Those dudes are dangerous!
Hydraulic lifter noise
- Thread starter George1954
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Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Those dudes are dangerous!
It just goes to show you ANYONE can post ANYTHING on the interweb.
Those dudes are dangerous!
It just goes to show you ANYONE can post ANYTHING on the interweb.
Originally Posted By: jstutz
First insure that your coolant is not getting low. It dont take much to leak into the oil and cause this issue. It is common among these engines for this to happen. No oil will fix this. It is a lower intake manifold gasket failure and will just get worse. If your convinced this is not the case, I would just use any 15w40 HDEO for a while and see if it cleans it up. These engines are not picky and will run on just about anything. If you dont like this idea, switch to a synthetic and try it. Do some experimenting and see what works. I had this same issue with my 01 blazer at apx 175K miles and I ended up having to change the LIMG. Never had an issue since. I could never tell by looking at the oil that there was antifreeze in it. You would think it would be obvious.
Please post your results. I would be interested in what you decide to do and how it works.
This is a good point. I have had some coolant loss with no obvious signs other than the occasional coolant smell. It's been on the list to check the lower intake manifold gasket as this has come up in other forums. I also assumed that if it was bad enough to cause lifter noise that I would see it in the oil which has not been the case for me either.
Can you point me to your favorite resource for LIMG instructions?
The plot "thickens" (pun intended).
George
First insure that your coolant is not getting low. It dont take much to leak into the oil and cause this issue. It is common among these engines for this to happen. No oil will fix this. It is a lower intake manifold gasket failure and will just get worse. If your convinced this is not the case, I would just use any 15w40 HDEO for a while and see if it cleans it up. These engines are not picky and will run on just about anything. If you dont like this idea, switch to a synthetic and try it. Do some experimenting and see what works. I had this same issue with my 01 blazer at apx 175K miles and I ended up having to change the LIMG. Never had an issue since. I could never tell by looking at the oil that there was antifreeze in it. You would think it would be obvious.
Please post your results. I would be interested in what you decide to do and how it works.
This is a good point. I have had some coolant loss with no obvious signs other than the occasional coolant smell. It's been on the list to check the lower intake manifold gasket as this has come up in other forums. I also assumed that if it was bad enough to cause lifter noise that I would see it in the oil which has not been the case for me either.
Can you point me to your favorite resource for LIMG instructions?
The plot "thickens" (pun intended).
George
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: George1954
Originally Posted By: spasm3
IF it goes away after warming up, i would think the thinner oil is flowing better through the lifter. If may have a plugged/partially plugged oil hole. I would try an oci of mobil hm synthetic. It cleans. Thicker oil may make it worse if the sound is more noticeable when the engine is cold( when the oil is thicker).
Do you suggest one or more OCI's with a high "clean up" oil and return to PYB or make a permanent switch?
I tried to figure out the cause based on the fact that the noise was showing back up at the end of the OCI but there are too many moving parts in the equation. The oil is most likely becoming thinner and then eventually, thicker. Also the additive package is breaking down, the filter is filling up, etc. Because of this I was thinking of trying to get to the bottom of it thru some trial and error (thinner oil, thicker oil, more detergents, synthetic, higher flow filters, but I figure you guys could help me pick an intelligent starting point.
Don't decide now, run the m1 high mileage and see how it does. If it helps the problem, keep using it. If it does not help then back to the pyb.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
IF it goes away after warming up, i would think the thinner oil is flowing better through the lifter. If may have a plugged/partially plugged oil hole. I would try an oci of mobil hm synthetic. It cleans. Thicker oil may make it worse if the sound is more noticeable when the engine is cold( when the oil is thicker).
Do you suggest one or more OCI's with a high "clean up" oil and return to PYB or make a permanent switch?
