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Lifter Noise in My 1999 GMC Suburban

jakefuzzy

By jakefuzzy
in Ask A GM Technician

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jakefuzzy New Member

jakefuzzy

Posted
Posted

Hope anyone can help. I had a mechanic change the oil in my 1999 GMC Suburban 1500 (5.3L) to synthetic 5W-20 motor oil about a 8 weeks ago. One day last week I started it up in the am and had a lifter noise. After the truck warms up the noise goes completely away. I took it back to the mechanic and he checked it out and said that it could be bad lifters but he opted to drain a quart of oil out and use a quart of Marvel Mystery oil and told me to drive it. I still get the noise but it takes less time for it to go away. I'm thinking about changing the oil to a higher viscosity (10W-30) and then adding a quart of Marvel. Just wanted to get some opinions on this.

 

Could the lower viscosity synthetic oil cause the lifter noise?

 

Thanks in advance!

ryank1 Enthusiast

ryank1

Posted
Posted

More than likely you are hearing piston slap, not lifter noise. This is a common problem in these motors and as long as it goes away when warm it is nothing to worry about. The condition is gets louder as carbon builds up on the pistons with milage. A decarb process on the engine may make the noise go away for a while. I have also found that a couple of pedal to the floor runs will knock the carbon off the pistons (you'll see black smoke from the exhaust at higher rpm's, this is normal).

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Change the oil back to 5W 30, leave out one qt and replace it with a qt of Rislone. If you really do have a lifter issue and this does not quiet it down within 500 miles or so, you can get out your wrenches. Rislone is not an overhaul in a can but it is a great tool for this and I have seen it work on lifters many many times.

pwall Senior Enthusiast

pwall

Posted
Posted

My truck has a 'tick tick' when starting anytime the truck sits for an hour or so between driving.

I put the rislone stuff in, didn't help. I was thinking it might be a lifter.

Now I'm leaning towards a hiar-line crack in the exhaust manifold. Now that it has warmed up the past few days, truck is not ticking now...of course since it was in the shop today for maintenance.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

My bet is if the Rislone did not help at all, you are probably correct in saying that it is not a lifter issue. Rislone will usually at least reduce the noise if it does not stop it all together.

pwall Senior Enthusiast

pwall

Posted
Posted

Just got a call from the dealership....the 'tick tick tick' was coming from the exhaust manifold on the drivers side. A broken bolt at the rear of the manifold.

This makes me feel much better....I was concerned it might have been a lifter.

That explains why the Rislone didn't help. :confused:

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