Engine Noise Question
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 1
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Engine Noise Question
My engine makes a rapid ticking noise. It is especially noticeable at low speeds and in Z-Mode. My Corvette Specialist service tech said "it's normal" and that all C8's have the same noise. I'm not satisfied with his response. Considering he said "all C8's have the same noise" I wanted to get some feedback from this group. Are you experiencing the same? Thank you
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
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From: Fulshear, TX
Yup, these engines have noisy valvetrains; similar with the C7's LT1. Especially as V4 mode activates & deactivates.
I had my C7 for 7 years & 56k miles; the C8 LT2 sounds exactly the same in terms of valvetrain & DI injector noise.
I had my C7 for 7 years & 56k miles; the C8 LT2 sounds exactly the same in terms of valvetrain & DI injector noise.
Last edited by Kracka; Sep 12, 2021 at 10:14 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,160
Likes: 686
From: SUFFIELD CONNECTICUT
I would have to hear what your hearing, I hear nothing unusual and I hear everything. What your hearing while driving should not be, what you hear with the engine running , while you listen with the rear hatch open is a different thing. You may hear a injector tick or what sounds like a little rocker arm chatter, or a fuel pump tick, should not be audible while driving. I have had 2 C7's, and also have a 2021 camaro LT1, no unusual engine sounds while driving.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Garden Valley CA
The engine does have a ticking noise from the direct injection and this is normal.
Having said that, my C7 had a rattling noise. I brought it to the dealer and was told that the noise was normal. The "normal" noise progressively got worse. Turned out the belt tensioner was bad.
Having said that, my C7 had a rattling noise. I brought it to the dealer and was told that the noise was normal. The "normal" noise progressively got worse. Turned out the belt tensioner was bad.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,099
From: Fulshear, TX
The engine does have a ticking noise from the direct injection and this is normal.
Having said that, my C7 had a rattling noise. I brought it to the dealer and was told that the noise was normal. The "normal" noise progressively got worse. Turned out the belt tensioner was bad.
Having said that, my C7 had a rattling noise. I brought it to the dealer and was told that the noise was normal. The "normal" noise progressively got worse. Turned out the belt tensioner was bad.
Last edited by Kracka; Sep 13, 2021 at 11:41 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Garden Valley CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 786
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From: I need more money TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Glad to see this thread. I was going to start a new thread, I always do a search first. I put in ticking sound for the description and hear I am! So that’s what mine does, odd thing is when it goes to V4 mode the ticking stops. I don’t recall the sound at lower mileage (currently has 2800), but I’ll follow this post for other folks experience. Loving the car, hard to believe I’ve had it for 8 months. I split seat time between the C8 and my 02 mill. Yellow C5.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
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My engine makes a rapid ticking noise. It is especially noticeable at low speeds and in Z-Mode. My Corvette Specialist service tech said "it's normal" and that all C8's have the same noise. I'm not satisfied with his response. Considering he said "all C8's have the same noise" I wanted to get some feedback from this group. Are you experiencing the same? Thank you
I wouldn’t work on corvettes for a living for any amount of money 💰
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 10,080
From: Garden Valley CA
Glad to see this thread. I was going to start a new thread, I always do a search first. I put in ticking sound for the description and hear I am! So that’s what mine does, odd thing is when it goes to V4 mode the ticking stops. I don’t recall the sound at lower mileage (currently has 2800), but I’ll follow this post for other folks experience. Loving the car, hard to believe I’ve had it for 8 months. I split seat time between the C8 and my 02 mill. Yellow C5.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 786
Likes: 21
From: I need more money TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I’ll have to pay real close attention. I know it’s more noticeable in V8 mode. I’m going to do the first oil change here in the next couple of weeks. I normally service my own cars. I’ll take advantage of the oil change and trans filter change later on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 2,314
From: Simi Valley, CA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
There have been lots of posts in various threads here about the ticking noise. It is the fuel injectors. Also, easier to hear in the coupe than the HTC - the layer over the engine seems to block some of the noise. Anyway, the tech is right - all C8's do it. Some people are able to hear it better than others.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,800
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From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Yep, started with the C7s and direct injection. Unlike port injection you're squirting gasoline into the combustion chamber that has high air pressure when the piston is near TDC. That and the fine mist needed use ~3000 psi fuel going to the injectors. In V4 mode 4 cylinder injectors are no operating so perhaps that is a reason it is more in V8 mode.
With the C7 they also had sound insulation under the intake manifold to reduce noise from the high pressure pump. In some cases the insulation was not fully around the perimeter and made the noise worse. Don't recall that was a common issue.
I don't hear any ticking. In fairness my high pitch sound hearing is not great AND I have my sound system playing when the car starts to drown out the tire and road noise. It's a sports car. Certainly no ticking as with sold lifter performance cams!
Yep, started with the C7s and direct injection. Unlike port injection you're squirting gasoline into the combustion chamber that has high air pressure when the piston is near TDC. That and the fine mist needed use ~3000 psi fuel going to the injectors. In V4 mode 4 cylinder injectors are no operating so perhaps that is a reason it is more in V8 mode.
With the C7 they also had sound insulation under the intake manifold to reduce noise from the high pressure pump. In some cases the insulation was not fully around the perimeter and made the noise worse. Don't recall that was a common issue.
I don't hear any ticking. In fairness my high pitch sound hearing is not great AND I have my sound system playing when the car starts to drown out the tire and road noise. It's a sports car. Certainly no ticking as with sold lifter performance cams!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 833
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From: Goodyear AZ
I get a ticking when it switches to v4 mode and I'm over 60mph. Does not do it at lower speeds or in 8 cyl mode.
Tech said they can put it on a lift and run it at speed and manually shut down each cylinder and see if they can reproduce the noise. May have them look at it one day, after having the engine removed recently and dealing with all that, I just want to enjoy the car for a bit.
Tech said they can put it on a lift and run it at speed and manually shut down each cylinder and see if they can reproduce the noise. May have them look at it one day, after having the engine removed recently and dealing with all that, I just want to enjoy the car for a bit.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
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Glad to see this thread. I was going to start a new thread, I always do a search first. I put in ticking sound for the description and hear I am! So that’s what mine does, odd thing is when it goes to V4 mode the ticking stops. I don’t recall the sound at lower mileage (currently has 2800), but I’ll follow this post for other folks experience. Loving the car, hard to believe I’ve had it for 8 months. I split seat time between the C8 and my 02 mill. Yellow C5.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 2,314
From: Simi Valley, CA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
So much for @Chevy Cust SVC. They didn't read the posts to see that this is a normal condition we're talking about. I've seen this here before. Why do they even bother?