I tried to figure out the cause based on the fact that the noise was showing back up at the end of the OCI but there are too many moving parts in the equation. The oil is most likely becoming thinner and then eventually, thicker. Also the additive package is breaking down, the filter is filling up, etc. Because of this I was thinking of trying to get to the bottom of it thru some trial and error (thinner oil, thicker oil, more detergents, synthetic, higher flow filters, but I figure you guys could help me pick an intelligent starting point.
Don't decide now, run the m1 high mileage and see how it does. If it helps the problem, keep using it. If it does not help then back to the pyb.
I've had this lifter problem in the past, and have found running the lightest syn' oil possible prevents it from reoccurring.
A steady diet of any 5W-30 syn' bought on sale should work and keep the OCI short.
A steady diet of any 5W-30 syn' bought on sale should work and keep the OCI short.
Originally Posted By: George1954
I developed a lifter noise in my daily driver (2002 Blazer 4.3L) at around 150,000 miles. The truck has always used 5W30 Penzoil PYB. 20K miles per year of mixed driving but most trips are at least 15 miles. I have no external leaks but I consume 1/2 - 1 qt per 5K miles. I don't like miracle additives so I did a few shorter change intervals with better filters (same oil with K&N or Mobil 1 filters) and the lifter noise went away. For the next 40K miles I had no noise until around the end of the OCI so I would just change the oil and was back in business. On this last change at 195,000 miles, the lifter noise did not clear up. It's at cold start up and varies from a light tapping (mostly) to a scary loud rapping (rarely). Sounds like only one cylinder. It eventually goes away after warm up (2 - 15 minutes).
Although I am a big fan of PYB dino, I would like to see if a change in oil choice would improve this situation. Would you guys recommend:
1) A diiferent Grade, i.e 5W20.
2) A change to semi "synthetic" or "synthetic"
3) A change in brand (oh the guilt of straying)
4) Somehing I have not thought of?
5) Live with it because it's a Chevy with 200K miles on it and it's a miracle that it took this long to show up?
Thanks,
George
I know you don't want to try any additives based on the above and your other posts. That is 100% cool. So try what the others are suggesting you are comfortable with 1st. If it fixes it great. If not and you are willing to try an additive I have had excellent results, with situations just like you describe, using Seafoam. If it were my vehicle I would have used Seafoam the 1st time. Follow the mfg's directions for using it.
If the lifter itself has failed though nothing is going to fix it other than replacing it. Been there too.
I developed a lifter noise in my daily driver (2002 Blazer 4.3L) at around 150,000 miles. The truck has always used 5W30 Penzoil PYB. 20K miles per year of mixed driving but most trips are at least 15 miles. I have no external leaks but I consume 1/2 - 1 qt per 5K miles. I don't like miracle additives so I did a few shorter change intervals with better filters (same oil with K&N or Mobil 1 filters) and the lifter noise went away. For the next 40K miles I had no noise until around the end of the OCI so I would just change the oil and was back in business. On this last change at 195,000 miles, the lifter noise did not clear up. It's at cold start up and varies from a light tapping (mostly) to a scary loud rapping (rarely). Sounds like only one cylinder. It eventually goes away after warm up (2 - 15 minutes).
Although I am a big fan of PYB dino, I would like to see if a change in oil choice would improve this situation. Would you guys recommend:
1) A diiferent Grade, i.e 5W20.
2) A change to semi "synthetic" or "synthetic"
3) A change in brand (oh the guilt of straying)
4) Somehing I have not thought of?
5) Live with it because it's a Chevy with 200K miles on it and it's a miracle that it took this long to show up?
Thanks,
George
I know you don't want to try any additives based on the above and your other posts. That is 100% cool. So try what the others are suggesting you are comfortable with 1st. If it fixes it great. If not and you are willing to try an additive I have had excellent results, with situations just like you describe, using Seafoam. If it were my vehicle I would have used Seafoam the 1st time. Follow the mfg's directions for using it.
