Info - Whine or Growl Noise from Engine After Cold Start - Normal Characteristic

Some agencies may comment about a whine or growl noise on a cold start-up. The Impala Police Package added a standard engine oil cooler for the 2003 model year. These vehicles can exhibit a whine noise during a cold start, particularly in ambient temperatures below 17°C (60°F). As the engine oil warms following the engine start, the noise will diminish quickly. This type of noise, produced under the conditions described above, should be considered a normal characteristic of a vehicle equipped with this cooler. The noise is generated from the operation of the engine oil pump and is being transmitted to the body of the vehicle through the oil cooler. Since the coolers function is to cool the engine oil by flowing oil through the cooler, the noise generated from the oil flowing through the cooler is considered a normal characteristic and no attempts to repair this condition should be made.