aTOMic

You'll get a dirty look if you try to "teach" the dealer anything!
Also
Lifters can, in fact, fill up quick as that I think.

Pick one closing:
Glad to help,
(or)
Sorry,

-Tom

enGage

They've gotten to know me at the dealer and after I have been right and them wrong on a couple of occasions they give me some leeway.

enGage

My past experience says that on a cold start it will take a little longer. My son has a leaky lifter on his Yukon and its starts out with a very noticeable click that gets goes away gradually. Mine is like this: Click, Click, Click, Click, silence.

But, I wouldn't put it past those Germans to have quickly filling lifters!

PaulW

The lifter sounds like a diesel engine clatter, can go away after 0.5 to as long as 5 seconds. Pretty much sounds terrible.

MP4.2+6.0

1. Thinner oil, if you are using a thick one (like 15 or 20W50 or even 10W40), assuming no oil burning that is.

2. A can of Risoline or similar solvent right before the next oil change, assuming no oil leaks that is, particularly at seals (as in, these solvents also "clean" out stuff that has sealed up or reduced small leaks over time).

3, If persistent or getting worse after trying above, also look at oil anti drainback valves buried in the V below the intake manifold. Not a commonly documented or diagnosed part, but learned of them way back on C4 2.8 when Audi did a TSB for A4's and A6's. In severe cases, these can act up when hot too with very nasty noises way beyond momentary.

enGage

OK, the blonde wig has come off. Both problems I described about have corrected themselves. The door closer sounds normal again and I haven't heard the cold-starting clacking in weeks now. Go figure.

I suspect one or both will come back, but for now If it ain't broke, don't fix it

K9COP

I'm not sure that west Michigan is that tropical, but could it be as simple as a slight rise in ambient temperature?

K9

enGage

Yes and it has been warm lately. 78 yesterday. When it's warm the oil flow more freely, but if I had a leaky hydraulic valve I would think it would drain faster as well. Who knows.

mishar

Looks like 0W-30 would solve clacking even when it is cold. Overnight is a long time and if the lifter is leaking it will leak any oil. Less viscous one will just feel it faster.

AusA8

I have this click, clatter noise on start up too. I find it is also totally ambient temperature dependent... Warm night, no clatter. Cold night, clatter.

Indi reckons to change oil next time and should fix issue altogether.