Possible Piston Slap?
Possible Piston Slap? The last couple weeks, upon starting my car, the engine gets a weird tapping noise with the idle, and out the exhaust it comes out more of a thumping, like a cammed sound. After the car warms up, its fine. Is this anything I should worry about? It is rather annoying. And can it be fixed? This is a 3.8 V6 btw (I posted this question on FTV6 with just 1 or 2 suggestions as to what it may be. So still not SURE what it is or if it's serious, and able to be fixed.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Tulsa, OK
Sounds to me like you have a lifter sticking. Lifter could be bad, or it could have some varnish/gunk in it. Try running some engine oil flush through it and see if it goes away. I've seen engines go 1000's of miles with a ticking lifter. If the flush doesn't fix it, a new lifter will.
You can listen for which one it is by pulling the valve covers and using a mechanics stethoscope on the rocker arms.
You can listen for which one it is by pulling the valve covers and using a mechanics stethoscope on the rocker arms.
I put an oil treatment in it a few days ago I bought at Advance Auto Parts, I don't remember what kind it was now. It was a really thick looking substance that it just said add to your oil and was labeled oil treatment. Everything else said add with oil change n I had just changed my oil around 600 miles ago. I've noticed it as a clicking noise coming from the passenger side valve cover / heads. I also noticed that if I slam on the gas to WOT that the RPM wants to stop at 4K n not shift into the next gear.
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From: Tulsa, OK
Don't confuse oil additive with an engine flush, they have nothing to do with each other. You put in an oil additive, which does nothing but dilute your oil. A sticking lifter is usually caused by varnish build up inside the lifter. You need something that is capable of disolving this varnish. You can either pull the lifters and clean them mechanically, or try some real engine flush. Go to the local GM dealer and ask them for it.
None of the oil additives on the market will do this. In fact, none of the oil additives on the market do anything beneficial at all. Total waste of your money.
None of the oil additives on the market will do this. In fact, none of the oil additives on the market do anything beneficial at all. Total waste of your money.
Last edited by fleetmgr; Oct 19, 2009 at 10:08 PM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: cancun
i have a friend whit the same trouble (noise like slap and bad drive at 4000 rpm) on his 3.8 camaro ; his motor was rebuilded 2000 miles ago and the mechanic tell him about the lifters but we were think abuot tune up so we clean injectors, chance spark plugs,filters, oil, wires and the failure still there we are going to chance the lifters next week...
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K I'm sure the can will have instructions but just so I have a general idea before I go buy it. Put in the engine flush, run car 15 - 20 mins, turn car off, oil change? Also not that it matters but car just hit 100,000 miles
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From: Tulsa, OK
You've got the general idea, and no, mileage doesn't matter.
Used engine flush and done an oil change (used Penzoil 10w 30 I think). The sound has quitened but is still there so will be okay until next oil change. Just checking 2 things with you all, first off never noticed my oil pressure before but watched it after this and it is on the mark between 0 n 60 at Idle so like 30, and driving its between the mark and 60 so around 45 and at WOT it's right under 60 is this about right? Also the car use to run right under the 210 mark on temp, now its dead on 210 and every 10 minutes goes over 210 not all the way to the 3/4 mark on the temp hand but gets about 1/2 the way between it and 210 and then goes down after a couple minutes. What should I do for this? Thx for your help so far. Going to check the fans n water level tomorrow.
