Cold engine noise
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville CA
Cold engine noise
I'd like to tap into your knowledge once again.
When the engine in my car is cold, I can hear a distinct ticking sound - my dad would have called it a lifter knock - that's in synch with the RPM. The sound continues until the engine nears full operating temp. It's very noticeable if you are accelerating. Once it's at operating temperature, the sound is reduced to between barely audible and not there at all.
I mentioned this at the local Chevy dealer maintenance department, and the guy's comment was, "Yeah, that's not unusual at all. Not really anything to worry about."
What's the opinion here? Common? Not common? Have an engine diagnostic run? Panic? Relax? Have a beer ..... ??
When the engine in my car is cold, I can hear a distinct ticking sound - my dad would have called it a lifter knock - that's in synch with the RPM. The sound continues until the engine nears full operating temp. It's very noticeable if you are accelerating. Once it's at operating temperature, the sound is reduced to between barely audible and not there at all.
I mentioned this at the local Chevy dealer maintenance department, and the guy's comment was, "Yeah, that's not unusual at all. Not really anything to worry about."
What's the opinion here? Common? Not common? Have an engine diagnostic run? Panic? Relax? Have a beer ..... ??
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 294
From: West of Burlington, Ontario Canada
I'd like to tap into your knowledge once again.
When the engine in my car is cold, I can hear a distinct ticking sound - my dad would have called it a lifter knock - that's in synch with the RPM. The sound continues until the engine nears full operating temp. It's very noticeable if you are accelerating. Once it's at operating temperature, the sound is reduced to between barely audible and not there at all.
I mentioned this at the local Chevy dealer maintenance department, and the guy's comment was, "Yeah, that's not unusual at all. Not really anything to worry about."
What's the opinion here? Common? Not common? Have an engine diagnostic run? Panic? Relax? Have a beer ..... ??
When the engine in my car is cold, I can hear a distinct ticking sound - my dad would have called it a lifter knock - that's in synch with the RPM. The sound continues until the engine nears full operating temp. It's very noticeable if you are accelerating. Once it's at operating temperature, the sound is reduced to between barely audible and not there at all.
I mentioned this at the local Chevy dealer maintenance department, and the guy's comment was, "Yeah, that's not unusual at all. Not really anything to worry about."
What's the opinion here? Common? Not common? Have an engine diagnostic run? Panic? Relax? Have a beer ..... ??
Have it checked but it's probably injectors clattering. These engines have a lot of tickety ticks while idling. Those LS engine covers are insulated for a reason. Have a beer.
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
I have billet aluminum valve covers and no plastic fuel injection rail covers as well as stainless long tube headers which means I hear all the ticking and clattering valve train noise at light-off. Much quieter once oil is circulating. This is the norm for LS engines.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 825
Likes: 99
From you're description I would venture a guess that it's piston slap. Common on LSx and not much to worry about. Although my Vette is not doing it at this time with 15k on the odometer I have a Durango that started doing this at 70k. Durango now has 170k and still runs great and does not consume oil. So have a beer.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,701
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 823
Likes: 7
From: Rosewood Heights IL
It is "piston slap". LS engines have very short piston skirts, allowing the piston to "slap" in the bore before the piston expands from heat. It is most noticeable in cold weather.
It is normal, and you don't have a problem. My 4.3 S10 was so loud it sounded like a rod knock.
It is normal, and you don't have a problem. My 4.3 S10 was so loud it sounded like a rod knock.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville CA
It is "piston slap". LS engines have very short piston skirts, allowing the piston to "slap" in the bore before the piston expands from heat. It is most noticeable in cold weather.
It is normal, and you don't have a problem. My 4.3 S10 was so loud it sounded like a rod knock.
It is normal, and you don't have a problem. My 4.3 S10 was so loud it sounded like a rod knock.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,701
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Without actually hearing your car, it's hard to tell what the noise is. The LS1 in our 1998 Camaro and 2001 Corvette, both had very audible piston slap. Combined with all the other noises these engines make, it sounded like a diesel for the first few minutes after starting.
Starting in 2002, the pistons got a Teflon coating that was designed to eliminate that noise, and seems to have worked pretty well. On our LS2 and now LS3, I've noticed a lot of other noise but never any piston slap.
Either way, your engine is probably fine.
Starting in 2002, the pistons got a Teflon coating that was designed to eliminate that noise, and seems to have worked pretty well. On our LS2 and now LS3, I've noticed a lot of other noise but never any piston slap.
Either way, your engine is probably fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 825
Likes: 99
My suggestion would be to do your research on LS2 piston slap and draw your conclusion based your cars symptoms compared to the research. None of us have heard the sound so we're all just giving you ideas and opinions. Piston slap appears to be pretty common though.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
Another vote for 'piston slap'. I've owned and built many Chevy engines over the years. I'd say about half of them had some 'slap' noise. I just sold a C5 Vette that had a very noticeable 'slap', plus my Chevy pickup truck has it too.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 6
From: Hillsboro Oregon
A vote here for piston slap and/or lifter noise, at cold start-up. I've been having this concern myself with my LS3. Even dug out the owners manual to check recommended oil for cold weather (20-30 degrees). 5W-30 is all it says, and that's what I use. But really, GM should have done just a little more testing before selling us an engine that sounds like a can of marbles after 20K miles, or so... Plastic coated piston skirts? Yeah, that'll last. Where were the engineers on THAT one?! Can't let the interns do all the work, ya know.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,701
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
A vote here for piston slap and/or lifter noise, at cold start-up. I've been having this concern myself with my LS3. Even dug out the owners manual to check recommended oil for cold weather (20-30 degrees). 5W-30 is all it says, and that's what I use. But really, GM should have done just a little more testing before selling us an engine that sounds like a can of marbles after 20K miles, or so... Plastic coated piston skirts? Yeah, that'll last. Where were the engineers on THAT one?! Can't let the interns do all the work, ya know.
I don't know exactly what happens, but our 2001 had very noticeable piston slap without the coating, our 2006 and now 2009 make a fair amount of other noise at idle but none of it sounds like piston slap to me.
Either way, there are now a lot of 1997-2001 LS1 engines on the street with very high mileage; GM claimed the slap was not a "durability" problem but a "pleasability" problem, and it seems they were correct.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,327
Likes: 44
From: Sacramento CA
Abel Chevrolet
Take it down to Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista. Give Rich (RichieRichZ06) a call. They have some best Vette mechanics there and treat you very fair.
Rich is also a member of Vaca Valley Corvettes.. and forum sponsor.
http://www.abelgm.com/?cs:pro=cgt2&c...eName=HomePage
Rich is also a member of Vaca Valley Corvettes.. and forum sponsor.
http://www.abelgm.com/?cs:pro=cgt2&c...eName=HomePage
Navigator
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: Meridian, Idaho
Just a quick "thanks" to the comments here. Just acquired 2003 Vin 133178 last week. Like a new "baby", I'm awakened by every sound. Only 35K and I have all the service records. Never driven hard. Quiets down when oil get above 175.
Any thoughts about "extended" or "high mileage" M1? Think I read something about a higher zinc content in high mileage. Is that a good thing. Or, as someone suggest, "settle down, have a beer". Exactly what I'm doing.
Any thoughts about "extended" or "high mileage" M1? Think I read something about a higher zinc content in high mileage. Is that a good thing. Or, as someone suggest, "settle down, have a beer". Exactly what I'm doing.