Rattling Valves No More

vikinghogue · July 14, 2009

I had alot of trouble with the rattling valves and GM was not very helpful one person said its the oil filter not being a ac delco or its the synthetic oil and I only need to run conventional or it cant be fixed and I will have to live with it or they will work on by putting new lifters vavles and rockers in but they doubt the rattle would go away and it will be in the shop for atleast one week and so much more and I said the hell with it and left it alone for a while, then I decided to use valvoline max life full synthetic oil since it was the same price as the regular full synthetic, so I figured it wouldnt hurt nothing and ever since then my vavles dont rattle anymore but they might just every now and then but I think I might get some bad gas. But my step dads 08 sierra had rattling valves too and I told him about the oil and he went and put the full synthetic max life in his and he dont hear his anymore more either. So if you have rattling valves try max life full synthetic oil to see if it helps your truck

Zembonez · July 14, 2009

Very possible. I've had vehicles that were sensitive to the type of oil used. Glad you got it solved. So far I have not had any valvetrain noise in mine running Mobil1.

vikinghogue · July 14, 2009

my valves have been rattling since 12 miles and now it has 20k miles on it

07SilveradoNoob · July 14, 2009

I've always put Mobile1 in mine, it rattles at startup, think it might help mine out?

Tsmith · July 14, 2009

my valves have been rattling since 12 miles and now it has 20k miles on it

so @ 12 miles it was running on the factory conventional?

03blackz71 · July 14, 2009

I might have to try this out.

vikinghogue · July 17, 2009

whatever factory oil is its ratlled with it I thought it would be a dura blend oil since thats what they want you to run or full synthetic then at 3k miles it went to valveoline full synthetic then 3 conventional oil changes because GM recomenned that the valves would stop rattling but they didnt then after that I went to max life full synthetic

Tsmith · July 17, 2009

Pretty interesting Drew. I'm making the switch to Mobil 1 5W-30 this morning at 1500 miles, so I'll see how it goes.

fcknmaw · July 17, 2009

I've been using Max Life full synthetic for a few years. You can usually find it on sale a great price. When you do, stock up big. In my old 06' the motor seemed to sound smoother when I switched.

Tsmith · July 17, 2009

Just finished changing out the factory stuff in mine with the Mobil 1 & M1-113 filter and no rattling valves. If its possible the 5.3 even sounds smoother at idle than before ...

This was the first time I've changed my own oil since parting ways with my '78 GMC in 1992. The OEM filter was very tight and lightly burnt both wrist on the exhaust but all went very well. No mess and oil splatters to cleanup from taking it to an oil change shop.

levigarrett · July 29, 2009

I know this thread is a couple of weeks old but I am reviving it.

First Hello to all, I am a newbie on this forum and to the silverado world.

Bought a 09 silverado four door 2wd, 5.3 with the six speed tranny. I like the truck so far but have that nagging valve rattle.

Couple of questions.

First the dealership was like, " boy you can hear really good, we cant hear hit." Idiots

When I am sitting still in neutral and rev it up it doesnt rattle.

Why do I get it all the time but only sometimes on start up.

Is this rattle bad for the motor?

I plan to run synthetic oil but is that the only way to fix the problem?

Do we need to come together with a class action suit?

Why wouldnt GM run Synthetic from the factory if this is a common problem?

Is the rattle from that 5-30 oil weight? Would a thinker oil just void the warranty or will it help?

I am really pissed about this and am getting a bad taste in my mouth from GM

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Zembonez · July 29, 2009

I know this thread is a couple of weeks old but I am reviving it.

First Hello to all, I am a newbie on this forum and to the silverado world.

Bought a 09 silverado four door 2wd, 5.3 with the six speed tranny. I like the truck so far but have that nagging valve rattle.

Couple of questions.

First the dealership was like, " boy you can hear really good, we cant hear hit." Idiots

When I am sitting still in neutral and rev it up it doesnt rattle.

Why do I get it all the time but only sometimes on start up.

Is this rattle bad for the motor?

I plan to run synthetic oil but is that the only way to fix the problem?

Do we need to come together with a class action suit?

Why wouldnt GM run Synthetic from the factory if this is a common problem?

Is the rattle from that 5-30 oil weight? Would a thinker oil just void the warranty or will it help?

I am really pissed about this and am getting a bad taste in my mouth from GM

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Before you go off and fall on the sword over GM... I have some questions.

