GM 6.0 Piston Slap, what oil?

[mattywow]

BITOGers,

A review of the forum didn't get me there...

What oil would you suggest to get rid of piston slap? Year 2000 GMC Sierra with the 6.0. I purchased it with 187k on the clock. P.O. used 5W-35 dino oil on 3k OCI. Under my care, I switched to amsoil 0W-20 and a bottle of Ceratec (this is after owning multiple Mercedes/german and reading BITOG’s oil 101 (about the oil pressure in the Lamborghini)). With the new oil, I’ve seen operating pressures reduce by 10psi from 60 to 50. And at idle, from 50 to 40psi. MPG has gone up by .5mpg (for a vehicle that gets 12.5) this is a big deal.

With Winter, piston slap has developed. It goes away when the engine is fully warm.

What are some suggestions of Amsoil oils that could reduce/eliminate the cold piston slap and still keep at least some of the benefits from the thinner oils.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kschachn]

In my experience the choice of oil does nothing to mitigate piston slap.

I don’t understand the Amsoil reference. Nor can you ever, ever attribute such a small observed MPG difference to the oil. Pick your choice of noise at that level.

 

[cptbarkey]

I would go back to a 5W30 or 5W40, its what your engine is designed for. My LQ4 also has cold start up knock this time of the year and it goes away. I also dont care about the MPG with it as I knew what I bought when I bought it back in 2006. There are zillions of LQ4s out there that have survived with piston knock and are still on the road.

You can eliminate Penzoil Platinum 5w30, it is what I'm currently running, and has done nothing, but I wasnt trying to do anything except usual maintenance.

The only complaint I have is it sounds like an old gasoline school bus. That is also fixable with a sawzall. Maybe someday. Good luck.

 

[Danno]

In the "it can't hurt to try" camp, I would run QSUD 5W-30, and stick with that.

 

[BrendanC]

get the 0w-20 out of that engine and go back with valvoline HM full synthetic 5w-30. mine was never quieter than on valvoline.

 

[fantastic]

5w-40 or 0w-40 or 5w-30 in that order. Your engine is no Lamborghini so we can't really compare that part. Are you sure it's not just a loose timing chain tensioner that makes some noise until pressure & some heat is established?

 

[kschachn]

A review of the forum didn't get me there...

Perhaps some of these threads may be of interest to you:

Reducing Piston Slap Noise with Oil Choice

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2002 Chevrolet 1500 5.3 v8 engine, ... The Gen III v8s have characteristically had a "noise", which, after much internet research, I have yet to find one that failed because of it, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to quiet it. It's not super loud, but it's noticeable for sure, and seems to...

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Question on piston slap/rod knock

I have an 02 Accord with the 2.3 F23A4 engine. The engine was quiet when I first got the car but about 30k miles later at around (190k) it started to sound like it was making a loud knocking noise when it was cold or at a certain rpm when letting off the throttle. I wasn't overly concerned about...

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Also what kind of sound does it make? Does it go away as the engine warms up. I have been told my BMW has some piston slap at 210,000 miles and I should not worry about it.

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interesting paper on piston slap noise

http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/12156/30012843.pdf?sequence=1 It's an old MIT dissertation paper, but a great source of info. 10W30 weight oil was the best for damping the noise and vibrations, while 5W20 weight was the worst. This agrees with the epidemic of piston slap in...

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bobistheoilguy.com

 

[BrendanC]

5w-40 or 0w-40 or 5w-30 in that order. Your engine is no Lamborghini so we can't really compare that part. Are you sure it's not just a loose timing chain tensioner that makes some noise until pressure & some heat is established?

there aren't timing chain tensioners in gen 3 blocks

 

[carviewsonic]

My 2004 GMC 5.3 work truck started cold engine piston slap noise at around 60k miles. I passed the truck along and then borrowed it years later from a different driver. It was still running good with the cold engine piston slap at 200k miles.
Our shop used bulk 5W30 from a few different vendors in all our pickups.

 

[dumkid]

Doesn't every old Chevy have piston slap? I'm pretty sure I've never heard an LQ4 without cold start piston slap.

 

[Cujet]

Rotella T6, 5W-40, or M1, HM 10W-40 will both be good choices for that engine.

The T6 has a pour point of -51ºC (-60F) and it remains a fine choice for relatively cold weather ops, along with excellent performance in hot conditons. Whereas the HM 10W-40 pour point is -38ºF, and is, from personal experience, nowhere near as good in cold climates.

