engine ticks for ~30 seconds
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,803
Likes: 205
From: Hillsboro OR
engine ticks for ~30 seconds
My car is an 03 Coupe. This is not piston slap or a cold start issue. Other than this issue, the motor runs strong and flawlessly. This only happens when the car has been ran to full operational temp. Then restarted after it has been shut off and allowed to sit at least 10 - 15 minutes. As soon as it is restarted, a very distint ticking/light clacking sound starts that varies with RPM. It only last for about 30 seconds at idle, or shorter, if I slightly elevate the idle RPM's to ~700 - 800.
The necessary 10 - 15 minute waiting period suggests to me that something is bleeding down (lifter?) or cooling down enough to "start sticking" (injector?) during that time. Could the fuel pressure take that long to ramp up? It pretty much has me stumped.
Thoughts anyone? I would appreciate any suggestions.
The necessary 10 - 15 minute waiting period suggests to me that something is bleeding down (lifter?) or cooling down enough to "start sticking" (injector?) during that time. Could the fuel pressure take that long to ramp up? It pretty much has me stumped.
Thoughts anyone? I would appreciate any suggestions.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Both responses are good questions...oil pressure and miles on it. Lifters bleeding down when cold is usually something that happens after a full cool down such as over night and so on, depending on the ambient temperature. Question: is the lifter noise getting longer and longer since you first heard it happening? Oil changes being done normally?
My story was my '99 at 274K miles, I finally wore out 1 or 2 of the lifters. Bleeding down when cold. Lifter noise at first would happen for seconds and go away and slowly over time, took longer and longer to go away. Eventually after a couple of months, it wouldn't go away till the analog water temp would start to rise. Finally, one night, it got real loud. I took down the top end and replaced all of the lifters, rockers, pushrods, springs, seals and etc.. No more noise.
My story was my '99 at 274K miles, I finally wore out 1 or 2 of the lifters. Bleeding down when cold. Lifter noise at first would happen for seconds and go away and slowly over time, took longer and longer to go away. Eventually after a couple of months, it wouldn't go away till the analog water temp would start to rise. Finally, one night, it got real loud. I took down the top end and replaced all of the lifters, rockers, pushrods, springs, seals and etc.. No more noise.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
This same thing used to happen to my low mile '02 LS1.
After countless time on ls1tech asking around, it came down to this fix:
It's your 5w30 Mobil1 oil. It gets thin like water after the oil get up to full temp. I put 10w30 Mobil and the mysterious 30 second lifter tap was gone instantly.
Ever since then I've always used the thicker grade.
After countless time on ls1tech asking around, it came down to this fix:
It's your 5w30 Mobil1 oil. It gets thin like water after the oil get up to full temp. I put 10w30 Mobil and the mysterious 30 second lifter tap was gone instantly.
Ever since then I've always used the thicker grade.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 873
Likes: 1
From: NYC & FL
Both responses are good questions...oil pressure and miles on it. Lifters bleeding down when cold is usually something that happens after a full cool down such as over night and so on, depending on the ambient temperature. Question: is the lifter noise getting longer and longer since you first heard it happening? Oil changes being done normally?
My story was my '99 at 274K miles, I finally wore out 1 or 2 of the lifters. Bleeding down when cold. Lifter noise at first would happen for seconds and go away and slowly over time, took longer and longer to go away. Eventually after a couple of months, it wouldn't go away till the analog water temp would start to rise. Finally, one night, it got real loud. I took down the top end and replaced all of the lifters, rockers, pushrods, springs, seals and etc.. No more noise.
My story was my '99 at 274K miles, I finally wore out 1 or 2 of the lifters. Bleeding down when cold. Lifter noise at first would happen for seconds and go away and slowly over time, took longer and longer to go away. Eventually after a couple of months, it wouldn't go away till the analog water temp would start to rise. Finally, one night, it got real loud. I took down the top end and replaced all of the lifters, rockers, pushrods, springs, seals and etc.. No more noise.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,803
Likes: 205
From: Hillsboro OR
Oil pressure is at least 30 - 35 psi at the time it happens
It is just starting to turn 40,000 mi.
