Piston Slap? Do You Have It?

okfllying · March 5, 2008

2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 V6 4.3L 43000 MILES

Well about 1 1/2 months ago all of a sudden one day my truck starting making this really loud sound. Kinda sounded like a Mack Truck.

As soon as i heard the sound i thought that i had broken something, a lifter or a rod. But after 4-5 min it would all of a sudden go away. Some days it lasts only a couple of seconds other days i last for minutes, or until i start driving it for a couple of minuets.(i also noted that while i was experiencing this noise, my oil pressure would be pegged to the top and after the sound went away, the oil pressure would return to normal) On top of this about 1 week ago, within 2-3 day time period, I lost 1 1/2 gallons of radiator fluid! i checked the trucks for any leaks and found non. I had never had any problems with this, So i assumed the worst, that it is leaking water in to the engine. So i dumped a little oil out of the pan and found non. Where did the water go?

Anyways I just took my truck to the dealer ship over this, the gm guy heard the engine knocking sound and said it might be piston slap. Well they are going to keep it over night and they are going to check it out, ill keep ya ll posted on what happens.

*****VIDEO CLIP OF THE ENGINE NOISE BELOW*****

pwall · March 5, 2008

Hmmm......sounds like piston slap.

My truck has had it for several years now, doesn't seem to affect anything (I hope).

but I don't hear it at idle, only under load and usually only for the first minute or so.

I use an auto-starter to start up the truck just before I go out. Then I can get in and drive and not worry.

Cool Zr2 · March 5, 2008

I have to say, when most prople mention they have piston slap I used to laugh because usually it is a minor tick for a handfull of seconds. But yours is LOUD, that sounds like crap. I'd pull it and put in a 6.0 LQ9.........

okfllying · March 5, 2008

****UPDATE****

Well the Gm guy told me I have a INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, and that the radiator coolant was mixing in with the LIFTERS. That is why it was making that taping sound. States they are going to replace the Intake Gasket and Replace the lifters.

Hopefully this will resolve this issue.

Z71Adrenaline · March 5, 2008

My 01 had the piston slap, but I'd definitely agree that yours is much louder than mine. I hated that noise.. made me feel like I was driving a piece of junk.. when in reality I had a very nice truck. I just made sure to let it warm up and stop before I moved it.

Hidebinder · March 5, 2008

Yeah, I have it on my '01 5.7 Silverado when I first start it up. My understanding was that this is fairly common for certain year trucks. Wasn't there a lawsuit or something filed against GM for this????

okfllying · March 5, 2008

Yeah, I have it on my '01 5.7 Silverado when I first start it up. My understanding was that this is fairly common for certain year trucks. Wasn't there a lawsuit or something filed against GM for this????

YES THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL. EITHER THEY FIX THE ISSUE, GIVE YOU EXTENDED WARR, INSTALL A NEW RE CERTIFIED ENGINE, OR BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. SUPPOSABLE A TRUCK WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE LOOSED ITS TRADE-IN VALUE, OR SOME PLACES WONT EVEN TRADE IT IN IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE THIS ISSUE.

www.pistonslap.com