High mileage 5.3L, loud ticking at startup
07-27-2009, 10:44 AM
#1
High mileage 5.3L, loud ticking at startup Hey guys,
I've got an '00 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (LM7). It is about to hit 150k miles. It runs just fine, however on cold startups there is a pretty decently loud tick coming from the engine, for the first 20-30 seconds. Then it goes away suddenly (doesn't fade out, just disappears). Any solution or worries regarding this? I'm guessing it might be lifter tick, is there any danger to running the truck like this? Should I pull the heads and replace the lifters? I'd hate to do that with so many miles on the truck, but if I have to I will
Dope
I've got an '00 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (LM7). It is about to hit 150k miles. It runs just fine, however on cold startups there is a pretty decently loud tick coming from the engine, for the first 20-30 seconds. Then it goes away suddenly (doesn't fade out, just disappears). Any solution or worries regarding this? I'm guessing it might be lifter tick, is there any danger to running the truck like this? Should I pull the heads and replace the lifters? I'd hate to do that with so many miles on the truck, but if I have to I will
Dope
07-27-2009, 11:19 AM
#2
The one I picked up for my swap truck does the same thing and with 5,000 miles on it so far and it's still running good. Mine appears to be piston slap
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WHIPPLE Superchargers, Procharger, Magnuson, Powerbond Sale, HPTuners packages!, Trickflow, AFR, PRC, CHE Trunion upgrade, $100 7.400" pushrod set, Custom Cam of your choice
07-29-2009, 10:17 PM
#3
Lifter tick is due to lifter bleed down and a better oil usually wont cure it but may lessen it. Piston slap can be alleviated by synthetic oil as my friend discovered. I think the superior film strength of synthetic oil allows it to cling to the piston bores lessening the rocking of the piston when cold. Once the piston has expanded from the heat of combustion, the slapping/knocking subsides.
) it would be noisy at first then suddenly go away. Until a couple weeks later where it got so bad it was causing misfires. 
11-19-2020, 09:32 AM
#6
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Hey guys,
I've got an '00 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (LM7). It is about to hit 150k miles. It runs just fine, however on cold startups there is a pretty decently loud tick coming from the engine, for the first 20-30 seconds. Then it goes away suddenly (doesn't fade out, just disappears). Any solution or worries regarding this? I'm guessing it might be lifter tick, is there any danger to running the truck like this? Should I pull the heads and replace the lifters? I'd hate to do that with so many miles on the truck, but if I have to I will
Dope
I've got an '00 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (LM7). It is about to hit 150k miles. It runs just fine, however on cold startups there is a pretty decently loud tick coming from the engine, for the first 20-30 seconds. Then it goes away suddenly (doesn't fade out, just disappears). Any solution or worries regarding this? I'm guessing it might be lifter tick, is there any danger to running the truck like this? Should I pull the heads and replace the lifters? I'd hate to do that with so many miles on the truck, but if I have to I will
Dope
