5.3 sounds like it has a loud turbo and ticking at idle

GMCustomerService · January 15, 2014

Hello Painter1992,

I’m sorry to hear that you are experiencing this problem with your vehicle. I do understand that you have already taken your truck to the dealership to get this problem resolved. I would like to take a better look into your concern. Can you please private message me your full name, address, phone number, VIN, and current mileage of your vehicle? Thank you.

Kristen A.

GM Customer Care

LTZ2014 · January 15, 2014

Would the whine possibly be the transmission? It's not very loud to me, but I've noticed it before on these 6 speeds. Crazy how all you guys have these issues and complaints. I couldn't be happier with my 14.

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Silverado Steve · January 17, 2014

Aluminum block engine + direct inject engine = loud ticking

Painter1992 · January 17, 2014

Sounds like my ticking is normal. The whine is not the planetary gears in the transmission. It changes with throttle position. It sound alot like a vacuum leak. The dealer said it is not. That is why they drilled a very poor looking hole in my muffler. Still whines like a turbo does. But now it had a loud swoosh when you give it gas. Kinda sad a truck that costs nearly 50k gets hacked at a GM dealer and then send me away saying they will call if they figure out a cure. I called GM customer service, I am still waiting as they keep sending me to a different person. They said someone from GM would call today. Never did. They got my money and that's what's important. My truck only has 2000 miles and I gave up a perfectly good Toyota for a lemon. Oops.

pretindica · May 29, 2014

When did they start putting the DI on trucks, my friend here at work has nearly the same exact truck as mine but a 2008 or 2009 and his engine idles as quietly as can be. I also have a 2000 Chevy silverado, and the engine isn't as loud as my 14. I can't stand the stupid ticking sound when I am in a drive though and the sound is bouncing off of the building. You would think they could desing it to be a tad bit softer of a tick, or put a layer of cloth around to absorb some of the noise, something. I have the remote start and I don't even use it because i don't want to hear the ticking when I walk up to get in it. Sometimes when i start it, it doesn't tick at all which made me think it was a defect at first, but everywhere i read says its a DI making the noise.

chuckl1218 · May 29, 2014

When? 2014 models. My old 2011 and my son's 2013 are both quiet. Although all are 5.3L, the 2014 is very different.

Silverado-Hareek · May 29, 2014

I thought I read in one of these threads that the whine is from the second fuel pump in the engine and is perfectly normal for a DI engine. The whine in mine comes and goes....haven't noticed it in a while. I'm sure that's all I'll hear now that I said that haha.

The ticking is definitely normal all DI engines do that.

VMaxtastic · May 30, 2014

There are two fuel pumps in these? Like a lift pump and injection pump on a diesel?

chuckl1218 · May 30, 2014

There is also some discussion that a whine or whistle is coming from the exhaust adaptive valve. Here is a bulletin about it http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=3296

Silverado-Hareek · May 30, 2014

There are two fuel pumps in these? Like a lift pump and injection pump on a diesel?

Yeah I'm not that well versed in engine components but as I understand it, you have the typical fuel pump at the gas tank and then a second one in the engine compartment regulating the flow at the engine itself.

youcantkeepup! · May 30, 2014

just like a diesel, there is a lift pump and a high pressure mechanical pump driven off the cam shaft where the distrubuter would be on an old small block

nickstl77 · February 25, 2015

Well I'm glad I'm not going crazy. Just bought a 2014 LTZ 4x4 with the 5.3 and the ticking is definitely louder than my old truck. But I did compare it to 3 others on the lot and they all sound exactly the same, so it must be "normal" for these engines. First thing I did when I left the dealer lot was go get the stock muffler removed and switched to a Magnaflow 22". But after they welded it up, you could barely even hear a difference. Apparently unless you rip out that ridiculous exhaust flapper valve and the resonator it does no good to change mufflers. Guess I'll go next week and have them tear all that crap out so my truck sounds like a TRUCK, and not some old lady's buick. What was Chevy thinking? I called the exhaust shop and none of the techs had dealt with many of these newer trucks yet and knew nothing about the exhaust flapper valve. I'm wondering if this is fairly normal since these trucks are newer or I should find a new exhaust shop.

Edited February 25, 2015 by nickstl77

nickstl77 · February 25, 2015

I thought I read in one of these threads that the whine is from the second fuel pump in the engine and is perfectly normal for a DI engine. The whine in mine comes and goes....haven't noticed it in a while. I'm sure that's all I'll hear now that I said that haha.

The ticking is definitely normal all DI engines do that.

I had mine at a buddies shop today showing him the new truck and he heard the whine, said it is totally normal for the new 2014-2015 models. He said it definitely sounds like the 2nd fuel pump based on the location inside the engine bay. I'm going by later this week again I'll have him run the microphone around the engine and see if we can confirm.

Edited February 25, 2015 by nickstl77