Cold Engine Noise

[GQ-01]

For a while now, my '02 5.3L has been making a peculiar noise when it's warming up. It kind of sounds like an old deisel. It doesn't last long, usually by the time I'm out if my neighborhood, it sounds smooth. Does anyone else experience this?

[00Silverado4x4]

Sounds like piston slap.

http://www.pistonslap.com/

[jhm]

this has been a topic for at least 14 years since they started using pistons with short skirts to reduce weight and increase economy. mine has been doing it since new, not real loud, it goes away. worse in cold weather. i would not worry.

[Gurrzt]

Sounds like piston slap.

http://www.pistonslap.com/

 

+1 on this

[02suburbanZ71]

Royal purple 5w-30 took mine away 100%. Before it sounded like a cold diesel now it never has done it once since the oil change.

[gapost]

Royal purple 5w-30 took mine away 100%. Before it sounded like a cold diesel now it never has done it once since the oil change.

That's interesting. I just helped my son replace a bad head on his 05 5.3 with over 220,000 miles. He had told me there was some "knocking" at start up. We got some of the Royal Purple oil at Advance, because it was the only synthetic on sale ($39 for five quarts and KN filter, good deal.). After putting everything back together, we started it up and I did not hear any knocking, clicking, etc sound. I could hardly believe how good it sounded for the mileage. Especially as we had it all apart. I'm not trying to promote Royal Purple, as I have never used it before. But that was pretty impressive.

[white1500]

This winter I haven't had any cold start up ticking and I'm at about 4,400 miles on this oil. In July I switched from high mileage to normal Castrol 10w30 and I think it might be the reason. And I've been using the OEM AC Delco filters.

 

Last winter during the first 30 seconds it had a lot of ticking/knocking.

 

And the temperatures so far have been gotten down to the low 30's.