Tick/knock gone after M1 10w30

Markeaux · September 18, 2004

My 01 5.3 has had the infamous tick/knock (tock at startup (and reduced afterwards) intermittently during the last 37K miles. Last week my local quickie lube was out of Mobil1 5w30 so this time used 10w30 instead - now so far the tock has totally disappeared!

I'll repost if it comes back. [i have always used an M1 filter the past couple years and used same this time as well, so really nothing else has changed].

99silveradoz71 · September 18, 2004

Interesting, are you in a cold climate? If not, perhaps the 10 is the way to go.

rhi · September 19, 2004

I've noticed the same thing on my '96 Tahoe with 5.7. I normally run 5W-30 Mobil 1, but decided to go to 10W-30 for the summer since the mileage is getting higher (75k) and I figure the clearances are opening up a bit.

No clatter at startup. I think I'm going to stick with the 10W-30 at least through early winter (December or so) and see what happens.

Rich

Butch 02 Denali · September 19, 2004

I run 10-30 M1 year round in both my 2002 trucks, a 5.3 and a 6.0. I have since the first oil change. I've never had CSK in either truck. I live in MA and winters get pretty cold, no problems at all running the 10-30. Instant oil pressure and no noises when cold, even at sub 0 temps. Clearances are no different in the new engines than the older engines that lived on 10-30 winter and 10-40 summer. There wasn't any 5-30 available then, it was developed to increase corporate average fuel economy, and no other reason. I'd rather have my engine last longer rather than increasing my gas mileage by 1/4 mpg, and then only when cold. Once the oil warms up, it's all 30 anyway!

kjjz28 · September 20, 2004

I'm glad you mentioned that "tock/knocking" noise at startup. I had an '00 Suburban with the 5.3 and it did that at startup everytime. I can't recall which oil wt I used (we only kept the vehicle about 1 yr-sold in '02) but I was always nervous that I was going to have major problems down the road.

Now I'm looking at an '00 and '01 K1500 with the 5.3 and have the same worries about the knock at startup and if it is the same problem on an '01 or '02 5.3 engine.

Keep us posted. Thanks!

Markeaux · September 20, 2004

Still no tock, man this is great .... I'm in central TX so can probably run 10w30 year-round, definitely going to stay with it for a while.

Markeaux · September 28, 2004

STILL no knock AT ALL ... very curious how just switching from 5w30 to 10w30 fixed it, curious indeed

slimjim2525 · September 28, 2004

STILL no knock AT ALL ... very curious how just switching from 5w30 to 10w30 fixed it, curious indeed

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Because when the oil is cold, the 10w is thicker and less likely to drain out of the motor.

Markeaux · September 28, 2004

OK I should clarify: before, the knock never went away, but just became softer - now it never appears

sub5 · October 25, 2004

I live in Canada just up from Champlain New York and I use M1 10W30 year round. Last winter I started my Sub at -32F, a little slower but still ok for cold winters. The rest of the winter it's normal to have 0F to -5F in the mornings for 3 months. And same with me last year the knocking noise at start up is gone with M1. My truck has 122k miles and passed 1/2qt last 15k miles. Won't loose sleep over it.

John