 

[LongTime_Lurker]

You want to look for an oil that forms a tenacious, clinging film. Some technology that sticks like a magnet.

 

[kschachn]

You want to look for an oil that forms a tenacious, clinging film. Some technology that sticks like a magnet.

Which oils don't do that?

And will it cure piston slap?

 

[JavierH19]

I've never had piston slap on my 6.0. I do get it only when my 5.3 is pretty cold. And just use 0w-30 or 0w-40

 

[mattywow]

Perhaps some of these threads may be of interest to you:

Reducing Piston Slap Noise with Oil Choice

A friend of mine just bought a 2000 Buick Century with a 3.1 L V6. He got the car for a steal, and it's actually in decent shape save for the typical cold start piston slap (this car has one of the worst cases I have ever heard). It does get much quieter after it warms up for a minute or two...

bobistheoilguy.com

Recommendations for Chevy Piston Slap?

My mom's 2003 Malibu (3.1 V6) has the dreaded cold-start piston slap and I was thinking of maybe running a thicker oil to help slow it (if that's even possible), like maybe a 5W30 or 10W30 Valvoline MaxLife. Any other thoughts?

bobistheoilguy.com

Cold piston slap, thicker oil?

My FX has always had cold piston slap, not bad. it goes away as it warms up, but sounds like a diesel when ambient temps drop below 60ish. I typically run M1 0w40. Should I go to something thicker when cold? Living in Florida I don't exactly need cold weather protection.

bobistheoilguy.com

Best oil for piston slapping Silverado?

Haven't heard it myself, but my friend has a noise issue with her Chevy Silverado. She describes it as a diesel engine sound for a couple of minutes after cold start up. This description sounds to me like legendary GM, V8 piston slap. If so, which oils have worked well to quiet these savage...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston Slap.... thicker oi????

I have a 2002 4.8L Chevy Silverado w/ 63,000 miles that has the infamous "piston slap" problem that GM refuses to do anything about. At start up, especially in cold weather, the engine makes a loud knocking sound for about 30 seconds. It's really quite embarrassing and attracts alot of unwanted...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston Slap and oil question

My GM 3100 has the typical piston slap. Last weekend I had the engine torn down to replace the intake manifold gaskets (as preventive maintenance, there weren't leaking) and I put some cheap 10w40 in and the piston slap was gone. Ran engine flush and put amsoil 5w30 (recommended viscosity by gm)...

bobistheoilguy.com

GM 5.3L Piston Slap issue

I have a 2002 Suburban with 70,000 on the clock which has slapped from day 1 and runs terrific and quiet as a mouse and no leaks anywhere. I have been using Penzoil 5w30 & Fram or Delco filter since new with first OCI at 100 miles then every 3000 religiously. I have tried valvoline 5w30 dino as...

bobistheoilguy.com

What is "Piston Slap?"

I dont think my Iron Duke is doing it, but after 1000 miles or so, can using the EXCELENT oil i am make the Valve Seals and Lifters and stuff happier, even at .5 Qt Overfull?

bobistheoilguy.com

GM TSB Engine Knock Startup - Not a Filter Problem

I had blamed oil filters for this before. I guess it wasn't the lowly PF48E that was giving me fits (to be fair, it's happened some with the Mobil 1 filter also). I guess I'm back to the OEM PF48E that is the OE filter and cheaper. I had really thought this filter was the problem, however, this...

bobistheoilguy.com

Redline with Moly For a Bad Piston Slap?

I own a 2001 Sunfire 2.2 OHV that has a bad piston slap when put into gear. Even on cold starts she doesn't slap until I put it under load. Ive done my research and people are saying oil with moly can help a piston slap. Would redline 5w-30 be my best bet? Im not exactly to worried about the...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston Slap oil

Alot of discussion has happened on other forums about the piston slap problem w/97-99 4.6L and 5.4L ford modular engines. One of the cures if you are OOW is using Mobil 1, has anyone had luck with this or have any other ideas??? [ October 30, 2002, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: BOBISTHEOILGUY ]

bobistheoilguy.com

Suggestion for a noisy engine

I have a 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 Crew Cab Max Trailer Package with the 6.0 liter engine. 49,000 miles on it so far. Almost from the day I brought it home the engine clattered when started and ticked most of the time when fully warmed up. I have tried PYB, Some type of Syn Castoroil, PU...

bobistheoilguy.com

interesting paper on piston slap noise

http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/12156/30012843.pdf?sequence=1 It's an old MIT dissertation paper, but a great source of info. 10W30 weight oil was the best for damping the noise and vibrations, while 5W20 weight was the worst. This agrees with the epidemic of piston slap in...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston slap?

