got my impreza yesterday and it seems after starting it from cold this morning it has the famous piston slap.....guess wot its a 98 model
its got full service history done 77k has clearly been well looked after and is in very good condition. drives great, doesnt burn oil/smoke etc so im well happy.

i just want to know is there anything you can do to reduce this noise?
does using a thicker oil help?
or is it as many have said, not worth bothering with?

it just sounds to the "uninformed non scooby owner" like youve gone and got yourself a knackered motor, even my wife said to me "oh, it sounds a bit tappy!".

will post some pics up later too

 

Short of a re-build, there's very little you can do about it!
The internal combustion engine has been blessed with the problem since it was invented. Manufacturers have employed all sorts of tricks to reduce the problem from oval pistons, offset piston pin etc to retarding the ignition when the engine is cold.
If the noise goes away fairly quickly as the engine warms up then try to ignore it. If it stays when hot, then it's time to think of a cure.
JohnD

 

well it goes away when warm so looks like im just gunna live with it.........loving my first day of scooby ownership though!!!!

 

When the weather warms up you'll not notice it so much

 

as above, if it goes away witin a few minutes then don't worry about it.

 

Did the guy that sold it have it warmed up when you went to view it?

 

fit a bigger exhaust and an induction kit... and you will be sorted..

 

ive always said never look at a car or buy it untill youve seen it from cold...........but this once i didnt do that
the car was booked in at the garage having a service done, and i ended up waiting at his house untill he returned with it so it was obviously warm by then.