Noisy LS motors
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
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From: Virginia
Noisy LS motors
I know diagnosing engine noises is very difficult from a video and that LS motors are noisy but based on this video would what you do? I have new LS7 lifters laying around as well as a CHE trunnion kit that I was going to have installed. I was thinking this sounded like lifter tick but I’m now wondering if it could be a slightly bent valve or pushrod. No codes, no noticeable misfires and runs fine. I’m having the trunnions installed but what do you guys think about doing the lifters also? I know the heads have to be pulled and believe me I’ve listened many times with a stethoscope as well as pulled the valve cover a couple times. To me it doesn’t sound like a bad lifter but if a lifter wasn’t working properly I guess it could produce this tick?! This is driving me nuts and I’ve prob posted more than I should about it but I wanna be able to drive the car hard and not worry about it. Hoping someone that’s had the same noise and resolved it will see this. Thanks guys
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
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From: Virginia
It does sound like a pushrod is too short but the motor is bone stock so you wouldn’t think that would be the case. That’s kinda why I was thinking a slightly bent pushrod possibly
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Tollesboro Kentucky
Since you are going to have the rocker arms off I would check and/or replace the pushrods at the same time.Not very expensive for a set.I have a set that came out of mine with about 20k miles on them you could have if you wanted them.My question would be if one is bent,why did it bend??
Last edited by jamieo; Mar 20, 2021 at 03:51 PM.
Melting Slicks
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From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Noise
Since you are going to have the rocker arms off I would check and/or replace the pushrods at the same time.Not very exspensive for a set.I have a set that came out of mine with about 20k miles on them you could have if you wanted them.My question would be if one is bent,why did it bend??
Last edited by 2008 Corvette; Mar 20, 2021 at 10:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Since you are going to have the rocker arms off I would check and/or replace the pushrods at the same time.Not very exspensive for a set.I have a set that came out of mine with about 20k miles on them you could have if you wanted them.My question would be if one is bent,why did it bend??
I def haven’t bounced it off the rev limiter but a previous owner may have.... To me it doesn’t sound lifter related but I guess if a lifter wasn’t working properly it could cause that top end ticking. But I thought it sounded similar to a very slightly bent pushrod or slightly bent valve also.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Virginia
Race Director
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From: CONCORD NC
Quick job to remove the rocker cover, just jump in and inspect everything. Probably not the case, but a friend had a broken spark plug and it made an crazy mechanical ticking noise that still is baffling.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Virginia
Good advice. That was the first thing I did, everything checked out. Only thing I didn’t do was turn the motor over and check for slop in each rocker... didn’t have the right size wrench
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Virginia
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Try a video of different rpm levels. Like 1500 2000 2500 etc. Im curious if the noise gets louder or less noticeable with rpm and temp.
You could also disconnect each injector while idling to narrow down things a bit to each cylinder. Have an LS2 in an SUV which has a bit of piston slap or a wrist pin I was able to track down to exact cylinder using that method. Gets quieter once hot and above 1700rpm is gone. Drove me nuts.
You could also disconnect each injector while idling to narrow down things a bit to each cylinder. Have an LS2 in an SUV which has a bit of piston slap or a wrist pin I was able to track down to exact cylinder using that method. Gets quieter once hot and above 1700rpm is gone. Drove me nuts.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
Try a video of different rpm levels. Like 1500 2000 2500 etc. Im curious if the noise gets louder or less noticeable with rpm and temp.
You could also disconnect each injector while idling to narrow down things a bit to each cylinder. Have an LS2 in an SUV which has a bit of piston slap or a wrist pin I was able to track down to exact cylinder using that method. Gets quieter once hot and above 1700rpm is gone. Drove me nuts.
