiencing this?
I change the oil about every 7k miles using Mobil 1 high mileage synthetic oil 5W-30 and also use their extended range filter. I forget what The oil level is a little low, but still within acceptable range.
I have also noticed/smelled oil burning when cranking the engine at this time. I have not really noticed what color the smoke is.
I guess i'm curious if I need to use a heavier weighted oil maybe or just crank the car and warm it up some on Saturday to avoid the Monday morning rattle. I do not wish for my engine to die sooner do to this issue.
Thanks in advance!

Edit: I also forgot to add that I owned a 2000 GS400 (230K miles) prior to this vehicle and it did the same thing. I'm wondering if this is just a common issue among high mileage cars.

Gronemus

About the only advice I can give is to have someone else start the car while you are by the engine so you can try to locate which part of the engine the sound is coming from. Perhaps record the noise and post it so we can all hear it...

05ls430518

iTrader: (1)

Probably your valves clicking and then once the oil reaches them it stops.

lexslexus

Had the same thing. Disappeared after one of my oil control valves was replaced.

911LE

Smoke on startup usually means a valve guide seal problem. When you shut off the engine there is oil in the cylinder head. When the valve guide seals are worn this oil can drain down the valve and into the combustion chamber. The smoke is this oil burning off. When the seals or guides get really bad it will smoke all the time as the vacuum in the chamber will pull more oil in.

As for your startup noise, what oil filter are you using? Better oil filters have an anti-drainback valve to help keep oil in the galleys when the engine is off instead of draining back into the pan.

terminater

Honestly, this sound is more of a loud diesel engine, not just clicking.

terminater

I will research more on replacing the valve guide seals. My engine is burning oil and I believe this issue may be the culprit.
I am using Mobil 1's extended performance filter. It does have an anti-drain back valve. Thanks for the input.

terminater

I looked around the forums more after you mentioned this and it seems like a good thing to go ahead and replace both of mine. I don't have any MIL on or anything, but it might help with my MPG. I am currently averaging 18.5 MPG and I see many members get more than that. I do not drive very aggressively so I feel it should be higher. Thanks!

jimisbell

911 LE said it perfectly. the smoke at start up says valve seals and what to one is clicking is to another loud diesel noise.