I think I have a lemon

[firepoggy]

Well here is my first post. I stumbled across this forum yesterday while searching the net for the problem I have with my truck. I spent a while snooping around and think this is a great site. Hopefully somebody can help me out.

 

I had a 97 Sierra that I sold to a coworker to buy a Dodge. My wife has secretly hated me ever since. So I traded the Dodge in for an 05 Sierra but I may have made a mistake.

 

The 5.3 motor ticks really bad. Almost sounds like the lifters are bad. Took it back to the dealership where I got it and of course.....everythings fine. Drove it back home and noticed the same sound the following day. Took it back and was told it was the echo of the cylinders firing in the exhaust and that is normal.

 

Frustraded with the GMC dealer I scheduled an appointment with the Chevy dealer right across the interstate. They too told me the tick is normal. You have got to be fricken kidding me.

 

Some days it is loud and embarrassing and others you can hardly hear it. The truck only has 23,000 miles and sounds like it has well over 100k and the motor is shot.

 

Any suggestions or does anyone else have this "normal" tick. I have co-workers that own an 03 silverado, an 04 silverado, and an 06 sierra....none of them tick like mine does.

 

The Chevy dealer did suggest changing to a synthetic oil. The only time the tick went away was right after I had the oil changed, but that lasted a few days. Would changing to a synthetic or a heavier oil than 5w30 help?

[svensk]

Do you have a rough idle? Are you rpms bouncing around at idle? Does the engine do weird things when you jump on the throttle? Is the performance in your mind good? Try some seafoam it might be a piece of carbon stuck in there somewhere. Otherwise it sounds like a lifter. If you experience any of the above I asked you need to have it looked at though.

[ken1mod]

Believe it or not, I have heard exhaust systems that clearly produced a tick. When you listen to the warmed up motor with the hood up, do you hear the tick then? I have also heard exhaust manifold gasket failures that clearly tick. The motor should be quiet. I would definitely try a heavier oil. If this quiets the motor you have evidence that some clearance is excessive. Personally, I have always thought that the 5w30 oils are too thin for a workin' engine, but many would disagree with me on that. Aircraft engines still use straight 50 w oil that looks like honey.

 

The ticks most of us have here is a cold engine click that goes away after 30 or so seconds when the pistons warm up.

 

Ken

[carneyman]

I agree about checkin the exhaust, especially the manifold gasket. If there is a little leak there, it will tick really bad.

[sonjaab]

FIRE........What your hearing is the fuel injectors pulsing !!!!!

YUP..........Been there and done that............

 

A mechanic pal of mine whipped out a stethoscope and let me

"probe" the valve covers and intake areas. Sho nuff' the dealer

was correct and it wasn't lifter tick !

 

Sure is annoying huh? Esp. bad when your next to a wall or in a

drivethru. These new GMs use roller rockers so they are pretty

quiet but the ticking made me think too.................geo

[BRADLEY BEEF]

If it's only heard at idle.....I think it's an ongoing problem of piston slap. I run 5w 30 Synthetic oil, it seems to mellow it out a little, could just be in my head, I still dont think there is much to be done about that problem.

[ken1mod]

Betcha we hear from you when you have accumulated 120,000 miles of troublefree fun. If you are not in an icey cold climate, I would go to at least a 10-30 oil. try it, it won't cost a thing. I always thought they went to the extremely thin oils to get small increase in mpg, not for us.

 

My 00 has 120,000 miles on it and does tick for 15 seconds or so on very cold mornings, then quiets to perfection. I do not consider this a problem at all. We should judge our engines at operating temp, not when ice cold.

 

ken

[firepoggy]

I greatly appreciate the advice!!!

 

The truck does not idle rough, fuel mileage is great or at least better than Dodge. Just the annoying sound of the tick that drives me nuts. And yes, sitting next to a curb or drivethru makes it sound worse.

 

My question about synthetic oil is....according to the manual I am to use only 5w30. I have religiously used 10w30 synthetic blend in my previous pickups. Would a heavier 10w30 damage any parts in the motor and void the warranty?

 

I do live in Iowa where it gets quite cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

 

Thanks again everyone!

[asepgrad98]

try 5-30 pennzoil platinum. mobil 1 has a reputation for being a louder oil

[silveradoHO]

I greatly appreciate the advice!!!

 

The truck does not idle rough, fuel mileage is great or at least better than Dodge. Just the annoying sound of the tick that drives me nuts. And yes, sitting next to a curb or drivethru makes it sound worse.

 

My question about synthetic oil is....according to the manual I am to use only 5w30. I have religiously used 10w30 synthetic blend in my previous pickups. Would a heavier 10w30 damage any parts in the motor and void the warranty?

 

I do live in Iowa where it gets quite cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

 

Thanks again everyone!

10w30 shouldn't hurt anything. The manual on mine says you can use it if 5w30 is not available, but I run it all the time and don't have any ticking. I live in NC and it's rare that we get below freezing.

[Sierrawolf]

I use moblie 1 syntethic in my Sierra and i do not get any knocking. been runing it in the truck for over 3 years and no problems .

[67ChevyRedneck]

Did your truck come equipped with a stereo?

 

Just playin,

 

but seriously, my truck makes a tick that can be heard at idle as well, and as another has posted I used a stethoscope on the injectors, and sure enough, it's the sound of the injectors firing!

Enjoy the new ride, the Sierra's are nice trucks

[Silverado4x4]

From what you discribed it sounds like piston slap too me, my 2001 6.0 that I use to own had the piston slap it wont hurt anything as my brother inlaw had a 2002 with the piston slap and has over 120,000 miles on his and doesnt burn a drop of oil inbetween oil changes but I use to put in fuel injector cleaner carbon reducer in the tank and the slap was gone, I put a bottle in at every tank of fuel for 3 tanks and then after that at every oil change "no slap", also my sure its not your fuel injectors as I have heard many make a ticking sound but check out this web site on piston slap. pistonslap.com

[rogerf]

My question about synthetic oil is....according to the manual I am to use only 5w30. I have religiously used 10w30 synthetic blend in my previous pickups. Would a heavier 10w30 damage any parts in the motor and void the warranty?

My dealer services both my '97 C1500 4.3L and '04 Impala 3.4L with the same bulk 10W30 Valvoline oil. Live in N.E. Ohio where it gets cold, never had problems.

[redvett]

The newer engines have closer tolerences and depending on climate require a certain viscosity. Refer to your owners manual at the chart for your climate and use what is recomended weather regular or synthetic oil.