You could also disconnect each injector while idling to narrow down things a bit to each cylinder. Have an LS2 in an SUV which has a bit of piston slap or a wrist pin I was able to track down to exact cylinder using that method. Gets quieter once hot and above 1700rpm is gone. Drove me nuts.
the noise only shows up when the oil temp gets pretty high. The motor is still noisy when driving at low temps but as far as the ticking at idle it’s only when oil temps are over 200 .
here are some light revs. Same sound on both sides.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Fallbrook SanDiego county
[QUOTE=bwill03z;1603182647]Yeah good idea on disconnecting the injectors.
the noise only shows up when the oil temp gets pretty high. The motor is still noisy when driving at low temps but as far as the ticking at idle it’s only when oil temps are over 200 .
here are some light revs. Same sound on both sides.
This makes me think you have lifters that are bleeding down! How many miles on your current build & what does the oil press drop to when above 210*
the noise only shows up when the oil temp gets pretty high. The motor is still noisy when driving at low temps but as far as the ticking at idle it’s only when oil temps are over 200 .
here are some light revs. Same sound on both sides.
This makes me think you have lifters that are bleeding down! How many miles on your current build & what does the oil press drop to when above 210*
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
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From: Virginia
[QUOTE=grpweld;1603183009]
Well I have brand new LS7 lifters sitting in the garage so they may be going in.
45k miles on the car, the motor is bone stock. Oil pressure at idle above 210 is about 25psi and around 40psi cruising
Yeah good idea on disconnecting the injectors.
the noise only shows up when the oil temp gets pretty high. The motor is still noisy when driving at low temps but as far as the ticking at idle it’s only when oil temps are over 200 .
here are some light revs. Same sound on both sides.
This makes me think you have lifters that are bleeding down! How many miles on your current build & what does the oil press drop to when above 210*
the noise only shows up when the oil temp gets pretty high. The motor is still noisy when driving at low temps but as far as the ticking at idle it’s only when oil temps are over 200 .
here are some light revs. Same sound on both sides.
This makes me think you have lifters that are bleeding down! How many miles on your current build & what does the oil press drop to when above 210*
45k miles on the car, the motor is bone stock. Oil pressure at idle above 210 is about 25psi and around 40psi cruising
Pro
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 611
Likes: 79
From: Fallbrook SanDiego county
[QUOTE=bwill03z;1603183292]
Many experts on here will disagree but I would be concerned with the 25psi, when mine dropped below 30 and I tore it down I had some scoring on my mains.
That being said It could just be some lazy lifters, I would try some lifter additive & see if any difference is obvious. Also some have been able to quite them down by going to thicker oil, be careful though that's a whole new can of worms
I WANT TO EMPHISE THAT I"M NOT AN EXPERT!
That being said It could just be some lazy lifters, I would try some lifter additive & see if any difference is obvious. Also some have been able to quite them down by going to thicker oil, be careful though that's a whole new can of worms
I WANT TO EMPHISE THAT I"M NOT AN EXPERT!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 266
From: Virginia
[QUOTE=grpweld;1603183780]
At first I was worried about the 25psi oil pressure because my old C5 Z06 never got that low but after talking to some ppl they say it’s normal?!
could be lazy lifters. I was thinking it was lifter related because I used some marvel mystery oil in the crankcase and that helped some. I think I’m just going to swap the lifters and trunnions and cross my fingers
Many experts on here will disagree but I would be concerned with the 25psi, when mine dropped below 30 and I tore it down I had some scoring on my mains.
That being said It could just be some lazy lifters, I would try some lifter additive & see if any difference is obvious. Also some have been able to quite them down by going to thicker oil, be careful though that's a whole new can of worms
I WANT TO EMPHISE THAT I"M NOT AN EXPERT!
That being said It could just be some lazy lifters, I would try some lifter additive & see if any difference is obvious. Also some have been able to quite them down by going to thicker oil, be careful though that's a whole new can of worms
I WANT TO EMPHISE THAT I"M NOT AN EXPERT!
could be lazy lifters. I was thinking it was lifter related because I used some marvel mystery oil in the crankcase and that helped some. I think I’m just going to swap the lifters and trunnions and cross my fingers