Piston Slap....again.....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
Piston Slap....again.....
My car has piston on slap when the engine is cold and lessens when the car warms up. Once the car warms up, I can still hear it some in drive and reverse. I can't really hear it much when in park. Is that still normal piston slap? or is this something more of concern?...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 2
From: Harrisburg Pa.
one thing you should always ask yourself, is this something new or has it always done this. when something changes, whether it is a noise or a feel, that's usually when you should be concerned.
i have heard of some people experiencing what you are, quieting down when warmed up but not disappearing completely. of course the norm [if you have it] is for the slap to go away when warm, but if yours has always done what it's doing now i wouldn't worry.
when you have some free time, do a forum search on piston slap. you can find stories from no slap ever to hard slap that never completely goes away and everything in between.
i have heard of some people experiencing what you are, quieting down when warmed up but not disappearing completely. of course the norm [if you have it] is for the slap to go away when warm, but if yours has always done what it's doing now i wouldn't worry.
when you have some free time, do a forum search on piston slap. you can find stories from no slap ever to hard slap that never completely goes away and everything in between.
Last edited by dklowrider; Sep 24, 2011 at 08:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Do not BOOST your Vette or you will toast the ring!
How many miles you have on it? - try a heavier weight oil and see if it quiets down some, perhaps it is a bearing.
Thanks,Matt
How many miles you have on it? - try a heavier weight oil and see if it quiets down some, perhaps it is a bearing.
Thanks,Matt
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 2
From: Harrisburg Pa.
mine actually hasn't done it all summer. i switched to pennzoil platinum last oil change so i'm curious to see if it comes back once the temps turn cold.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
My car (2004 Coupe) has had some since I bought it. It goes away when warm, so long as I'm using the stock 190* thermostat. I tried using a 160* thermostat, but there was still a little noticeable slap, so I went back to the 190* stat. My LS1 really needs to be at about 200 degrees for the slap to be gone.
It's a little annoying when cold, but I just take it easy until the engine warms up - which is good practice anyway.
-
It's a little annoying when cold, but I just take it easy until the engine warms up - which is good practice anyway.
-
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
Mine just never seems to go away. It gets better as the car warms up, but never goes away completely. Car has 107k on it. No codes.
The knock is not bad, but its there...
The knock is not bad, but its there...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Piston Slap cures ?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 2
From: Harrisburg Pa.
My car (2004 Coupe) has had some since I bought it. It goes away when warm, so long as I'm using the stock 190* thermostat. I tried using a 160* thermostat, but there was still a little noticeable slap, so I went back to the 190* stat. My LS1 really needs to be at about 200 degrees for the slap to be gone.
It's a little annoying when cold, but I just take it easy until the engine warms up - which is good practice anyway.
-
It's a little annoying when cold, but I just take it easy until the engine warms up - which is good practice anyway.
-
a tune with the fan temps lowered i would have thought would bring the normal operating temps down.
maybe my thinking is wrong on the thermostat.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
ok guys here is the sound on youtube. i just recorded it. like I said the car is warmed up. The sound is worse when the car is cold.
I am gonna post this in the tech section as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAjfPXVXLKQ
I am gonna post this in the tech section as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAjfPXVXLKQ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
That doesnt sound too good to me, but Im no expert. The last time I heard that sound was right before a friends motor locked up but it was a lot worse and he sucked water into the engine and thought he could just run it until the water came out....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
Not the answer I was hoping for....
I hope I'm not headed for a rebuild....
I hope I'm not headed for a rebuild....
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
i posted then withdrew, but I suppose I'll chime in
I had a similar sound, but there was more of a double tap than a single.
http://sky92x.com/midnightce/enginetick.mp3
Went away warmed up. Had it for many miles. Had the lifters replaced which solved the sound for about 500 miles, then it came back. Been a few thousand since then.
I had a similar sound, but there was more of a double tap than a single.
http://sky92x.com/midnightce/enginetick.mp3
Went away warmed up. Had it for many miles. Had the lifters replaced which solved the sound for about 500 miles, then it came back. Been a few thousand since then.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
Yours went away when warmed up. Mine gets better when warm, but still there when the car is in gear. You can't hear it too much when the car is in park. Its been there for awhile, but only now after reading about all this piston slap, Im starting to get nervous since it never completely goes away. if its a lifter issue, i guess that would be better than needing a rebuild??
i posted then withdrew, but I suppose I'll chime in
I had a similar sound, but there was more of a double tap than a single.
http://sky92x.com/midnightce/enginetick.mp3
Went away warmed up. Had it for many miles. Had the lifters replaced which solved the sound for about 500 miles, then it came back. Been a few thousand since then.
I had a similar sound, but there was more of a double tap than a single.
http://sky92x.com/midnightce/enginetick.mp3
Went away warmed up. Had it for many miles. Had the lifters replaced which solved the sound for about 500 miles, then it came back. Been a few thousand since then.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Anyways that doesnt really sound like a lifter to me, I know when I had the lifters ticking on my camaro it didnt sound as solid just really loud and would go away once the car warmed up. It is hard to tell just from listening to a video though.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, Nassau County New York
this is killing me. I guess Im just hoping someone tells me its "normal"...
Ive had it for awhile. The performance is not affected. If its a piston, can that be changed without going through a rebuild?
Ive had it for awhile. The performance is not affected. If its a piston, can that be changed without going through a rebuild?
Well yours cant really be compared to his, it was just painful sitting their listening to it and of course he thought it would go away by giving it gas... I told him that wasnt the best idea but he didnt really care...
Anyways that doesnt really sound like a lifter to me, I know when I had the lifters ticking on my camaro it didnt sound as solid just really loud and would go away once the car warmed up. It is hard to tell just from listening to a video though.
Anyways that doesnt really sound like a lifter to me, I know when I had the lifters ticking on my camaro it didnt sound as solid just really loud and would go away once the car warmed up. It is hard to tell just from listening to a video though.