Lifter Tick - GM 4.8L Silverado

[PontiacHO]

Trade it. Cut your losses. To make it to that mileage I’d say it did its job.

 

[Number_35]

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?

Way back when, I changed the lifters on a Chevy 307. Easy job, with no need to remove the heads.

When was the Chevy V8 changed to require head removal? (I'm not questioning you at all - I've seen a number of references to the need to pull the heads to change lifters. I wonder if this started with Chevy's DOD.)

 

[michaelluscher]

Way back when, I changed the lifters on a Chevy 307. Easy job, with no need to remove the heads.

When was the Chevy V8 changed to require head removal? (I'm not questioning you at all - I've seen a number of references to the need to pull the heads to change lifters. I wonder if this started with Chevy's DOD.)

Things have changed since your time
LS architecture dictates the cylinder head come off for access to the lifters

 

[ls1mike]

Way back when, I changed the lifters on a Chevy 307. Easy job, with no need to remove the heads.

When was the Chevy V8 changed to require head removal? (I'm not questioning you at all - I've seen a number of references to the need to pull the heads to change lifters. I wonder if this started with Chevy's DOD.)

michaelluscher answered but since 1997, the introduction of the LS1, heads have to come off to change lifters. I did it on the Trans Am, Caprice and few other LS based vehicles that have received a cam or had the DOD/AFM deleted. Removing the heads on these is not a big deal, no distributor and a dry intake.

I just wonder how loud the tick is and what the oil pressure is.

 

[ls1mike]

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.

He could really run a 5.3 or 6.0 if he wanted. He would just need a tune, but both will run on the 4.8 tune.

 

[tblt44]

My 2006 5.3 has a start up tick, has for 2 years.
4 exhaust manifold bolts broken on mine, I have used an aftermarket clamp to help with one side still need to do the other.
My oil pressure is slow to come up but when it does it is just under 40.
I have 251k on mine.
No metal on the magnet at oil changes.
I here people have these engines tick, piston slap and nothing ever fails

 

[Snagglefoot]

michaelluscher answered but since 1997, the introduction of the LS1, heads have to come off to change lifters. I did it on the Trans Am, Caprice and few other LS based vehicles that have received a cam or had the DOD/AFM deleted. Removing the heads on these is not a big deal, no distributor and a dry intake.

I just wonder how loud the tick is and what the oil pressure is.

Yes, and they have that weird valley cover that can still remain bolted up with the heads off. As far as the truck engines go, the 4.8 and 6.0 never had DOD/AFM.

 

[JN94]

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

Oil pressure on a mechanical gauge shows 21 psi at idle and 77 psi at wot.

 

[JN94]

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.

Unfortunately the vehicle isn't mine and the owner refuses to replace it due to lack of ability to replace it.

 

[JN94]

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?

Loud enough the radio can't drown it out. Currently running 5w40.

 

[JN94]

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.

They aren't in my part of the woods. Junkyards in my area seldom have a 4.8 , much less one that's savable.

 

[gman2304]

Oil pressure on a mechanical gauge shows 21 psi at idle and 77 psi at wot.

What’s the hot oil pressure at around 2,000 rpms’s which would roughly simulate highway cruising speed?

 

[JN94]

What’s the hot oil pressure at around 2,000 rpms’s which would roughly simulate highway cruising speed?

46 psi.

 

[Snagglefoot]

46 psi.

That sounds normal.

 

[jetman]

My 2006 5.3 has a start up tick, has for 2 years.
4 exhaust manifold bolts broken on mine, I have used an aftermarket clamp to help with one side still need to do the other.
My oil pressure is slow to come up but when it does it is just under 40.
I have 251k on mine.
No metal on the magnet at oil changes.
I here people have these engines tick, piston slap and nothing ever fails

I had lifter tick(s) on first start of the day with my new to me low mileage 2002 LS1. Checked lifter preload. It was wrong, It took more than 1 1/4 turns of the rocker arm bolts to go from zero lash to 22 ft/lbs. In other words my pushrods were too long. They measured 7.388". Installed a set of 7.350" and all is quiet. