Any mechanics in here that can help?

[O Haiii]

My 2nd car has a 3.8 liter V6 engine with about 60k miles. It's doing something pretty bizarre. When i start the car when it's warm, there is some kind of a grinding noise in the engine bay for about 5 seconds and then goes away completely. Completely cold start the noise isn't there. Hot start (aka shutting off after a drive then restarting right away) exhibits zero noise as well. It's after about an hour of cooling down after a drive (so the engine is neither hot nor cold) the noise presents itself. The noise seems to be coming from the engine itself and not any other components although i cannot confirm that with certainty. Other than that the engine runs perfectly fine and burns zero oil. Any idea what this can be? Thanks in advance.

[Our03z4]

Sounds like the starter, the solenoid on the actual starter isn't stopping and keeps spinning. Starters can malfunction more when warm. Just my thought at least.

[O Haiii]

I don't think it's the starter because it never happens when the engine is hot and fully warmed up. Only when it's reached operating temps and cooled off for anywhere ranging between half an hour and like 2 hours.

[Wolf 335]

Fuel pump priming?

[chassis]

What year, make and model vehicle is the 3.8L V6?

[O Haiii]

Originally Posted by chassis

What year, make and model vehicle is the 3.8L V6?

2009 KIA V6.

Just found out it's the timing chain tensioner.