Ticking/lifter sounds in new 2002 2500HD

Pantera · November 25, 2001

Guys! Need help!

Got a new 2002 2500HD with the 6.0 Vortec and she is tapping and ticking on the left side. It comes and goes with morning startups and lightly continues when fully warm. Don't know if I would call it lifter noise or piston noise but it sounds like lifter. Engine only has 1,200 miles on her and I'm running Mobil 1 10w-30 with a purolator Pure 1 filter. Worried! Please help!

Quaaluder · November 25, 2001

Hey Pantera,

The following is a Service Bulletin issued by GM.....

--------------------------------------------------------

Info - Engine Knock on Cold Start #01-06-01-022

Information on Engine Knock on Cold Start

2001-2002 Chevrolet and GMC C/K Pickup and Utility Models

with 6.0L Engine (VIN U -- RPO LQ4)

Some of the above vehicles may exhibit an engine knock noise that begins in the first several thousand miles/kilometers of use. The knock noise is most often noticed during initial start-up and typically disappears as the engine warms up. The noise is usually more noticeable on the initial start-up when the temperature is below 10°C (50°F) or if the vehicle has not been used for several days.

This noise may be caused by an interaction between the piston and the cylinder wall. GM Powertrain Engineering, and an analysis of engines returned with this condition, has confirmed that the noise is not detrimental to the performance, reliability or durability of the engine. The noise does not have any effect on the longevity of any of the engine components.

Important

At this time, replacing the engine assembly or pistons will not eliminate this noise.

---------------------------------------------------------

Ben

'02 2500HD 6.0 Ext. Cab LWB 4x4 4.10 Lock Diff. Victory Red

'02 2500HD 6.0 Ext. Cab LWB 4x4 4.10 Lock Diff. Indigo Blue

sonjaab · November 25, 2001

Pantera, I have a 01 6.0 I have the cold start knock.

Dealer is giving me the same old song and dance as

many others. But it does go away after a couple of

minutes. My 97 did the same so it don't bother me

cuz its documented.

But mine does have what i thought was a lifter tick.

I thought these trucks have roller cam and lifters. ??

Mechanic at dealer whipped out a stethoscope and

let me use it......Lifter tick was fuel running thru

fuel rails and injectors !!!!.....Just be sure to have

anything documented on a GM repair order just in

case u have problems down the road.............Geo

Pantera · November 26, 2001

I will take it in this week! This is driving me Crazy!!

Do any of you guys have the hessitation in the 1100-1800 RPM Range????

I have it all the time and I wonder if it's a computer programming that needs an update like they offer at times.

I have the manual trans so I can feel it very easily. Try it and get back to me on this. I have the 2002 2500HD with the 6.0 Vortec.

Talk later!

Pantera :angry:

jimbello · November 26, 2001

Hey Pantera!!!!

You might be hearing the noisy injectors that the guys on the other board were talking about a year ago.

Hows that new trans doin????

Pantera · November 27, 2001

Jimbello! New Trans is awesome! Now check this out!!!

Went out to Discount Automotive tonight and picked up a stethascope and tried to pinpoint this sound, the ticking and tapping. To my amazement it seems that it is the freak'n fuel lines that run paralellel to the intake manifold. Through the stethescope I heard them tapping more than the heads or exhaust manifolds. I don't know how they could actually make such a noise so loud but the heads and exhaust manifolds were vertually noiseless except fot the valves that I thought I could hear making their sounds. Is this possibly the case. I will try it in the morning when she is cooler and try to pinpoint the sounds then when they are usually louder.

What do you guys think?

Pantera

???

Shaners · November 27, 2001

It's very possible that it is the injectors. I've heard them before when they "snap" like when you drag you're feet on the carpet and then get a static shock.

I wonder if wrapping the fuel rails with something would help eliminate the problem. Did it seem too hot there to put some "pipe foam" on them???

sonjaab · November 27, 2001

Pantera>.........See I told ya...that stethoscope

did the trick for me too. Now the cold start

knock is different....About the surging you

describe...my 6.0 did it for the first 2000

miles or so.....Now at almost 6000 miles it

seems to have disappeared.............Geo

4x4man · November 27, 2001

Interesting.....

