Yeah, I know the 4.0s make noise, but like I said in my OP, it's really only on start ups after sitting for a bit. Then once I've driven down the road a little, it's pretty good.

It has a small/light "flutter" while accelerating, but it's pretty faint. I really need to listen for it when the radios off.

I am a bit paranoid, but I love my XJ, and I want to hold onto it for a long time. I need to just drive it, and try not think so much. We all know what happens when we think.

 

Try this:

Start it. If it's clacky, turn it off and wait 10 seconds. Restart. Quieter?

 

I'll do that. What will this tell me if it is (or isn't) clacky on the second start up?

 

I'm not telling you that until you try it and report back.

 

Hahaha! Fair enough. I'll give it a whirl in the morning and report back when I get to work.

 

Sig worthy lol

 

Deal.

 

I would say it's the lifters taking their time to pump up the wife's blazer does that too

 

So OP, what oil and filter did you say you use again

 

Good point.

 

Alright, so gave cruisers suggestion a try. Turned it on, was still pretty noisy, not so clacky though. Turned it off, waited 10 seconds, turned it back on, and it was pretty much the same, but this time it was clacky. It's pretty frustrating. Start driving to work, goes away, but has a quiet flutter during acceleration. Cant hear it unless the radio is off our the volume is low. It seriously sounds just fine (minus the light flutter). It's just that first couple minutes.

Oil and filter is Rotella T6 5w-40, and a Wix 51515 oil filter. This is the first time I've used rotella, and I like it, but I've been using the wix filters for a while now. This was going on before the switch oil switch though.

 

Maybe get one of these for under $5 at Harbor freight?

Shine a light in the oil filler hole and assess the sludge situation.

 

What is "one of these"?

I have shined a light in there before, and it's not bad. There are a couple sludgy splots under the valve cover I can see, but I see oil pumping over the valves just fine. I've done probably 4 or 5 oil changes in the year I've had it (actually yesterday was exactly 1 year). I assumed the oil would clean it out...? Is this assumption wrong? What can I do to get it clean? I'll try and grab a picture from underneath the oil cap.

 

This:

Using rotella,right?

Drain a quart out and put a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in.

 

Yep, using Rotella. Is MMO legit? I always assumed it was a "snake oil".

I'll try and get to harbor freight this weekend.

Is it safe to say this isn't a serious issue because the amount of time I've been hearing it? I would assume if it was an issue with the pistons, or head, or other important parts it would be a constant noise and not only there on start ups.