[Matt-N-Ga]

Darrell, hope I'm not a day late and a dollar short, but heres what i've seen. I'm a Shop Foreman for a busy transmission shop. Usually, there are two cause of this particular noise, the first you mentioned. The Throwout bearing can indeed make noise when cold, it's due to the very thick grease the manufacturer uses, when it wears down, it's solidifies slightly more when cold and can make this noise.

The other cause is the pressure plate. A pressure plate uses either rubber or metal springs to dampen the sudden on/off clamping force exerted by the pressure plate. As these parts wear, clearances are created, cold makes these clearances even larger. Either way, if it goes away that quickly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've spent all winter chasing strange noises. I wouldn't waste your money on a dealership diagnosis. Get a free one done at a major transmission shop, just be sure to check their ratings. If you have any questions, PM me, I get those in my email so I'll know your asking. Hope this helps.