grnmtnquattro

It was pretty cold here, coldest it's been since I've owned the car ~40F. I heard a kind of rattling coming from the front of the engine when I started it. Didn't sound like normal valve tap and was definitely coming from directly behind the radiator. It went away once I got to work and the car was warm, but considering I just had the whole timing belt/water pump/etc replaced, should I be concerned?

MikTip

Open the hood, you stand there infront of the engine, while someone else starts the engine.

That way your "right there" and can hear & pinpoint whats making the noise. ;O)

grnmtnquattro

Thanks!
It was making the noise at idle, not just at start up. Sounded like something was loose on the front of the engine, but went away once it was warm.
Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but it really didn't sound right, enought to make me pop the hood and give it a closer listen before I drove anywhere.
What could be running on the front of the engine when it's cold but not when it's warm?

MikTip

If my engine were making strange noises, I would not drive it until I determined the source.

As one day you might just "save" your engine, by looking under the hood! ;O)

grnmtnquattro

I DID look under the hood and listen! That's how I could tell it was coming from the front of the engine.

MikTip

I hope your not running 15w-50 oil?

grnmtnquattro

Nope. Castrol 10w-30