This sounds like a possible winner. Thanks I will try that too.
I also read in the GM Service Manual last night that it could possibly be the Oil Bypass valve (it's in the area that the oil filter is screwed into). I must admit that I have no idea what it does or never heard of one of those needing to be replaced.
Thank you for the responses guys. Keep them coming if ya got more ideas.
It is just starting to turn 40,000 mi.
This same thing used to happen to my low mile '02 LS1.
After countless time on ls1tech asking around, it came down to this fix:
It's your 5w30 Mobil1 oil. It gets thin like water after the oil get up to full temp. I put 10w30 Mobil and the mysterious 30 second lifter tap was gone instantly.
Ever since then I've always used the thicker grade.
After countless time on ls1tech asking around, it came down to this fix:
It's your 5w30 Mobil1 oil. It gets thin like water after the oil get up to full temp. I put 10w30 Mobil and the mysterious 30 second lifter tap was gone instantly.
Ever since then I've always used the thicker grade.
I also read in the GM Service Manual last night that it could possibly be the Oil Bypass valve (it's in the area that the oil filter is screwed into). I must admit that I have no idea what it does or never heard of one of those needing to be replaced.
Thank you for the responses guys.
Keep them coming if ya got more ideas.
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Team Owner
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clatter clatter clatter for 10, 20, 30 seconds or so depending on how long it's been parked. I've also read about a lot of guys having the same noise on the GTO and LSX boards and successfully addressing it with a thicker oil. I'm running M1 5w-30, but I'll be using Castrol 10w-40 on the next change.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 33
From: Morristown TN
I have a similar problem, mine does not make any noise but I have 0 oil pressure for about 30 seconds on restarting after it has been ran a while. I have even replaced my oil pump trying to fix the problem.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
40k miles isn't very much so its doubtful the you wore out a lifter(s). Sure, anything is possible but its unlikely. Its summer, so I would try to 10-30W oil and see if that helps otherwise I'd be looking closely the oil pressure.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
It's your 5w30 Mobil1 oil. It gets thin like water after the oil get up to full temp. I put 10w30 Mobil and the mysterious 30 second lifter tap was gone instantly.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Providence Forge Virginia
Ditto the lifter . Mechanically this should not hurt anything but is an indication of the need to pay attention if it gets worse and a cleaning with Seafoam et. al doesn't help...replace ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
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From: Longview Texas
Wait a minute....5W30 and 10W30 are the same viscosity when the engine is hot. 5W30 is thinner when the engine is cold.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Jul 29, 2009 at 10:16 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
I don't think it's that. My car does the exact same thing. I'm 99% convinced that it's the thin oil causing it because just like you, it doesn't happen (or is much more faint) from a cold start. But from a hot start clatter clatter clatter for 10, 20, 30 seconds or so depending on how long it's been parked. I've also read about a lot of guys having the same noise on the GTO and LSX boards and successfully addressing it with a thicker oil. I'm running M1 5w-30, but I'll be using Castrol 10w-40 on the next change.
clatter clatter clatter for 10, 20, 30 seconds or so depending on how long it's been parked. I've also read about a lot of guys having the same noise on the GTO and LSX boards and successfully addressing it with a thicker oil. I'm running M1 5w-30, but I'll be using Castrol 10w-40 on the next change. Smart dudes here...
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Okey dokey...
I'm not the only who have put thicker oil, -currently use Castrol 10-40 in the summer, and have no more lifter noise.
I'm not going to argue about technical data about mobil, I couldn't care less other than the fact a slightly higher set of numbers helped.
It would be nice if the original poster reports back in the future on whether it helped.
Peace out,
I'm not the only who have put thicker oil, -currently use Castrol 10-40 in the summer, and have no more lifter noise.
I'm not going to argue about technical data about mobil, I couldn't care less other than the fact a slightly higher set of numbers helped.
It would be nice if the original poster reports back in the future on whether it helped.
Peace out,