Chevy 5.3 sound question

[jmvar]

Hi,

This is a 2014 chevrolet express van with 135,000 miles on it.

I just bought this van used from a GMC dealer and it took me a long time to find it because it's an all-wheel drive.

I know the van had an oil change right before I bought it and has good seevice records.

When I bought it the sound was faint compared to the pulley noise and I thought it was coming from the accessory drive belt. Now that I replace the idler pulley and got rid of that noise, this what sounds to be lifter noise is a lot more prominent.

Very faint at idle, peaks at 1300 rpm.

Oil pressure is 35 PSI at idle and 55 PSI rolling.

It sounds like this is a pretty prevalent issue with 5.3s.

I have watched a bunch of videos and read a bunch of threads on how to diagnose it.

Is this bad enough to wear? I need to park the vehicle while I diagnose it or can I drive it ?

 

[FastLane]

Dump a half a can of sea foam in it and take it out for a hard drive.

 

[ls1mike]

Do the vans have AFM? If not I would run it. LS lifter tick.

 

[jmvar]

Do the vans have AFM? If not I would run it. LS lifter tick.

NO AFM, one of the advantages of the vans getting all the old gm technology or lack there of.

So I can hypothetically run this engine as is with that noise without issue or further diagnostics?

I was going to do the 3 quart overfill and tilt the van forward to see if it's the oil pump pick up oring.

But by the sounds of it I can just try a can of whatever flush and if that doesn't work just turn up the radio.

 

[jmvar]

Double post, please delete

 

[ls1mike]

Your oil pressure is average for an LS. I don't think that is anything but typical LS lifter tick but I hope someone else will chime in. My WS6 and Caprice have similar oil pressure.

 

[FastLane]

Like I aid, sea foam. I've owned my 4.8 since new. I've changed the o ring. Always ran synthetic. Sea foam once a year gets rid of most noises. 250,000+ kms on it now. Hasn't blown up yet. Still uses no oil in between oil changes. I think LS engines make noise if any "gunk" is on the rings or lifters.

 

[redhat]

What’s the warranty from the dealer?

I’d check if any rockers are loose indicating either loose on the pedestal or little lifter preload. Sounds kinda noisy. I’ve heard worse but I’ve also heard almost silent ones.

FWIW I do not hear this kind of noise on my 240k L59 Suburban.

 

[jmvar]

Like I aid, sea foam. I've owned my 4.8 since new. I've changed the o ring. Always ran synthetic. Sea foam once a year gets rid of most noises. 250,000+ kms on it now. Hasn't blown up yet. Still uses no oil in between oil changes. I think LS engines make noise if any "gunk" is on the rings or lifters.

Was yours noisy even after the o-ring change?

 

[jmvar]

What’s the warranty from the dealer?

I’d check if any rockers are loose indicating either loose on the pedestal or little lifter preload. Sounds kinda noisy. I’ve heard worse but I’ve also heard almost silent ones.

FWIW I do not hear this kind of noise on my 240k L59 Suburban.

They would probably try to apply the tail light warranty. As soon as they see the tail lights from me druving off, that is the end of the warranty.

Hypothetically I am protected by PA used car law that says they had to disclose this issue.

Realistically, if I could successfully get them to take it back, I would have to find another awd van which is very hard to do and it wouldnprobably have the same lifter tick andnanbad 4L60e tranny, and be rusted.

This one has good service records, what seems to be a strong tranny (just jinxed myself), and minimal rust.

 

[BC1]

Have you ran it with all the belts off to be certain it is internal?

 

[ls1mike]

Was yours noisy even after the o-ring change?

You can usually tell if it is the O-ring by overfilling the sump, your oil pressure will come up, but your oil pressure is not bad.

 

[jmvar]

Have you ran it with all the belts off to be certain it is internal?

Good point, when I got it,.the idler pulley was screaming like a banshee. I put a new one on with new belt. The alternator squeeks and the power steering put whines.

I didn't change the ac comp belt or pulley so I am not sure if those are noisy.

Oh....and it also has an exhaust leak at the manifold.....did I mention what great shape this thing is in?

I will try that to make sure it's not any of the accessories.

Thanks

 

[FastLane]

Was yours noisy even after the o-ring change?

Yes. It has been since around 60,000 kms. Its pretty faint but you can hear it in a drive thru. My o ring was pretty hard. I think it helped a bit. I had to change the oil pan gasket so I changed that o ring while the pan was off. The bottom of my oil pan was very clean. Like I said, I don't think it takes much for a LS to make some noise. I think it does no harm but annoys me.

 

[BrendanC]

dump the oil and go with valvoline ep hm 5w-30 and a decent filter, (carquest premium 84502, Fram FE10575, microgard etc).

LS engines in my experience run much quieter on valvoline products.

 

[ls1mike]

Good point, when I got it,.the idler pulley was screaming like a banshee. I put a new one on with new belt. The alternator squeeks and the power steering put whines.

I didn't change the ac comp belt or pulley so I am not sure if those are noisy.

Oh....and it also has an exhaust leak at the manifold.....did I mention what great shape this thing is in?

I will try that to make sure it's not any of the accessories.

Thanks

Which bolt at the exhaust manifold? Really common. If you don't want to extract or pay for the repair the make brackets for the front and rear exhaust manifold bolts to help seal the leak.

 

[vwmaniaman]

Sounds kinda like a car I had where the crank pulley was coming apart.