Engine Tick - 2015 GMC Sierra 5.3

sk · August 21, 2017

Got any better pictures of the location on the truck? Gonna look at this on my truck.

Sorry I don't. I would like to check it on mine too but I'm just going to have the dealer do it the next time I am in for some other warranty issues.

tanner709 · August 22, 2017

I've been dealing with this since i bought mine in 2015. i have a BB tune with AFM delete. My tick sounds just like the recording previously posted. Here's what I've noticed.

Tick happens when pushing accelerator only.

Tick doesn't occur when vehicle isn't at operating temp.

Higher the RPM the faster the tick.

Having high RPMs when downshifting doesn't produce the tick. Only pushing the accelerator to get high RPMs does.

Active grade braking kicked in and the tick is present.

Anyone else?

I've had similar scenarios. Except bullet number 2 - do you mean it only happens when the engine is at standard operating temp?

Hey_Fam · August 22, 2017

Correct

milligan · August 22, 2017

Only ticking I hear is in V4 while under a slight load. I've had many trucks and all have had some kind of noise, so its never concerned me.

deputy · September 14, 2017

This is what my dealer found and it was fixed.

Hey_Fam · September 19, 2017

So i noticed something very odd. When going around a bend and giving it throttle i noticed the tick gets very quiet compared to going straight.

Anyone else experience this?

jasinger · October 12, 2017

Hi all, joined because I'm having this issue. 2017 5.3 Silverado LT Z71, Truck has 1800 miles I've had this ticking since day one. It is when I'm on the highway and starts when I accelerate in low RPMs, can hear it get faster with higher RPMs. Sound is coming from down low on the firewall on the driver side. Sounds exactly like an exhaust leak, I was confident that's what it was until I started reading more.

I'm looking for some insight on what to say to the dealership, this is extremely annoying the truck is brand new and I've only had it for two months. I've read it could be a vacuum pump, the high pressure fuel pump, an actual exhaust leak, or maybe this pulsation sound? If anyone has had this solved I'd love to be able to tell the tech's so that I don't have to do this in multiple trips. Thanks in advance

Hey_Fam · October 12, 2017

i got a 2018 5.3 rental with 5 miles on it. does the same thing. I think we just need to accept this.

Abanks10t · October 14, 2017

On 10/12/2017 at 1:30 PM, jasinger said:

Hi all, joined because I'm having this issue. 2017 5.3 Silverado LT Z71, Truck has 1800 miles I've had this ticking since day one. It is when I'm on the highway and starts when I accelerate in low RPMs, can hear it get faster with higher RPMs. Sound is coming from down low on the firewall on the driver side. Sounds exactly like an exhaust leak, I was confident that's what it was until I started reading more.

I'm looking for some insight on what to say to the dealership, this is extremely annoying the truck is brand new and I've only had it for two months. I've read it could be a vacuum pump, the high pressure fuel pump, an actual exhaust leak, or maybe this pulsation sound? If anyone has had this solved I'd love to be able to tell the tech's so that I don't have to do this in multiple trips. Thanks in advance

Same here. I've been following this post for months waiting for someone to figure out a fix to the issue. I bought my 2016 last year but didn't have the noise start until about 9k miles on the engine. Now that I'm nearing 24k and after the fuel treatment service from the dealership it has gotten louder in V4 during acceleration and noticeable in V8. I can't wait for them to figure out fix to this.

PackerChev · December 15, 2017

Has anyone found a fix for this issue? I crawled under the truck and it sounds like it comes from the catalytic converter right off of the header manifold. I've also read somewhere that there is a ceramic piece inside the converters that causes it. This would make sense that it is temperature dependent and can change when you hit a bump of go around a corner.

I've got a 2017 Silverado. It doesn't do it when cold. Once it's warmed up it does it intermittently. It's most noticeable under load and slight acceleration. Kind of just living with it for now until I can direct the dealer in the right direction because it's so hard to replicate and it doesn't appear there is a fix.

The video on this thread is the spot on sound I have.

2014GMCsierraSLT · December 21, 2017

I have a 2014 with the same problem been to the dealer 3 times so far they cant not replicate noise... even tho it those it every time when I drive it. I’ll post a link

Gregory · February 4, 2018

Hey guys, I have an 07' Avalanche and a 17' Silverado, both with 5.3s, and both tick. It's a largeproblem with the 5-3s. The '17 is so faint, I don't bother, but the avalanche seemed to get louder over 2 years, 1st only with the engine cold, then warm, then constant. I found out that exhaust manifold holds breaking was a 5.3 issue, not having the proper seal and causing engine ticking to become more and more audible. My mechanic told me to just leave it alone because it would cause drilling out the block and machining the exhaust ports (possibly) and revealing gaskets. It's such a big problem that there is an aftermarket bracket made to secure it tighter to the block.

Gregory · February 4, 2018

Hey guys, I have an 07' Avalanche and a 17' Silverado, both with 5.3s, and both tick. It's a largeproblem with the 5-3s. The '17 is so faint, I don't bother, but the avalanche seemed to get louder over 2 years, 1st only with the engine cold, then warm, then constant. I found out that exhaust manifold holds breaking was a 5.3 issue, not having the proper seal and causing engine ticking to become more and more audible. My mechanic told me to just leave it alone because it would cause drilling out the block and machining the exhaust ports (possibly) and revealing gaskets. It's such a big problem that there is an aftermarket bracket made to secure it tighter to the block.

looksstock · February 5, 2018

16 hours ago, Gregory said:

Hey guys, I have an 07' Avalanche and a 17' Silverado, both with 5.3s, and both tick. It's a largeproblem with the 5-3s. The '17 is so faint, I don't bother, but the avalanche seemed to get louder over 2 years, 1st only with the engine cold, then warm, then constant. I found out that exhaust manifold holds breaking was a 5.3 issue, not having the proper seal and causing engine ticking to become more and more audible. My mechanic told me to just leave it alone because it would cause drilling out the block and machining the exhaust ports (possibly) and revealing gaskets. It's such a big problem that there is an aftermarket bracket made to secure it tighter to the block.

The 2nd dealer I went to confirmed that there is valve inside the exhaust that is causing the noise. A new exhaust has been ordered and it gets installed tomorrow - I'll update you after. Fingers crossed...I wish I didn't have such sensitive hearing. :-/

Josh154 · February 7, 2018

My 2018 6.2 with 2500 miles on it has had a very audible tick since day one. This is a video of mine. Mine will only tick when its been running for awhile and up to operating temp. Its louder on drivers side but can still hear a good tick from passenger side. I have had a range afm disabler on since 1,000 miles and at about 300 miles i started driving it in L7 so it wouldnt go into afm mode till the range came here. I also have had a catch can on since 1,000 miles.

Does this tick sound like your guys? I never hear any ticking under load or driving, just a very loud tick at warm idle.