If the lifter itself has failed though nothing is going to fix it other than replacing it. Been there too.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: George1954
Originally Posted By: jstutz
First insure that your coolant is not getting low. It dont take much to leak into the oil and cause this issue. It is common among these engines for this to happen. No oil will fix this. It is a lower intake manifold gasket failure and will just get worse. If your convinced this is not the case, I would just use any 15w40 HDEO for a while and see if it cleans it up. These engines are not picky and will run on just about anything. If you dont like this idea, switch to a synthetic and try it. Do some experimenting and see what works. I had this same issue with my 01 blazer at apx 175K miles and I ended up having to change the LIMG. Never had an issue since. I could never tell by looking at the oil that there was antifreeze in it. You would think it would be obvious.
Please post your results. I would be interested in what you decide to do and how it works.
This is a good point. I have had some coolant loss with no obvious signs other than the occasional coolant smell. It's been on the list to check the lower intake manifold gasket as this has come up in other forums. I also assumed that if it was bad enough to cause lifter noise that I would see it in the oil which has not been the case for me either.
Can you point me to your favorite resource for LIMG instructions?
The plot "thickens" (pun intended).
George
I know it seems crazy that you would not be able to tell in the oil but i could not at all. I went about six months doing short oil chnages because the lifter was sticking.
It started just tapping a little upon startup a few months into an oil change. Then one morning it started smacking something terrible. I thought the engine was shot. I changed the oil and filter and boom fixed. The oil did not look at all like chocolate milk or foamy. I dont know if antifreeze mixes different than water but i have some atvs and i know what water in oil looks like.
Anyway, i kept doing this until i finally convinced myself that it was coolant. The level would drop but it was very very slow. I bought the new updated gasket from Fel-Pro for about 85 dollars and tore into it. Not a super complicated job for anyone that knows there way around a wrench but it is time consuming. It took me the better part of the weekend. Of course taking my time. It has well over 200K on it now and has never made the noise again.
If you decide to do the job, i could scan the Hanes manual for you as this is what i followed to do the job.
Originally Posted By: jstutz
First insure that your coolant is not getting low. It dont take much to leak into the oil and cause this issue. It is common among these engines for this to happen. No oil will fix this. It is a lower intake manifold gasket failure and will just get worse. If your convinced this is not the case, I would just use any 15w40 HDEO for a while and see if it cleans it up. These engines are not picky and will run on just about anything. If you dont like this idea, switch to a synthetic and try it. Do some experimenting and see what works. I had this same issue with my 01 blazer at apx 175K miles and I ended up having to change the LIMG. Never had an issue since. I could never tell by looking at the oil that there was antifreeze in it. You would think it would be obvious.
Please post your results. I would be interested in what you decide to do and how it works.
This is a good point. I have had some coolant loss with no obvious signs other than the occasional coolant smell. It's been on the list to check the lower intake manifold gasket as this has come up in other forums. I also assumed that if it was bad enough to cause lifter noise that I would see it in the oil which has not been the case for me either.
Can you point me to your favorite resource for LIMG instructions?
The plot "thickens" (pun intended).
George
I know it seems crazy that you would not be able to tell in the oil but i could not at all. I went about six months doing short oil chnages because the lifter was sticking.
It started just tapping a little upon startup a few months into an oil change. Then one morning it started smacking something terrible. I thought the engine was shot. I changed the oil and filter and boom fixed. The oil did not look at all like chocolate milk or foamy. I dont know if antifreeze mixes different than water but i have some atvs and i know what water in oil looks like.
Anyway, i kept doing this until i finally convinced myself that it was coolant. The level would drop but it was very very slow. I bought the new updated gasket from Fel-Pro for about 85 dollars and tore into it. Not a super complicated job for anyone that knows there way around a wrench but it is time consuming. It took me the better part of the weekend. Of course taking my time. It has well over 200K on it now and has never made the noise again.
If you decide to do the job, i could scan the Hanes manual for you as this is what i followed to do the job.
if you need a lower intake gasket the lifters are real easy to replace with it off.
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