New GM 6.2 Engine tick (see recording). Please help to find possible root cause

[Andrew7]

Hi all,

My new Tahoe 6.2 engine ticking, less than 2k km mileage.
Those who had experience with lifters, HPFP, etc, please help me to diagnose it.
I would like to understand if that is something I should be worried about or it is normal engine operation sound.

Here are some additional details for you to diagnose better:
1. There is no tick on cold start and within next 7-10 mins after start.
2. I can hear the ticking noise only on warm engine (mainly after 20 min drive). After ticking noise started on warm engine it doesn't go away unless you park the car for 5-6 hours.
3. I can hear it mainly from the front left wheel area and even more clear I can hear it from the bottom of the engine (under the driver's door)
4. The ticking noise doesn't sound like a loud knocking (like in the videos when lifter failed). It sounds much lighter than that, but at the same time it sounds much louder than injector noise.
5. The ticking noise appears mainly when idling. When you slightly press and hold the gas it disappears. But when you rev it further, it is still there but the volume of ticking noise is getting lower and it gets completely not recognisable at RPM>2000.


The potential scenarios in my mind:
1. Lifter issue (the worst)
2. High Pressure Fuel Pump issue
3. Normal lifter operation sound?
4. Normal HPFP operation sound?
4. Anything else?

Here is the recording of the ticking sound on hot engine (after 40 min drive).
Here is the recording of the cold engine sound (I can't hear any ticking noise)

Please share you thought, appreciate your support.

Edited January 18, 2023 by Andrew7
updates

[BigBadSierra]

High pressure fuel injectors...  I've had 5 direct injected engines in vehicles they all made the same sound.

[reeseb]

It does not sound like an engine tick. The sound is too shallow. 

[Black02Silverado]

Sounds like the same thing as mine, which I would think is the injectors.

[Andrew7]

Hi @BigBadSierra, @reeseb, @Black02Silverado,  thank you so much for feedback.

Correct me if I am wrong -  If this was one noisy injector, then I should hear it louder from the top of the engine, not from the bottom. But in my case I cannot hear any noise coming from the top of the engine and majority of the noise is under the engine.

 

What you think?

 

THanks

[Black02Silverado]

11 hours ago, Andrew7 said:

Hi @BigBadSierra, @reeseb, @Black02Silverado,  thank you so much for feedback.

Correct me if I am wrong -  If this was one noisy injector, then I should hear it louder from the top of the engine, not from the bottom. But in my case I cannot hear any noise coming from the top of the engine and majority of the noise is under the engine.

 

What you think?

 

THanks

To me it is the acoustics of the engine bay area and how the sound is transferred down. That is how I see it anyway.

[customboss]

If you are worried about the sound potentially causing or revealing problems procure a oil sample from our great site sponsor who is too low key marketing his great products IMHO. 

 

Nick or @Black02Silverado and get that ISO CERTIFIED OIL ANALYSIS he offers.  If the sound is causing wear or damage or over-fueling etc it will be revealed. 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by customboss
proper handle for Nick

[the wanderer]

That's not injector tick IMHO. Sounds like the beginning of lifter failure, same sound as hemi tick.

 

Injector tick typically is higher pitched and less prominent. Lifter tick is usually noticed on a hot idle.

 

I'd bring it in to the dealer, at the least get it documented.

[garyo]

Something else to check. Watching some ytube videos from WrenchingwithKenny, He's seen a few of these and it turned out to be a plug wire came loose. Kenny goes on to explain, and it makes sense to me, is that the fit of the boot on the coil is so air tight that if too much air is trapped in there when putting the wire on that when it goes through the heat/cool cycle that the air expands and slowly pushes the boot off. just an idea.

 

good luck

[lmentzel]

Could it be related to the active exhaust system?  I just test drove a 2024 with 6.2.  The truck is exactly what I want.  Test drove it and it ran great, jumped out while engine was hot.  Exhaust was making a low woomp woomp woomp sound and TAP TAP TAP at drivers wheel.  Sounded exactly like your clip.  I thought lifter/s for sure but it may be related to the exhaust system.  I made salesman go get an identical but blue version.  After short drive no sound.   I’m stuck as I was ready to write the $80k check.  But damn now what?

[Rick Crockett]

Mine is a high pitched ticking noise that I originally heard when the engine was cold. Now I hear it all of the time.  One dealer said that it was lifters.  I have it at another dealer to get a second opinion.

 

2019 Sierra AT4 6.2

[Brian Quattlander]

Just picked up from dealership and they said on Day 1 they could not duplicate the sound (This is after telling them, in person, with a video) with the details - Cold start nothing - 3-7 minutes noise - 20 minutes later all gone - Had to call out the service writer and the mechanic whose response was "Oh it didn't do that yesterday" UGH - they have no clue and wanted to throw parts at it with a wild witch hunt and no clue as to when it would be done (Did I mention the first day they had it, not a call, text or email with updates) - anyway - beware my friends and I am off to the next dealership (still in warranty) after that it's off for cams, DOD delete and tuned out of system - enjoy the video (Still find it hard to understand they could not duplicate the sound since it has been going on for some time).

 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by Brian Quattlander

[Likarok]

Yesterday I was at a GM dealer in Calgary Alberta. Mechanic was driving around the lot in a new Cadillac Escalade test driving it I guess. It was ticking really bad as well. Glad it was not my $150,000 vehicle.  

 

I am really starting to have a lack of confidence in General Motors!