Is this the first pushrod engine you have owned?

Is this valvetrain noise ONLY on cold startup?

Every GM V8 I've ever had had a little bit of valvetrain noise (and I've owned a ton of them). It's sort of a characteristic of the design. Cam in block pushrod operated valves tend to do that. Lifters can bleed down a small amount when the engine is shut down. I've noticed a lot less of this since I switched to full synthetic oil. GM isn't nearly as bad as the old Ford pushrod engines were. They were noisy hot or cold. The 4.8 / 5.3 / 6.0 family of engines are great long life engines. So good in fact, that many are well over 250,000 miles and still running strong. I've only really ever heard any valve noise on cold startup myself... and no, it isn't causing harm.

A class action suit over a noise that is inherent in an engine design (that happens to run well over 200K regularly without problem) would be idiotic.

All of this is assuming that you are experiencing the normal noises associated with this engine design. Keep in mind that we can't hear it.

mdrew · July 29, 2009

The LS based engines run hydraulic rollers. They shouldn't tap becuse the lash is pre-set with shims and not adjusted, nor should the rockers as they are roller as well and are rail mounted (which pre sets the lash). Are you sure your not hearing piston slap?

One thing I am not sure about, which may contradict what I just wrote, is just exactly how the AFM lifters work. In theory, if they need oil pressure to "pump up" and engage the active cylider valves, this could be an issue where GM needs to go back to the drawings and engineering. I have not had one of the AFM engines apart, yet. I'd be real curious to see one. Does anyone know of an on-line source showing this?

levigarrett · July 30, 2009

I know this thread is a couple of weeks old but I am reviving it.

First Hello to all, I am a newbie on this forum and to the silverado world.

Bought a 09 silverado four door 2wd, 5.3 with the six speed tranny. I like the truck so far but have that nagging valve rattle.

Couple of questions.

First the dealership was like, " boy you can hear really good, we cant hear hit." Idiots

When I am sitting still in neutral and rev it up it doesnt rattle.

Why do I get it all the time but only sometimes on start up.

Is this rattle bad for the motor?

I plan to run synthetic oil but is that the only way to fix the problem?

Do we need to come together with a class action suit?

Why wouldnt GM run Synthetic from the factory if this is a common problem?

Is the rattle from that 5-30 oil weight? Would a thinker oil just void the warranty or will it help?

I am really pissed about this and am getting a bad taste in my mouth from GM

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Before you go off and fall on the sword over GM... I have some questions.

Is this the first pushrod engine you have owned?

Is this valvetrain noise ONLY on cold startup?

Every GM V8 I've ever had had a little bit of valvetrain noise (and I've owned a ton of them). It's sort of a characteristic of the design. Cam in block pushrod operated valves tend to do that. Lifters can bleed down a small amount when the engine is shut down. I've noticed a lot less of this since I switched to full synthetic oil. GM isn't nearly as bad as the old Ford pushrod engines were. They were noisy hot or cold. The 4.8 / 5.3 / 6.0 family of engines are great long life engines. So good in fact, that many are well over 250,000 miles and still running strong. I've only really ever heard any valve noise on cold startup myself... and no, it isn't causing harm.

A class action suit over a noise that is inherent in an engine design (that happens to run well over 200K regularly without problem) would be idiotic.

All of this is assuming that you are experiencing the normal noises associated with this engine design. Keep in mind that we can't hear it.

First Pushrod engine?? NO Never had a GM: but replaced heads, valve train, cams on a Ford 302.

Valve train is not noisy on start up. One out of every 20 starts I get the rattle which doesnt last. Every time I drive I can hear it. Not at idle.

If there is an issue with the valve train in most of these motors then it would result in a recall.

I bet more of these motors have this problem but most people dont notice the noise.

Gas is not an issue. I have tried nothing but sunoco two tanks in a row. Used Shell three tanks in a row, Used Exxon two tanks in a row. Always have the noise.

I cant lie. I am very disappointed with this noise coming from my engine and frankly think this issue should not be happening to a 2009 silverado that has 6k miles.

I plan to switch to Synthetic oil asap. Dont you guys think if there is a rattle that is cant be good for the engine.

Seems like if there is a rattle that it means that the tolerances are not proper and the oil makes up for the tolerances.

IMO

Any help would be great thanks