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Intermittent engine tick tap

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Old Nov 2, 2019 | 12:12 PM
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LopeyZ's Avatar
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Default Intermittent engine tick tap

I own a 2002 WS6 6 spd with 90k miles. Mostly stock this time around but I have quit a bit of experience working on and modding cars but this is my first LS1. I don't drive the car much but noticed the last few times I had it out, there is a very noticeable tick. But what's strange is that it's only there when the engine is hot and it's not constant. Yesterday I was making a 20 mile trip but about half way there the tick started. I was stuck in traffic at that point so I sat there listening to it for maybe 1 min till I could pull off the road and see if I could locate the noise. It was gone. Drove rest of the way and it stayed gone. Drove home and again it started up while cruising and then it went away while I was still cruising. Oil pressure was normal the entire time but this sounds like a lifter issue to me. Like its not pumping up intermittently. Thoughts?

This is not an exhaust leak. This is an engine noise that matches the rpm.
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Old Nov 2, 2019 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by LopeyZ
I own a 2002 WS6 6 spd with 90k miles. Mostly stock this time around but I have quit a bit of experience working on and modding cars but this is my first LS1. I don't drive the car much but noticed the last few times I had it out, there is a very noticeable tick. But what's strange is that it's only there when the engine is hot and it's not constant. Yesterday I was making a 20 mile trip but about half way there the tick started. I was stuck in traffic at that point so I sat there listening to it for maybe 1 min till I could pull off the road and see if I could locate the noise. It was gone. Drove rest of the way and it stayed gone. Drove home and again it started up while cruising and then it went away while I was still cruising. Oil pressure was normal the entire time but this sounds like a lifter issue to me. Like its not pumping up intermittently. Thoughts?

This is not an exhaust leak. This is an engine noise that matches the rpm.
I dont want to say lifter because it seems too easy, but an intermittent tick when hot in a mostly stock 2002 LS1 in a Firebird? I would not be surprised if its a collapsed lifter spring where it cant assist the pump-up and starts to lose its preload.

Also, this is a 400 tick metronome:


Is it that sort of RPM or is it twice that fast at idle? This is a way to determine if its camshaft speed or crank speed.

Don't let it fester if you like that engine.
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Old Nov 2, 2019 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Kawboom
I dont want to say lifter because it seems too easy, but an intermittent tick when hot in a mostly stock 2002 LS1 in a Firebird? I would not be surprised if its a collapsed lifter spring where it cant assist the pump-up and starts to lose its preload.

Also, this is a 400 tick metronome:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt69D9qen5o

Is it that sort of RPM or is it twice that fast at idle? This is a way to determine if its camshaft speed or crank speed.

Don't let it fester if you like that engine.
I'd say it's the same frequency or rate as an exhaust leak which makes me think it's certainly valvetrain related. Sounds like a loose rocker but then it goes away. I've heard plenty of loose rockers on modified cars over the years. This sounds exactly like a loose rocker.
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