NOISY TOP END 4.3

tbare54 · October 25, 2013

Took delivery of 2014 last Friday, it has the 4.3 V6 for power. I've already got a very load chatter from what seems to be from the top end, took it by the dealership and they said it was the direct injection I was hearing and because everything else was so quiet, compounded by the plastic cover on top of the motor it was magnified.

Anyone else experiencing noisy, chatter clicking sound, from there 4.3????

Zane · October 25, 2013

Obviously I can't be sure but in my personal experience, you are indeed most likely hearing the direct injection. It's louder than you'd expect, almost diesel like depending on where you stand and how quiet it is around you.

Anyone else with a 4.3L that can chime in?

DanMan_S · October 25, 2013

DI engines are typically quite abit louder as you have fuel injectors much like diesel ones as they have similar operational parameters. Thus, you get the diesel clicking.

-Low2014- · October 25, 2013

+1 to all the above statements.

jay15892 · October 25, 2013

My truck sounds good from the back, but in front you can hear the clicking. It is normal. Thinking about getting the magnaflow dual exhaust so it sounds more like a V8!

DanMan_S · October 25, 2013

Whenever noise is an issue, the solution is always to drown it out with a louder exhaust.

newdude · October 25, 2013

Normal...sadly...GM could have probably muffled the noise a bit more but that is how these DI motors run.

RobDarden · October 26, 2013

If in doubt just test drive a different one for comparison.

Pfmet · October 26, 2013

Just found this thread and I may have found the answer to a concern I have about my 2014 4.3. The engine is noisy to the extent I called the dealer to arrange a test drive in another vehicle. I spoke to the salesman who didn't suggest the DI as the culprit. I was concerned that the valve train was the issue, kind of scary really. I never noticed it during the test drive, too much other input I guess. I had an interesting issue recently starting the truck the other morning which I haven't discussed with the dealer yet. I will on Monday. I turned the key on and while the system was "checking" whatever it checks, everything just shut down. The info screens, accent lighting, and whatever else was powered up just went out. I pondered for a moment, turned the key off, pondered some more and tried again. Everything worked as it had before and started and ran fine. The clock had reset to 1200 so I guess the power to everything shut down. That was spooky. If I get an answer to this from the dealer I will post about it. I'm new to this site, my Sierra 1500 only has 650 miles on it and I'm afraid buying version 1.0 may not have been a great idea. I love the truck though and I will remain optimistic. I like the dealer and I'm sure they're going to take care of me. Best to all, peter

BringTheRain403 · October 27, 2013

DI is definitely noisier. Sounds like a bunch of clicking or chattering. I have the 5.3 and if you want I can try and take a video tomorrow to show you what I mean...

Sent from my SCH-I535

DanielAcosta · November 6, 2013

Just found this thread and I may have found the answer to a concern I have about my 2014 4.3. The engine is noisy to the extent I called the dealer to arrange a test drive in another vehicle. I spoke to the salesman who didn't suggest the DI as the culprit. I was concerned that the valve train was the issue, kind of scary really. I never noticed it during the test drive, too much other input I guess. I had an interesting issue recently starting the truck the other morning which I haven't discussed with the dealer yet. I will on Monday. I turned the key on and while the system was "checking" whatever it checks, everything just shut down. The info screens, accent lighting, and whatever else was powered up just went out. I pondered for a moment, turned the key off, pondered some more and tried again. Everything worked as it had before and started and ran fine. The clock had reset to 1200 so I guess the power to everything shut down. That was spooky. If I get an answer to this from the dealer I will post about it. I'm new to this site, my Sierra 1500 only has 650 miles on it and I'm afraid buying version 1.0 may not have been a great idea. I love the truck though and I will remain optimistic. I like the dealer and I'm sure they're going to take care of me. Best to all, peter

I had some weird electrical gremlins and discovered one of the battery terminals was loose. Tightened it up and no issues since. Mine is a 5.3 btw.

tbare54 · November 7, 2013

My top end noise is driving me crazy, I've had people suggest DFI, but I thank this is just what dealerships are suggesting because they just don't know. I've pushed diesel motors down the road for almost 40 years and this noise isn't injector noise, it is more like valve and lifter slap. One thing I've noticed, is when your start the motor up from cold, the noise is not there for about three(3) or four(4) minutes. It sounds perfectly normal, could anyone else check this out with there 4.3 and post there results here????

Phillip Brown · May 17, 2015

One of my friends work at a dealer and mine is making the ticking noise, he told me it's the fuel pump. Also what kind of exhaust would be best on a 4.3, any suggestions?

IMPALADAKID · May 18, 2015

The DI is very noisy. It sounds like every lifter is making noise on a old small block. A good friend of mine who is in my car club, and is a GM master tech told me the day I was buying my truck, that this is normal, get used to it. It does sound like a bag of smashed a$! holes I agree, but it is normal.