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Start Up Noise 2013 Sierra's 5.3 liter

cbz2500hd

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cbz2500hd Enthusiast

cbz2500hd

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I am looking into buying a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 with a 5.3 vortec engine with 6 speed auto trans. A few of the trucks i have looked at when they first start they have a loud tick which last for about 5 seconds or so. I was curious if anyone knows if this is a sign of the dreaded cold start knock? Some of the engines are quite and smooth as can be. I know for a fact these trucks havent been started in sometime. Thanks!

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Ryan00TJ Enthusiast

Ryan00TJ

Posted
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Sounds normal for a OHV engine with hydraulic lifters that has not been started for awhile. The hydraulic lifters will bleed off and lose their preload. Once started it will take a few seconds for the oil to prime them and bring them back into proper preload.

 

My truck will do this after it has set for 5 days or longer. Once started and the lifters prime their should be no more noise or their might be a problem.

f0st3r Enthusiast

f0st3r

Posted
Posted

Yea, my 08 on REALLY cold days ticks for about 3-5 seconds. Always has.. My 02 did the same thing.. A coworker has a new F-150 and it has a nice knock on cold starts he says. It takes the engine a few seconds to get the "blood" flowing.

Mossyoakglock Senior Enthusiast

Mossyoakglock

Posted
Posted

My truck is currently at the dealer now for the tick. My tick lasts longer than 5 seconds. If I were to start it and let it idle for 2-3 minutes, it would tick the whole time. Even when I start it and drive, the ticking gets louder as the RPM's increase.

 

This is the second time it's been in for this. The first time was the weekend before Christmas and they could not duplicate. Hopefully they can duplicate the noise and get it fixed.

 

Look for a truck that does not tick at start up.

Gurrzt Enthusiast

Gurrzt

Posted
Posted

The noise you described is commonly called "piston slap". The engine blocks are aluminum, and the piston cylinders are steel sleeved. When cold the dissimilar metals contract to different tolerances, so when you start the engine, hence the tick. As long as the tick goes away within a few minuets of the engine warming up, it is considered "normal" to GM. My 2001 Z28 (Sara) has the same noise @ startup. Also the injectors can cause a tick sound. The sound should not be a steady tick, it should vary, say compared to a lifter tick, which is steady and more pronounced.

Badass69 Senior Enthusiast

Badass69

Posted
Posted

Or it can be the lifters, AFM equipped or not. I won't use GM's LS7 lifters ( the lifter used in anything now without AFM) as they are notoriously noisey even with correct preload. It's common on builds where the engines otherwise make no noise beyond valvetrain until the lifters are swapped with something else and the noise magically disappears. That and I had one fall apart and destroy the engine in my 09...... which GM told me all along it's prior life it was "normal".

 

Something else to consider is wristpin noise from you guessed.... play in the bore where the wrist pin rides...

 

Buy the truck that is quiet on startup and hopefully avoid any and all BS.

cbz2500hd Enthusiast

cbz2500hd

Posted
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I just want to say thanks for everyones input. I have come across a few more 5.3 engines with the loud tick. I have one truck that is smooth as can be but the transmission shifts a little more positive than the others. Im not to worried about the transmission. Id rather have one that is a little more positive maybe then it wont fail. Is it true that these new six speed transmission are non servicable? I am going to a few different GMC dealers today to see how they sound and feel. Ill keep you guys posted on my progress. Thanks Again!

  • 2 weeks later...
Gurrzt Enthusiast

Gurrzt

Posted
Posted

I just want to say thanks for everyones input. I have come across a few more 5.3 engines with the loud tick. I have one truck that is smooth as can be but the transmission shifts a little more positive than the others. Im not to worried about the transmission. Id rather have one that is a little more positive maybe then it wont fail. Is it true that these new six speed transmission are non servicable? I am going to a few different GMC dealers today to see how they sound and feel. Ill keep you guys posted on my progress. Thanks Again!

 

I am not sure of what you are asking, the automatic 4L80E is fully serviceable.
zibzer Enthusiast

zibzer

Posted
Posted

My 2007 5.3l was quiet and smooth as silk. I've had my 2010 5.3l for 2 weeks and twice in that time in the morning it ticked loud enough to hear it inside my house when I use my remote starter. It went on for way more ban 5 minutes. But by the time I got to work it was a barely audible tick. I can't even hear the exhaust in my house but the ticking i hear was crazy loud. I want to talk to the dealer as it is under warranty but I'm afraid if they don't hear it they won't fix it!

Gurrzt Enthusiast

Gurrzt

Posted
Posted

My 2007 5.3l was quiet and smooth as silk. I've had my 2010 5.3l for 2 weeks and twice in that time in the morning it ticked loud enough to hear it inside my house when I use my remote starter. It went on for way more ban 5 minutes. But by the time I got to work it was a barely audible tick. I can't even hear the exhaust in my house but the ticking i hear was crazy loud. I want to talk to the dealer as it is under warranty but I'm afraid if they don't hear it they won't fix it!

 

Take the vehicle in at the end of the day, and let them keep it overnight. I'm sure they will hear the noise when they start it cold.

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