I had a buddy listen to my cold start knock a couple of days ago and he said it sounded like the poppets in the fuel injectors. He works on diesel engines for a living so I trust him, but thought he had been sniffing a bit too much diesel that night...maybe not??!!

Maybe I will go buy a stethoscope and have a listen, this could nail the door shut and set my mind at ease with this knock on my 8.1L.

Other than that this thing has been flawless in 5,300 miles.

Bob

Pantera · November 27, 2001

The scope device runs only about $7.99 and I really suggest it. Tonight I will listen again and compare it to the other vehicles that we have that are Fuel injected. i hope this is the problem and I bet this is. If so there is no problem at all and I can get on with enjoying the best God-.... truck made!

CHEVY!!!!!!!!!!!! :0

jimbello · November 28, 2001

NOT that I think i am a chevy know it all but, My experience with chevy engines over the years is that most all chevy 8cyl engines I've seen over the years have been notorious for having noisey intake manafolds. Kind of like a rythmic ticking noise that gets faster and slower with rpm's. I don't know about the feul injectors but I have read posts from guys who have said that there is a ball in the injector that moves back and forth with each pulse of the injector. The ticking noise we hear (From what the other guys have said) is that ball slapping back and forth inside the injector.

Mine has this tick, very slight but it's there. I personaly am not worrying about it but I can't speak for anyone else.

You should hear my work van. A '90 G20 Van w/350. That thing sounds like a frieght train chuggin along. She has 190,000 miles on her so I guess she's entitled to chug a little.

raventai · November 28, 2001

my 8.1 and my old 1981 280zx had the same injectors they make a deffinate tick one way to seperate tem out is that they will keep the same beat no matter rpm the noise will sound diffrent as they will be open longer (more fuel) but the same beat where as a lifter would change with rpm

if u have the mechanics stethascope with th long rod on it touch on the cap and body of the injector this is where u will hear it the most

4x4man · November 29, 2001

Well, the knock has gone away at 5,400 miles, so I won't be able to hear where it was coming from. It has been really cold here in Denver, yesterday was 8 degrees when I fired the truck up! I still may get the stethoscope anyway as there have been a few times I have needed to listen to odd noises when helping friends fix their vehicles.

If the knock comes back I'll give a listen, but 'till then the hood won't be lifted except for fluid level checks and oil changes.

By the way my 8.1L has only burned a 1/4 of a qt in 2,400 miles so either I broke the engine in correctly or I got one of the good ones that doesn't burn oil like others have reported!!

Bob

Pantera · November 29, 2001

Well, here is tha ####!

Went to the dealer today and let the service manager and the head Honcho himself listen to the truck!

"Sounds like a truck to me" Yep. That's the freak'n answer i got and then they took it for a diagnostics run with the portable computer and they told me that the reading were just right!

OK! Now I'm starting to think I'm crazy or somebody needs a gook butt-kick'n! I know what I hear and I'm not gonna stop until I get an answer from some qualified mechanic who knows the Vortec 6.0. Any ideas guys?????????? I going outta my mind! They apparently did not want me to go around back when the mechanic was checking it out. I understand but at the same time i would like to know what I'm hearing and if it's really a problem or if this is an engine that makes noise to make HP! If that;s the case then i can live with it!

pantera

SteveSierra · November 30, 2001

I know this is kind of a whacky question but, do you have a digital camera with sound or a digital camcorder where you can record this sound and post it? It could be simple like pita normal injector noises, ain't computer controlled and emissioned out the wazoo vehicles great? and you may have to sorta deal with it. Or it could be something more and the service dept techs that are looking at your truck don't know what's wrong so they're blowing it off. Afterall, it's not their truck. They don't have to hear it on their car/truck everyday like us. I definately had some strange engine noises in my 01 Z71 that the service mgr and the service tech noted, but they didn't know what was causing it so they couldn't fix it. The 6.0 in my new truck is a lil noisy(especially on cold starts, no ticking, tapping or knocking, more of a whistle/chirp sound), but I just turn up the stereo or leave the windows up and don't hear it. My new truck runs and performs hella lot better than my Z71 did so I'm pretty happy. I know that Z71 had some serious issues.

Maybe it has something to do with the iron block and aluminum heads config.

If you can post that sound, it might help us to understand better what it is.