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Help Me Find Out What This Engine Noise Is!

Ryan11405

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Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
Posted

I am seeking some help with my 2004 GMC Sierra 5.3L V-8: I have 146,000 miles.

 

My truck, when started cold, makes the typical clicking noise on startup and goes away after 30 seconds-1 minute. No problem.

 

The real problem is that after 5 minutes of driving (starting with a cold engine), my engine sounds like a diesel. It sounds like it has NO oil in it! But it does have oil.

 

The only solution is to pull over off the road, turn it off, wait a minute, then crank it up, and drive slowly until the noise goes away. After that, my truck sounds normal.

 

I have no noises whatsoever while driving.. until after the engine cools down and then it will repeat the same diesel engine noise 5 minutes after cranking up.

 

The oil pressure stays a constant 40 psi from the time I crank it up cold, until it makes the diesel engine noise. When I stop on the side of the road and sit for a minute, and recrank it, it will increase to normal operating pressure (60-65psi) when the noise stops.

 

What is going on, and how do I fix it?

 

Here's a truck on youtube with the same noise as mine.. Not my truck, but very similar noise. any ideas?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbhvKd8ZYc

beetle Enthusiast

beetle

Posted
Posted
I am seeking some help with my 2004 GMC Sierra 5.3L V-8: I have 146,000 miles.

 

My truck, when started cold, makes the typical clicking noise on startup and goes away after 30 seconds-1 minute. No problem.

 

The real problem is that after 5 minutes of driving (starting with a cold engine), my engine sounds like a diesel. It sounds like it has NO oil in it! But it does have oil.

 

The only solution is to pull over off the road, turn it off, wait a minute, then crank it up, and drive slowly until the noise goes away. After that, my truck sounds normal.

 

I have no noises whatsoever while driving.. until after the engine cools down and then it will repeat the same diesel engine noise 5 minutes after cranking up.

 

The oil pressure stays a constant 40 psi from the time I crank it up cold, until it makes the diesel engine noise. When I stop on the side of the road and sit for a minute, and recrank it, it will increase to normal operating pressure (60-65psi) when the noise stops.

 

What is going on, and how do I fix it?

 

Here's a truck on youtube with the same noise as mine.. Not my truck, but very similar noise. any ideas?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbhvKd8ZYc

 

I viewed the video, that noise sounds serious. I wished I could be of help but I have to ask........

did you buy the truck used? A vehicle that has been maintained properly and not abused should not be making that kind of noise even with 146K miles.

dewfpo Senior Enthusiast

dewfpo

Posted
Posted

Sounds like a sticky/bad hydraulic lifter to me. The 'sticky' oil pressure gauge may also be an indicator(IMO) of a gunked up engine. I would add some Marvel Mystery oil (found in any parts store in a red plastic bottle) to the oil and see if it cleans things up and frees up the oil sender, pressure relief valve and cleans out the lifters.

 

DEWFPO

Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I am seeking some help with my 2004 GMC Sierra 5.3L V-8: I have 146,000 miles.

 

My truck, when started cold, makes the typical clicking noise on startup and goes away after 30 seconds-1 minute. No problem.

 

The real problem is that after 5 minutes of driving (starting with a cold engine), my engine sounds like a diesel. It sounds like it has NO oil in it! But it does have oil.

 

The only solution is to pull over off the road, turn it off, wait a minute, then crank it up, and drive slowly until the noise goes away. After that, my truck sounds normal.

 

I have no noises whatsoever while driving.. until after the engine cools down and then it will repeat the same diesel engine noise 5 minutes after cranking up.

 

The oil pressure stays a constant 40 psi from the time I crank it up cold, until it makes the diesel engine noise. When I stop on the side of the road and sit for a minute, and recrank it, it will increase to normal operating pressure (60-65psi) when the noise stops.

 

What is going on, and how do I fix it?

 

Here's a truck on youtube with the same noise as mine.. Not my truck, but very similar noise. any ideas?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbhvKd8ZYc

 

I viewed the video, that noise sounds serious. I wished I could be of help but I have to ask........

did you buy the truck used? A vehicle that has been maintained properly and not abused should not be making that kind of noise even with 146K miles.

 

 

I've had the truck since 27K miles. Always maintained the oil at proper intervals for synthetic oil, but its been used to pull heavy trailers alot. I haven't driven it like a grandpa, but I haven't raced it either. It didn't start this noise until about 4-5 months ago. I was told that it might be a sticky lifter? I'm going to run a can of seafoam through it this weekend (in the oil) and change the oil to a high mileage blend and see what happens. Like I said, the noise starts about 5 minutes after driving. It goes away fairly quickly too. If it's something serious, I'm gonna be out tons of money.

Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Sounds like a sticky/bad hydraulic lifter to me. The 'sticky' oil pressure gauge may also be an indicator(IMO) of a gunked up engine. I would add some Marvel Mystery oil (found in any parts store in a red plastic bottle) to the oil and see if it cleans things up and frees up the oil sender, pressure relief valve and cleans out the lifters.

 

DEWFPO

I've got a bottle of seafoam, it was recommended at the auto parts store over Marvel Mystery Oil. Should I try the MMO first, then seafoam? Or is it all the same?

dewfpo Senior Enthusiast

dewfpo

Posted
Posted
Sounds like a sticky/bad hydraulic lifter to me. The 'sticky' oil pressure gauge may also be an indicator(IMO) of a gunked up engine. I would add some Marvel Mystery oil (found in any parts store in a red plastic bottle) to the oil and see if it cleans things up and frees up the oil sender, pressure relief valve and cleans out the lifters.

