1995 Olds Cutlass Supreme engine noise first minute or two

1995 OLDSMOBILE
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OLDS OWNER
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1995 Olds Cutlass Supreme with 126,000 miles. About two weeks ago I replaced the radiator due to a leak. I had to lift/brace the engine a little to get the radiator out since the motor mounts are in the way. After installing the new radiator (water pump, upper radiator hose, and lower radiator hose are also fairly new), I noticed a kind of clicking/coughing/sputtering noise when I start the car for the first time each day (no real effect on engine performance from what I can tell though). The noise last only a few seconds to two minutes until the car warms up. The noise increases as you give it more gas, but as I said eventually disappears, and the car seems to run great the whole day. I also seem to still be losing a little bit of radiator fluid each day, and I find no leaks anywhere (no pooling on the ground at all that I can tell). I've not noticed the radiator fluid looking oily, nor have I noted any foaming/water in the engine oil. I don't notice any water/excess smoke from the exhaust. Any ideas. Could this be a head gasket problem? Could the lifting the engine have caused this (why would this happen all of a sudden)?
I'm not losing oil, or any other fluids that I know of either. I do seem to lose more radiator fluid though if I take longer trips.
Any easy fixes? Thanks for the help.
Jan 4, 2006 at 7:54 AM

What to check next

Diagnostic guidance. Suggested checks and possible repairs are separate from the owner's reported results.

Have the coolant loss and cold-start noise investigated together, including a cooling-system leak assessment. Report that the noise persisted during the earlier belt-off test without repeating that test as a routine procedure.

Guidance references and applicability

Source: This question and its visible discussion. The roadmap distinguishes the original owner's reports from other participants' experiences; proposed follow-up is editorial guidance, not a confirmed diagnosis. HELLA: Cooling-system checks https://www.hella.com/techworld/ae/technical/car-cooling-system/cooling-system-check/ General temperature, circulation and leak checks; use the actual vehicle procedure.

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AI-ASSISTED GUIDANCE · REVIEWED BY 2CARPROS
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OLDS OWNER
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I know it's not the water pump...no leaking from it, when I take the serpentine belt off it still makes a lot of noise (same clicking type noise for the first few minutes until the engine warms up), and finally the water pump is fairly new.
Lately the noise seems to last a little longer each time I start it in the morning (not sure if this is because it is getting colder or if the problem is getting worse).
Any other ideas would be appreciated.
Also, the engine never gets really hot (hasn't since I had the water pump changed in 2004). It will get up to the low 200's when idling, but then the fans kick in and it cools down pretty quick...never overheated recently.
I'm still confused. Thanks for your ideas.
Jan 8, 2006 at 4:11 AM
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OLDS OWNER
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Could this be as simple as a valve lifter problem? If so, any suggestions as to how to eliminate it?
Thanks
Jan 10, 2006 at 5:07 AM
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CHRIS WILCZYNSKI
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check oil to see if antifreeze mixing in with it , oil will look like choclate. if so you got a blown head gasket
May 4, 2006 at 5:24 AM

Discussion summary

1995 Olds Cutlass Supreme engine noise first minute or two

A 1995 Cutlass Supreme developed a brief cold-start clicking or sputtering noise after radiator replacement and continued losing coolant without an obvious external leak. The owner said the noise persisted with the accessory belt removed and later lasted longer.

Reported outcome: No leak source or cause of the noise was confirmed.

The absence of visible fluid mixing or exhaust smoke did not establish a diagnosis. The lifter and head-gasket suggestions were not supported by reported test results.

Read the original discussion

AI-ASSISTED SUMMARY · REVIEWED BY 2CARPROS
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