Constant (lifter?) Tick

[sleblanc63]

09 Sierra, 3000 miles, 5.3L, AFM... I now have a constant, at idle, tick... Sometimes on start up it sounds like it has NO oil in it. Not a grinding noise but a (again I'll say lifter... but really have no clue) rattle.Going to take it to the dealer tomorrow. Anyone have a similar problem with this engine?

[085300]

I have heard the lifters on lots of 5.3's but never on mine, until yesterday when I picked it up from the body shop. It had been there for a few days because the insurance check was late to get here. I jump in and fire it up, it sounded like an old warn out 5.7 with 250,000 miles at first start up. It sounded like there was NO oil in it, like stated above. NOT very impressed. Please let me know what you find out from the dealer, I don't want to take it in, and they say I am just over reacting, and, "oh yeah, that's normal!" Because it really sounded terrible.

[Stevens03]

What kind of oil filter are you using?... Also are you sure it's lifters and not injector pulse at start up?

[085300]

what does that sound like?

 

I use mobile 1 with a cheap champ filter.

 

Not trying to hjack, but I was going to start a thread when I saw this.

[mkelly]

Does the tick at idle get louder when you rev the engine? If not then it is probably the injectors and not the lifters.

 

 

The startup noise is probably lifters but unless it lasts for more then a minute gm will say it is normal.

[Stevens03]

Switch the filter to a Wix or AcDelco filter and see if you get the same noise. Don't GM filters have some valve that prevents bleed off of oil?

[sleblanc63]

Some examples... 5:30 this morning, first crank, no tick. Got to work 2 1/2 hours ago. Just went out and started it ... no tick. If you stick your ear to the wheel well you care barely hear it and it is on a lope pattern. Yesterday did not go out for lunch so the truck sat for 9 hours. On start up is when it sounded like all the lifters were ticking loudly but only for a few seconds. Last night I went to storage, turned it off long enough to open the storage doors, started it back up (with the door open) and while I did not get the multiple lifter noise I got a very audible one lifter tick noise. I don't know if it increased or went away with RPM as I was in the truck with doors closed windows up at that point. Will check it out tonight.

[085300]

I dont know if the tick gets louder, because I wouldnt dare rev the motor while it was making this noise.

 

I used to use an AC filter, but the guy was telling me, ohhh Champ makes the filters for AC, it's the same filter. Anyone ever hear that? Next oil change I will try somthing different.

[Stevens03]

I like AcDelco, Wix, Napa Gold, Mobil 1, and K&N filters... all seem to be pretty good.

[sonjaab]

There only a few oil filter mfrs.

To see who makes which filters check this:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...051&fpart=1

[sleblanc63]

There only a few oil filter mfrs.

To see who makes which filters check this:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...051&fpart=1

 

 

Has this thread been hijacked or is the lifter noise coming from using the wrong filter?

[mr_bots]

It's been hijacked...a filter could explain the tick when cold, but not when it's warm and idling. I have a tick once it's warm and every once and a while when I first start it. Mobil 1 filter and oil. The tick isn't loud and is mainly heard when idling at a drive thru and bouncing off the wall. Can hear it standing next to it, but popping the hood you can't hear it, it's drowned out by all the other noise. I have over 80k left on the powertrain warranty so I'm not too worried.

[i82much]

My purge valve seems to tick intermittently. Could this be your problem? I believe it is normal.

[pm26]

I believe the lifter noise is related to the AFM lifters. Anybody with a 4.8 liter or 4.3 liter AFM-less engines has similar noise?

 

And please, no smart ass replies on this one. I am serious about this.

[sleblanc63]

I believe the lifter noise is related to the AFM lifters. Anybody with a 4.8 liter or 4.3 liter AFM-less engines has similar noise?

 

And please, no smart ass replies on this one. I am serious about this.

 

 

How so?