 

DEWFPO

I've got a bottle of seafoam, it was recommended at the auto parts store over Marvel Mystery Oil. Should I try the MMO first, then seafoam? Or is it all the same?

 

 

They're both cleaners. The MMO is a lightweight oil, so it's not as intense as the Seafoam. It's your choice. If you use the Seafoam, follow the instructions on the can.

 

DEWFPO

Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Sounds like a sticky/bad hydraulic lifter to me. The 'sticky' oil pressure gauge may also be an indicator(IMO) of a gunked up engine. I would add some Marvel Mystery oil (found in any parts store in a red plastic bottle) to the oil and see if it cleans things up and frees up the oil sender, pressure relief valve and cleans out the lifters.

 

DEWFPO

I've got a bottle of seafoam, it was recommended at the auto parts store over Marvel Mystery Oil. Should I try the MMO first, then seafoam? Or is it all the same?

 

 

They're both cleaners. The MMO is a lightweight oil, so it's not as intense as the Seafoam. It's your choice. If you use the Seafoam, follow the instructions on the can.

 

DEWFPO

 

I will try the seafoam tomorrow and drain the oil, and refill with new oil/filter and see what happens. I hope this remedies the problem, as I really can't afford a new engine/parts right now! Thanks guys.

HawkScot Enthusiast

HawkScot

Posted
Posted

check your old filter to see if it came apart inside or something. check the drain plug when you change the oil for anything on the magnet (does it have a magnet). You might want to have an used oil analysis done on the oil (find out how to take a sample before you change the oil).

beetle Enthusiast

beetle

Posted
Posted

One other thing to check: Timing chain slack, easy to do. Place a breaker bar and socket on the crankshaft pulley and check the amount of free play in degrees by rocking the pulley back and forth.

 

That is one of those engine parts that seem to wear out first regardless of how well it's been maintained or driven.

 

Good luck.

Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Update: Today I put seafoam in the engine oil. It shuddered for a little while before it got mixed with the oil. I ran it for about an hour and a half around town and a little on the highway, to get it nice and mixed up. I must admit, my engine ran quieter and I heard absolutely NO noise from my engine/lifters while the seafoam was in it. I changed the oil, and for only having 1000 miles on the oil, it was nasty. When draining, I could see sludge particles draining. Refilled with new oil (high mileage blend) and a new filter. I will see what noises come up in the coming days and update you on the noise. So far, I have heard no more lifter noise. I checked youtube and found a video with a sticky lifter and I assume that is the noise I had in question. Thanks for all the help.

ujtruck Enthusiast

ujtruck

Posted
Posted

if your truck sounds like, the one that in youtube then you have a way loose (gaped) Lifter, get it fix - I would do it my self :)

dewfpo Senior Enthusiast

dewfpo

Posted
Posted
Update: Today I put seafoam in the engine oil. It shuddered for a little while before it got mixed with the oil. I ran it for about an hour and a half around town and a little on the highway, to get it nice and mixed up. I must admit, my engine ran quieter and I heard absolutely NO noise from my engine/lifters while the seafoam was in it. I changed the oil, and for only having 1000 miles on the oil, it was nasty. When draining, I could see sludge particles draining. Refilled with new oil (high mileage blend) and a new filter. I will see what noises come up in the coming days and update you on the noise. So far, I have heard no more lifter noise. I checked youtube and found a video with a sticky lifter and I assume that is the noise I had in question. Thanks for all the help.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

What brand and weight motor oil had you been using? And at what interval?

 

If you observed that much junk coming out of your oil pan, plan on changing the oil filter again in about 500 miles or so, maybe even the oil if it gets dark fast.

 

DEWFPO

Ryan11405 Enthusiast

Ryan11405

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Update: Today I put seafoam in the engine oil. It shuddered for a little while before it got mixed with the oil. I ran it for about an hour and a half around town and a little on the highway, to get it nice and mixed up. I must admit, my engine ran quieter and I heard absolutely NO noise from my engine/lifters while the seafoam was in it. I changed the oil, and for only having 1000 miles on the oil, it was nasty. When draining, I could see sludge particles draining. Refilled with new oil (high mileage blend) and a new filter. I will see what noises come up in the coming days and update you on the noise. So far, I have heard no more lifter noise. I checked youtube and found a video with a sticky lifter and I assume that is the noise I had in question. Thanks for all the help.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

What brand and weight motor oil had you been using? And at what interval?

 

If you observed that much junk coming out of your oil pan, plan on changing the oil filter again in about 500 miles or so, maybe even the oil if it gets dark fast.

 

DEWFPO

 

 

DEWFPO, I had been using Royal Purple 5w30 for years, on a 8,000- 10,000 mile interval with a K&N Oil Filter. In retrospect, probably not the best idea of intervals since I'm down south and there's lots of months of heat. The past 12,000 miles or so, I had been using whatever brand oil/filter was on sale at the auto parts store (5w30 weight) with 3-4000 mile intervals. I used a decent quality filter, not the fram crap.

 

I did observe a good bit of junk coming out and I will probably change the filter again around 500 miles. I'll keep an eye on the oil to see when it should be changed.

 

I'm just anxious as to how it will sound in the morning when the engine is cold, and how it sounds as it warms up. We shall see.

 

Thanks for the help.

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