--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hello,

Can somebody please tell me where to begin and how to check out my tapping issue ,i had a shop look at it and said possible rocker arms
before i start buying stuff.if some one could tell me where to begin. it
is sometimes not as loud as other times. i have read other post but i
dont clearly understand.i have a 01 vette and low oil pressure at idle
about 15 and goes up with rpms

Thanks

 

Where are you located?

 

Ft myers Fl

 

Location? I doubt you have a problem as the LSx can be a bit of a clackity clicker. Is it a stock cam? If not, what's the lift?

 

I have no idea I bought it on a trade in from dealer. Car was one owner and the salesman said it had aftermarket cam I had it check and the guy thought it might be rockers. It has been loud before but it's louder and more noticeable at higher rpm than before. I also have lower oil pressure

 

I was just in Ft Meyers this week. Cold down there the last week or so. I would first try seafoam or Zmax product. There are many posts here about seafoaming your oil. I plan to do this soon myself.

One thing you can do is take the rail covers off, let the car idle, and take a wooden pole/stick (possible broom handle cut to 3 feet or so) and put one end on valve cover and other end to your ear. Move slowly from one end of the valve cover to the other (front to back) and see if the volume of the clicking increases over certin areas. If it does, then you will most likely have a rocker arm/valve adjustment needed on those areas where the sound level increases. You should here a fairly good increase in volume if it is the rockers arms tapping. This could also be a broken valve spring also.

If you don't seem to hear an increase in volume level over any one area, then chances are you have a stcky lifter.

Many have said that a seafoaming has helped clean a lifter and allow it to pump oil through better and can clear up the tapping. A product like Zmax may also help in quieting a sticky lifter.

Good luck

 

I don't think I'd rely on the oil pressure sender as they tend to crap out on lots of these cars. Although, the usual symptom is for the reading to peg high. I've had 3 C5's and have replaced as many senders. If you decide to replace it there are threads on here about relocating the sender so it's not such a pain to get to, which presently is under the intake manifold. Yeah, I know, what in the hey were they thinking...

You'll most likely never know about the cam unless it's removed and inspected for damage. You wouldn't think there would be lobe issues, being a roller cam and all, but a little searching on here and you'll see a few surprises. Being an aftermarket cam, I think the first you ought to do is have someone check for correct geometry from signs left on the rocker tips to make sure the right length pushrods are being used. I'm not sure how you'd know if the right springs are being used just by looking at them. An inspection of the valve tips will reveal a lot. Speed shops and lots of gear heads will know exactly what to look for. Pulling the cam out is a bit time consuming, so you might want to see if you can find the former owners to get the info you need. Wiped cam lobes will cause a loss of power, but you may not have enough experience with the car to make that judgment. Also, something as simple as not enough pre-load will cause valve clatter. Of course, if you add too much pre-load, the valves won't close completely and the power will suck. It's best to err on the loose (more noise) side. Maybe just start with inspecting the geometry, checking pre-load, then get a tune, and see what happens. Have your oil pressure checked with a mechanical gauge just to make sure.

Hopefully those folks with some 'working knowledge' will step in and give you some assistance.

 

I find the low oil pressure bothersome. Do you get the noise at idle? Has the oil pressure changed since you bought it (lower)?

 

I just asked him his location because its is alot easier to help someone with a problem like this IN PERSON. He's on the other side of the country from where I am, but there may be someone nearby who could help.
LOL

 

Thanks for all the info, i will try all that was suggested just trying to do what i can,really is appreciated.

 

Describe the tapping more. When does it happen? Warm? Cold? Only on acceleration? Constant? The 01's are prime candidate for piston slap.

 

It's at start up after it is warm. I notice now that while driving at 40 mph if I accelerate I can here it. And then at higher speeds tends to go away. Sometimes seems to run better on days

 

Are you sure you just don't have carbon build-up? Pre-detonation (pinging) is worst after the engine is warm. Try a can of "correctly applied" Seafoam and let it soak for a few hours. I was pleasntly shocked at the good things it did for my car.

 

I would seriously get the oil pressure checked out. Like has been mentioned, it's pretty common of the sender to fail, but usually they peg high. It's a little odd for it to be reading 15psi and go up with rpm. 15psi at idle is low to the point of being a little worrying. It could just be the sender going out, but better safe than sorry.

IMHO, forget the seafoam and everything else until you know the oil psi is good.