tapping noise from engine
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Odd noise
I've heard a lot of LSX motors and they all had piston slap, which goes away after the engine is warmed up to like 175 degrees. But your sounds are more of a tapping noise, but that could be something in the sepentine belt routing, but I doubt that as well. So it could very well be lifter, but does it every go away ? If not I'd say it's something internal. But that's just my opinion. You did a great job of catching the sound. When I start my 2003 after sitting for five months, I get a lot of strange sounds from the injectors to the very often Piston slap, I leave it run for 15 minutes and almost all the noises are gone.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
From: Arlington VA
Agree - Run this in the tech section. Certainly could be a lifer. You would be wise to go ahead and pull the valve covers off and check your rockers and valve springs. You might find your noise is coming from a broken rocker or valve spring. Good luck with it.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 623
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta Ga
Throw a can of "Top Engine Cleaner" from GM in the oil first and see if that shuts the lifter up. It's a valve job in a can. I used it all the time when I was a Chevy tech and it was a miracle worker. If you have a stuck lifter, it will free it up. You didn't state the mileage.....Piston slap is possible but not probable. Lifter replacement is a decent sized job but not too bad. Pistons on the other hand usually signals complete overhaul.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
My 2002 has 31,000 miles. when I start it, I get a tick, tick tick, but once it warms up, it goes away, and doesn't come back until the engine is cold again. I'm assuming it's a lifter as well, but, would it have to be replaced if it pumps up after warmup ??
