Rocker "tap?"
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 344
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From: La Porte, TX
Rocker "tap?" Hey guys I know the LS1 is knows for the infamous "tick," but this has been bothering me for the longest time. I hear a ticking sound for the passenger side of my engine it tends to speed up as my RPMs go up. I have done plenty of research on this forum but just cant get a 100% conformation on this cause I've seen people saying it could be the oil pump or even a spun bearing... I'm just not sure, thanks in advance!
Hey guys I know the LS1 is knows for the infamous "tick," but this has been bothering me for the longest time. I hear a ticking sound for the passenger side of my engine it tends to speed up as my RPMs go up. I have done plenty of research on this forum but just cant get a 100% conformation on this cause I've seen people saying it could be the oil pump or even a spun bearing... I'm just not sure, thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: La Porte, TX
Here are two videos of it, one from a cold start up and the other is after the engine has warmed up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAo3GMdg9-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD3T62b-qZI
Any Ideas?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAo3GMdg9-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD3T62b-qZI
Any Ideas?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: La Porte, TX
My exhaust leak was on top of the header collector bouncing off the floor pan. It echoed up the floor into the engine bay. It was really bad around 2500 rpm when I was driving it. I couldn't believe it was an exhaust leak.
Your noise doesn't seem to have a high enough pitch to be a rocker. I could be wrong though. Let us know what you find out.
If your leak is bad enough you will probably be able to see soot where it's leaking or start it when it's up and jack stands and put your hand around the connections before it gets too hot.
Your noise doesn't seem to have a high enough pitch to be a rocker. I could be wrong though. Let us know what you find out.
If your leak is bad enough you will probably be able to see soot where it's leaking or start it when it's up and jack stands and put your hand around the connections before it gets too hot.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 344
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From: La Porte, TX
Check for exhaust leaks and I couldn't find any, I also check the spark plugs and they were all good too. I found out Its hard getting to the passenger side of the engine there is zero room lol
I had a crack in the pipe that comes off the headers for the EGR Valve. Never could find it until it finished cracking and fell off. Then I just took a wire fed welder and welded what was left closed.
Yes it would be something to worry about,,but I Dont think the rocker could actually hit the cover, But if it is loose, that could be the source of the noise and could cause considerable damage,, Pretty easy to just pull the cover and have a look, If you want to be certain, Pull the rockers off, and take the pushrods off, then roll them on something flat, if they roll smooth you know they are straight and not bent. Then re-install and torque the rockers to spec,, 22 ft. lbs. The only thing this will cost you is about 12 bucks for a set of valve cover gaskets, and some time,, But It will give you piece of mind...
I think if the rocker was loose enough to hit the valve cover the noise would be way worse than that and it would probably jump off the pushrod.
As Rarron said the next thing to do is pull the valve cover off. First look for any obvious problems, needle bearings laying in the head, broken spring(not that I think that's it just an example)
Turn the engine over and wiggle each rocker when it has no lift on it and see if any look/feel different. If you don't find anything start pulling the rockers off. Look at the valve tip and the end of the rocker and inspect for excessive wear.
Depending on how bent a pushrod is you might find a rocker arm that's loose.
Can you tell which cylinder the noise is coming from? I would get a stethoscope and put it on top of the valve cover and listen while the engine is running. You will hear the echo of the tick but when you get close to it it will be amplified. Doing little stuff like that and checking things will help narrow your search down instead of pulling the valve cover off and just tearing in to it. Let us know what you find.
As Rarron said the next thing to do is pull the valve cover off. First look for any obvious problems, needle bearings laying in the head, broken spring(not that I think that's it just an example)
Turn the engine over and wiggle each rocker when it has no lift on it and see if any look/feel different. If you don't find anything start pulling the rockers off. Look at the valve tip and the end of the rocker and inspect for excessive wear.
Depending on how bent a pushrod is you might find a rocker arm that's loose.
Can you tell which cylinder the noise is coming from? I would get a stethoscope and put it on top of the valve cover and listen while the engine is running. You will hear the echo of the tick but when you get close to it it will be amplified. Doing little stuff like that and checking things will help narrow your search down instead of pulling the valve cover off and just tearing in to it. Let us know what you find.
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
So i think mine is doing it as well, the other day I had low oil light and pressure..checked oil had 2.5qts wtf!!! Changed oil and still tick...there are needle bearings in my oil which some forums are saying its the rockers, i have them, just havent changed them....but also as some pages say... it could be oil pump (my oil gauge is ticking around 40)...then maybe lifters, or exhaust or i dont know!!! HELP LS1TECH YOU ALWAYS DO!!!! 
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: La Porte, TX
