Engine

[Kitz]

Does your 4 cylinder diesel engine sound like the lifters are ratting when you first start it up not familiar with a 4 cyl diesel this is a caseih 75c

 

[Jerry/MT]

Does your 4 cylinder diesel engine sound like the lifters are ratting when you first start it up not familiar with a 4 cyl diesel this is a caseih 75c

I think what your hearing is combustion noise. Since diesels are Compression Ignition (CI) engines, when they are started "cold" (even at summertime temperatures) the cold walls and piston crown have a deactivating effect on the combustion process and it makes a clattering noise. It's even worse in the cold winter temperatures. The amplitude may be reduced as the combustion process improves but they will usually continue to clatter somewhat especially at lower rpm's. Our tractors have 3 cylinders and six cylinders and they do it also so it's not a function of the number of cylinders.

 

[oosik]

My Kubota is four cylinder. It makes a clattering noise at startup. Normal for a diesel.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

The old 2 stroke Detroit's we had in the service would sound like you threw a coffee can full of bolts into a paint shaker.

It varies by engine type really. If it's "always done this" and is still running well, I wouldn't worry about it.

If you had one that started making the extra noise "all of the sudden", I think then I would get concerned.

This is assuming your engine oil weight and type is suitable for your specific engine and climate.

 

[rScotty]

We have two 4 cylinder diesels: JD (6000 hrs) and Kubota (1200 hrs) - both are 15 years old and have had average care. I check fluids before each use and try to change the oil every couple of seasons & filters less often. I do put some effort into warming them up before strarting in real cold weather and let them idle a while. I'll run an electric block heater all day before cranking if I think it will help.

Clearly both of those motors aren't young, but start right up and sound about the same starting as running. No rattles or clanks.
OTOH, I have heard plenty of old diesels that rattled and knocked a lot when first starting but then seemed to settle down and run fine when warm. So some do; but not all. I'm not sure if it means anything except wear, and wouldn't have said that, except that I have noticed that new ones don't seem to do it. New ones are pretty quiet when starting. No extra noises...

rScotty

 

[5030]

When it quits rattling you then have an issue.

 

[BravoXray]

The old 2 stroke Detroit's we had in the service would sound like you threw a coffee can full of bolts into a paint shaker.

It varies by engine type really. If it's "always done this" and is still running well, I wouldn't worry about it.

Did you ever hear a 1693 CAT pre-combustion chamber engine idle? Holy crap, it sounded like it was going to spit a rod out the side of the block any minute. But off idle and under a load, they were very quiet. One CAT mechanic said it was due to a little play in the fuel pump variable timing unit. The direct injection engines were much quieter at idle.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Find a good Cetane boost additive and the rattle will diminish quite a bit on cold startup. Diesel cetane is lucky to be 45 cetane here in North America, and for optimum performance a 52 rating is best. A higher cetane rating improves the combustion of diesel fuel.