Hello all! My 2002 ford focus is on a diet of penn platinum 5w20 with a motorcraft filter. Car has 59,000 on it and when I start it when cold I hear some engine noise, not ticking but kind of a light knock. As I accelerate the sound gets louder! As the car warms up it totally goes away! I have...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston Slap

Out of pandemic boredom I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on engine teardowns. I noticed a lot of Hyundai engines seem to have pretty severe piston slap issues. When they remove the pistons the skirts on one side are horribly worn/scraped up and so is the cylinder bore. I know a lot of...

bobistheoilguy.com

What does piston slap sound like?

Have a rattle in the vehicle (91 Chev K1500, 4.3 V6). Sounds like it is coming from the engine, but not certain.

bobistheoilguy.com

normal for these engines, but..piston slap?

2002 Chevrolet 1500 5.3 v8 engine, ... The Gen III v8s have characteristically had a "noise", which, after much internet research, I have yet to find one that failed because of it, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to quiet it. It's not super loud, but it's noticeable for sure, and seems to...

bobistheoilguy.com

Piston Slap vs Valve Tick

I wonder if these two things are related, and how the Oil can help/eliminate/cause Valve Tick. Ihave Valve Tick that goes away, but it MAYbe Exhaust Tick.. all i know is it stop safter a minute and i only head it at -cold.- Thanks

bobistheoilguy.com

Question on piston slap/rod knock

I have an 02 Accord with the 2.3 F23A4 engine. The engine was quiet when I first got the car but about 30k miles later at around (190k) it started to sound like it was making a loud knocking noise when it was cold or at a certain rpm when letting off the throttle. I wasn't overly concerned about...

bobistheoilguy.com

What is piston slap?

Also what kind of sound does it make? Does it go away as the engine warms up. I have been told my BMW has some piston slap at 210,000 miles and I should not worry about it.

bobistheoilguy.com

interesting paper on piston slap noise

http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/12156/30012843.pdf?sequence=1 It's an old MIT dissertation paper, but a great source of info. 10W30 weight oil was the best for damping the noise and vibrations, while 5W20 weight was the worst. This agrees with the epidemic of piston slap in...

bobistheoilguy.com

piston slap

friends truck 2011 1500 Chevy with the 4.8, he bought brand new and it currently has 61k miles. I started changing the oil for him at 40k, at 5k intervals. Besides one oil change where i used 5W30 PU and the current fill of 10w30 M1 EP, i have always used dexos spec'd oil in it from 40k to the...

bobistheoilguy.com

piston slap

Every morning when my car is cold(ford focus 2.0) I hear What I think is piston slap. It lasts about five minutes. It has 54,000 on it and have been using mobil-1 5w20, do you think switching to a 5w30 would help in this matter? Thanks guys!!

bobistheoilguy.com

I stand corrected. Ty. And I’ll get to reading

 

[mattywow]

5w-40 or 0w-40 or 5w-30 in that order. Your engine is no Lamborghini so we can't really compare that part. Are you sure it's not just a loose timing chain tensioner that makes some noise until pressure & some heat is established?

Thanks. No, not sure it’s not. However the sound is a staccato sound, that directly follows engine rpm, as opposed to what I would expect to be a constant buzzing sound of a rolling timing chain.

And, the lambo reference was to the reduced oil pressure observed. My engineering brain thinks that lower is generally better. Is there a scenario where that’s not the case?

 

[fantastic]

there aren't timing chain tensioners in gen 3 blocks

Well, that rules that out then.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Which oils don't do that?

And will it cure piston slap?

Castrol Magnatec because it's magnetic.

 

[kschachn]

And, the lambo reference was to the reduced oil pressure observed. My engineering brain thinks that lower is generally better. Is there a scenario where that’s not the case?

Why would you think that, in relation to the sound you're hearing?

 

[kschachn]

Thanks. No, not sure it’s not. However the sound is a staccato sound, that directly follows engine rpm, as opposed to what I would expect to be a constant buzzing sound of a rolling timing chain.

Post a video of the sound when you get a chance.