I have a 1994 1.9L escort with nearly 170000 miles on it. The engine after sitting over night wil clatter when started as if you had done an oil change. If it has been driven through out the day it will not do this. It only happens it the car sits for several hours. I have tried synthetic oils and several oil filters. I am now using the best combo that I have found so far, I am using Havoline conventional engine oil that I bought from Sam's Club and a Fram high mileage oil filter. The engine is no longer using oil (1 quart per oil change) but still has the "dry start" clatter. Do you have any ideas about this? I have good oil preasure so that is not an issue and I change my oil every 3 months or 3000 miles whichever is reach first.
Engine clatter at Startup (dry start)
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Fram filters are the worst you can buy and are known to cause valve noise on startup. It could also be that one of your lifters is going bad.
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I would run motorcraft oil and a motorcraft filter and see how it does. Also check your lifter for amy signs of wear on the roller.
Two year ago the cam, all roller lifters and all rocker arms were replaced. A roller lifter turned in its bore wiping out that lifter and the cam lobe. Three months ago I replaced the timing belt and water pump. My dad has been a Motorcraft sales rep for 30 years now and he swears by factory Motorcraft parts. He told me to run nothing in it other than Motorcraft oil and a FL400S oil filter. The oil is packaged for Motorcraft by Conoco and the filters are made for Motorcraft by Puralator. I have a question, why did my engine stop using a bit of oil when I used the Fram highmileage filter? The engine does not smoke at all and there are no leaks I can find yet it may use up to a quart of oil over a 3000 mile period, yet with that filter it does not. It is due for a 3 month change is September so I may just put the factory Motorcraft back in it. I can get the filters from dad for free anyway. 
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If I remember correctly the Fram High Mileage filters have a cartridge full of goo inside them. Its probably a condensed version of that Stop Smoke additive.s1mp13m4n said:
Every car guy should read this, you will be surprised at how bad Fram filters actually are. http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfil ... rence.html
OK, thank you very much. I read the article that was posted and also clicked on the other links to see what else had been typed up. OK, I will not use another Fram filter period. LOL It seems like if I stay with a Motorcraft or Puralator filter all will be fine. I do know this, my dad has been a salesman/delivery driver for a Ford/Motorcraft warehouse for 30 years now and they drive Ford products. I have seen the vans with 4.9L (300cid) inline six, 4.2v6, 4.6 v8 engines and his company supplied 1998 Taurus with a 3.0v6 in it go over 300000 miles with no troubles what so ever. This was done with 3000 mile oil changes that my dad did himself in his garage over the years on the company vehicles he drove. Only Motorcraft oils, fluids, and filters were used, so I guess I should take the hint and do the same with my Escort. I know the products work, I have seen the proof.
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Oil Filters
It seems that some oil filters that are mounted sideways or on an angle have a tendency to drain most of the way out when sitting for a while. When you start it up it has to refill the filter before it gets pressure. I had a 2300 that I put a cheap filter on it and it started doing the dry start. I put a better quality filter on and it held oil better and stopped it ( I believe a Motorcraft ). I used to quickly start and shut off a couple times to help it fill up and reduce the dry start.
Now recently one of my Escorts started doing it and I guess I'm going to get a nice Motorcraft for it as well.
STP helps but is not the answer. STP is good stuff but is best along with a good oil-holding filter.
As for the extra stuff in Fram filters, I have to check on that some more. That sounds kind of scary.
It seems that some oil filters that are mounted sideways or on an angle have a tendency to drain most of the way out when sitting for a while. When you start it up it has to refill the filter before it gets pressure. I had a 2300 that I put a cheap filter on it and it started doing the dry start. I put a better quality filter on and it held oil better and stopped it ( I believe a Motorcraft ). I used to quickly start and shut off a couple times to help it fill up and reduce the dry start.
Now recently one of my Escorts started doing it and I guess I'm going to get a nice Motorcraft for it as well.
STP helps but is not the answer. STP is good stuff but is best along with a good oil-holding filter.
As for the extra stuff in Fram filters, I have to check on that some more. That sounds kind of scary.
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113 Posts
Get a motorcraft filter for the car and i run Motorcraft Synthetic oil. That seemed to stop mine from doing that. It also seems to make the car run a little better with the motorcraft oil.
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I dont think I have any engine issues. The only issues I had were I broke a valve seat about 10,000 Miles ago but all is good since then.
My engine is doing fine. It has good oil presure within spec using a manual and also good compression. On my next oil change I am going to go back to factory Motorcraft. It seems like if you stay with factory parts you will never go wrong...filters spark plugs, wires, etc. I replaced the cam, roller lifters, rocker arms, water pump, belts, plugs, and wires all with Ford or Motorcraft parts and the car "just works". I think I will be wise to use Motorcraft oil and filters in it too.
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