Noisy Engine

My wife has a 2001 Accord. When she first starts it up, the engine is
noisy. (I compare it to the noise the valves in my dad's old Chevy used to
make) Once the engine warms up, it is fine. The car has been doing this
for a couple of years. It gets regular service at the Honda Dealership.

Should we be leaving this overnite at the dealership and having them listen
to it or is it normal for this Honda? I don't remember anything like this
with her 1992 Accord.

 

Sounds like piston slap. It's for many Hondas and completely harmless. My
2000 Civic's engine was the same way. I was told it had something to do
with using different metals in the engine which expand at different rates so
they rattle a bit until the engine warms up. It sounds bad but it won't
hurt anything. The fact that the noise goes away when it warms up is what
makes me think it's piston slap. I would only suspect the valves needing
adjustment if the noise was always there.

 

It's probably piston slap or the power steering pump, both of which are
normal as the car ages and are harmless.

However, since we can't actually hear the noise ove the Internet, your idea
of letting the dealer listen to it is an excellent one.