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Piston Slap Or?

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Old Jan 14, 2010 | 08:23 PM
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Default Piston Slap Or?

Is there anything else under the hood that sounds like piston slap? I am 66 and wear aids. I can actually find noises very well when I turn one up. I have a noise that is more tinny than solid. It is always there summer or winter when cold. Not bad at idle in park but a lot louder when I put it in gear. I have put it on ramps at night so I could get under it in the morning while still cold. It sounds like it is coming from underneath. By the time the engine is up to 130-140 I can't hear it. Later! Frank
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Old Jan 14, 2010 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by fnsblum
Is there anything else under the hood that sounds like piston slap? I am 66 and wear aids. I can actually find noises very well when I turn one up. I have a noise that is more tinny than solid. It is always there summer or winter when cold. Not bad at idle in park but a lot louder when I put it in gear. I have put it on ramps at night so I could get under it in the morning while still cold. It sounds like it is coming from underneath. By the time the engine is up to 130-140 I can't hear it. Later! Frank
I have the same noise,and when the engine is warm it also goes away.The engine runs perfect (102,000 miles).From what I've read on several other posts this is normal. Maybe someone could shed a little light on this.
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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 08:32 AM
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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 08:50 AM
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This is pretty common. When I went to look at/drive my 2000, I almost passed on it due to the "clicking " sound when I first started it up. There were 3 other C5's at the place I bought the car from and they all did the same thing so I decided it was somewhat inherent in some LS1's. 30k and 5 years later, it still runs perfectly--my recommendation, drive it, enjoy it, and don't worry about it! Good luck, Ron

Last edited by RSchleder; Jan 15, 2010 at 09:06 AM.
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Old Jan 16, 2010 | 12:52 AM
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I hear absolutely nothing when it is idling in park/neutral. It is only noisy when I put it in gear. Later! Frank
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Old Jan 16, 2010 | 01:38 AM
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Hi Frank, hmmm I had a similar issue, with my LS1...tick tick tick but only when warmed up and neutral (6spd). Now I am not sure this applies to you, but I had a post on such a topic and many other owners have similar experience's. I went to GM and they sold me an additive by AC Delco part no.992961 it is an oil additive that did fix my ticking. You could try it and see if it helps. Good luck, Rob
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Old Jan 16, 2010 | 06:45 AM
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Present when cold, worse under slight load (putting an auto in gear)?
Sure sounds like piston slap.
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Old Jan 17, 2010 | 11:51 AM
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yup... sounds like piston slap to me. I get it too.
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Old Jan 17, 2010 | 12:37 PM
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I keep hearing all this and that about piston slap. Many of you know about my super high mileage '99 that I gave away to my son. There was and is, no knocking of any kind from it and there never was, from the bottom end. I did have a lifter(s) go bad on the top end which caused tapping sounds when starting up cold but nothing from the bottom end. I replaced all of the lifters, rockers, push rods which totally resolved the top end sounds and to this day, bottom end is still quiet at over 341k miles. I don't like piston slap and it tells me that any engine that has it, something was not built right. I had a knock from my '07 LS2 a few weeks ago when I drove it to the midwest too... didn't like it and it didn't sound good too me, nor was it acceptible. Knocking is knocking which means something's lose.

Last edited by dgrant3830; Jan 17, 2010 at 05:44 PM. Reason: edit proper mileage
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Old Jan 17, 2010 | 07:08 PM
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Well, mine has 103,800 and its time for new lifters. We replaced the pushrods as it had the wrong length in it for some reason. We put the 7.400 which are correct, that quieted the ticking down a little. Tomorrow we are pulling the top end off and replacing the lifters, I"m hoping that cures the problem. The car runs awsome and has 414 at the rear wheels, the motor work was done 6 years ago and it just time anyway to pull the heads and take a look. I'll et you know of the out come.
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