Garry Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Just discovered this message board. Sorry if I'm asking a too familiar question all over again: I have an 04 Outback wagon. When I first got it (new), on cold starts I noticed a clatter from the engine which the dealer said was no problem and was piston slap. It went away about 15 seconds after I started the engine. The car now has 18,000 on it and in the last month, after the 15 second clatter goes away, at about the 30 second point, I start to hear a quite noticeable tap-tap-tap-tap that lasts about 60 seconds and then fades away over another minute or so. The dealer told me that this was piston slap and that I need to have my two passenger side pistons replaced with redesigned ones. I know that without listening to the car this is tough, but would you be able to comment on: 1) does the dealer diagnosis make sense? 2) I can live with the sound -- do I need to have the engine torn down and risk other problems in the refit? 3) The dealer will not do the other 2 pistons. I have an uneasy feeling about new redesigned pistons on one side and older original design pistons on the other side. Any comments you might be able to make would be helpful. Thank you, Garry (near Syracuse, NY) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 1- Yes 2- if it is bad enough that the dealer is syaing the 2 pistons need to be replaced (people end up having huge fights with dealers over this) then do it. 3- That is the common replacement procedure. Do a search here on piston slap and sit down with a cup of your favorit hit beverage, it will be a long read. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbhrps Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Both my 97 OBW and my 02 OBW had the piston slap to one degree or the other. The 97 had it severely enough that it was always there on start up until the engine warmed up some 5 minutes later, at which time you could still hear it if you were really listening for it. In extremely cold weather, the slap was very pronounced and never truly disappeared, but did diminish in volume. The car had it from new right up until it was traded some 169 000 km later with no other engine problems. The 02 had a slight slap on start up until it warmed up and totally disappeared, and like the older car, it was more pronounced in very cold weather. Sold this car with 141 000 km and no other engine problems. A search of the threads on this topic will generally tell you that it will not significantly hurt the longevity of the engine. It really comes down to how much of an annoyance you find the piston slap to be. If it drives you crazy, get the pistons changed. If you can live with the noise, it in all likely hood will not cause you any grief. As to whether you should accept the dealer's offer to do only one side versus doing both sides .... that's a hard one to call. It shouldn't be a problem for you, but then again, to have a truly balanced engine both sides should be done. I'd get some more feedback, particularly from other dealerships as to their stand on the same issue. After 3 or 4 feedbacks, you should know which way to go. Just don't let these other dealerships know that your dealership has suggested this solution of just doing one side. Tell them that you suspect one side needs replacing and would they recommend doing just the one side. If they know you already have one dealer suggesting a certain fix, they'll fall into line with your dealership's decision, not wanting to undermine your dealership's decision. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danz75 Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 My 03 OBW has it when you start the engine but goes away when it warms up. More pronounced in colder weather and takes awhile longer for it to go away. No other issues that i know of. Had the 3 yrs/36k mi service done by smart service in seattle and they told me that engine is in good shape. Just discovered this message board. Sorry if I'm asking a too familiar question all over again: I have an 04 Outback wagon. When I first got it (new), on cold starts I noticed a clatter from the engine which the dealer said was no problem and was piston slap. It went away about 15 seconds after I started the engine. The car now has 18,000 on it and in the last month, after the 15 second clatter goes away, at about the 30 second point, I start to hear a quite noticeable tap-tap-tap-tap that lasts about 60 seconds and then fades away over another minute or so. The dealer told me that this was piston slap and that I need to have my two passenger side pistons replaced with redesigned ones. I know that without listening to the car this is tough, but would you be able to comment on: 1) does the dealer diagnosis make sense? 2) I can live with the sound -- do I need to have the engine torn down and risk other problems in the refit? 3) The dealer will not do the other 2 pistons. I have an uneasy feeling about new redesigned pistons on one side and older original design pistons on the other side. Any comments you might be able to make would be helpful. Thank you, Garry (near Syracuse, NY) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon38iowa Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I had mine rebuilt with all new Pistons and it still has this annoying startup noise! Brucey recomended I try raammat insulation. Moreover, since I have purchased and applied this product to my car, it is so much quieter! The sound from the engine is still there, but I have to try hard to hear it. It is though, an enormous amount of work to install. It takes rouhgly a day to install one doors worth of the material. I found the job kinda fun, but others might not. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I am cursed with slap in my 99. I changed oil four times to help and am currently running Havoline which does make a difference. Take the new pistons, I'd love it if someone offerend me some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Seriously, try running "Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40", it has dampened my frosty moring piston slap considerably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Boncyk Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Geeze, guys! If it didn't sound like it was about to fall apart when started in cold weather, I wouldn't know that it was my car!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Geeze, guys! If it didn't sound like it was about to fall apart when started in cold weather, I wouldn't know that it was my car!! You got a point. When Blu got her new engine, i couldnt tell it was running in the morning as all the piston slap is gone. Is'nt 2004 a bit late for piston slap, thats another reason i'm concerned. I thought they started using the new pistons in 2003 nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I suspect as long as they keep the skirts that short that some folks will get slap. I have heard the new pistons just have a different coating and all you have to do is have a condition that removes the coating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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