Lifter Tick - GM 4.8L Silverado

[JN94]

My mother has a 2006 Silverado with the 4.8.
She bought it new and it has developed a very loud constant lifter tick on the drivers side. I pulled the valve cover and did not see anything out of spec. Truck has had 3k oil changes it's entire life. I'm at a loss on what to check / look at next. Currently the mileage is 278k.

 

[bdcardinal]

It happens on these. Are you 100% sure it is a lifter tick? Manifolds cracking and breaking hardware can sound similar.

 

[walterjay]

If it is a lifter tick try a adding Rislone to the oil according to the directions. It cleared up a very bad lifter tick on my F-150.

 

[4wd]

If it is a lifter tick try an adding Rislone to the oil according to the directions. It cleared up a very bad lifter tick on my F-150.

Rislone in Rotella - that should make keyboards tick

 

[JN94]

It happens on these. Are you 100% sure it is a lifter tick? Manifolds cracking and breaking hardware can sound similar.

Not 100% sure it is a lifter. I replaced the manifolds 10 months ago due to cracking.

 

[JN94]

If it is a lifter tick try a adding Rislone to the oil according to the directions. It cleared up a very bad lifter tick on my F-150.

Rislone didn't help with anything but making my wallet lighter.

 

[JN94]

Forgot to note the truck has been babied it's entire life. Never hauled anything over 700 lbs or towed anything heavier than 2k lbs. It's only seen redline 4 times since it left the factory.

 

[JN94]

Rislone in Rotella - that should make keyboards tic

Rotella ?

 

[HemiBenny]

Have you tried using a stethoscope to pinpoint the noise as accurately as possible?

 

[JN94]

Have you tried using a stethoscope to pinpoint the noise as accurately as possible?

I've tried using a long flat screwdriver with a metal end and it sounds like it's coming from cylinder #5.

 

[Chris142]

With that milage it's highly possible that a roller lifter wore its needle bearings out.

 

[CleanSump]

Since everyone and his cousin is going to tell you what to do, here's my nickel (pennies are obsolescent!) I cured lifter tick in a BMW N52 by using HPL Engine Cleaning Oil at the specified rate. Not the same engine, no, but a notorious dirty lifter ticking engine. Ticking stopped in about 100 hundred miles.

 

[gman2304]

4.8 and 5.3 are known for the rear exhaust manifold bolt to break off. My 2005 had the drivers and passenger rear bolt heads break off but I got lucky as mine never did develop the tick. Edit : just saw you replaced the exhaust manifolds. The oil pump tube o ring can get brittle and cause low oil pressure at all engine rpm’s and lifters to be noisy. Mine did this.

 

[JN94]

With that milage it's highly possible that a roller lifter wore its needle bearings out.

Could I possibly get away with just replacing the lifters ?

 

[JN94]

4.8 and 5.3 are known for the rear exhaust manifold bolt to break off. My 2005 had the drivers and passenger rear bolt heads break off but I got lucky as mine never did develop the tick. Edit : just saw you replaced the exhaust manifolds. The oil pump tube o ring can get brittle and cause low oil pressure at all engine rpm’s and lifters to be noisy. Mine did this.

I went and removed the driver side valve cover and discovered poor oil flow across the valvetrain regardless of rpm. There is no sludge and barely any varnish.

 

[ripcord]

Is the oil pressure low?If yes, then gman2304 may be right about the oil pickup tube o-ring.

 

[Chris142]

Could I possibly get away with just replacing the lifters ?

It usually takes the cam with it . Only way to know is to tear into it

 

[ls1mike]

It has 278,000 miles on it. It is LS based. It will eventually tick. At that mileage it owes you nothing.
If you feel like running it to ground and it is a lifter do you feel like pulling the heads? I have 3 6.0 engines at the house right now, and have owned 5 other LS based cars. What is loud? Nothing you put in there is making the tick go away. What weight oil are you using at 278,000 miles? What is your oil pressure?

 

[Snagglefoot]

Although I’m a fan of running Chevy trucks a long time it helps to have an exit plan. You have a 19 year old truck with 278,000 miles. The engine is probably done. I believe that was the last of the GMT 800 trucks. The GMT 900 trucks went to 2013. You could probably find one with much lower miles at a decent price. You can run an ad and sell the truck as a mechanic special. Alternatively you could find an Indie mechanic shop to drop in a “rebuilt” engine. The odds of finding an intact GMT 800 engine are low. Good luck.

 

[jetman]

at that mileage a lifter tray may be worn and allowing a lifter to turn. Junkyard gen3 LS engines are a dime a dozen around here on FB marketplace.