ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD START...SUMMER OR WINTER....AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CLICKING SOUND WILL STOP...ENGINE SOUNDS SMOOTH...WHAT IS THAT CLICKING AT START UP?.

Hello Joe, and Happy New Year :>D

Gasoline contains water at molecular level, and when the gas is combusted in the engine, the water turns to steam and condenses on the cold walls of the exhaust and drips from the tailpipe. If the weather is cold and the engine is only ticking over, water will continue to drip. If you take the vehicle for a run, the extra heat in the exhaust due to higher revs will heat up the walls of the exhaust and the dripping will stop. What you are seeing is perfectly normal in the winter. Only the ambient temperature outside will affect warm up time because the engine block is pre-chilled in winter, or warm in the summer.

That's some mileage you've got on the car. It has obviously been well maintained?

Car engines do surge, Deb. Next time you stand next to a bus or truck just listen to the sound of the engine .. an occasional surge and change in the engine note.

It doesn't sound as if you have anything to worry about

Might need a good tranny flush my wife hauls us mail we tried a sable and tranny went in three months but with no center console there nice

is this even in summer time, or has this just started occuring since winter got here... if its since winter got here, its perfectly normal to hear the valves clatter when the engine is cold.... if it knocks in summer time also, you have something a little more serious goin on, could be rods, could be the mains, could be both rod and main bearings, lifters, scarred cam... but being this new of a vehicle, id say its just a clatter from the lifters being in cold weather.. hope this eases your mind a little

When your car is warm, everything is at its maximum expansion. Sounds like an overheating issue. But again I am not there to inspect and diagnose it. It could be several things. Winter driving keeps your engine way cooler than summer heat

distributor

check the guards on the exhaust they could be loose if so wire them up tight

Yes your car does have Pistons.. and No its not normal for this to happen in the winter. However I would recommend that you use a lighter oil in the winter than the summer like 5w-30 or 10w-30 no higher. Good Luck

Hi if the car is idling ok when warmed up then it sounds like the choke isnt working (you will notice this more in the cold winter months)
Hope this gives you some help

Try using higher octane fuel or octane boost in the winter this is a common problem on the dodge V-8s,after about 60,000 miles. However yours sounds like fuel line freeze up V-8s experience moisture in the fuel lines. Higher octane should help you may also wish to change your fuel filter, and run a fuel line cleaner through your van Seafoam is a good one.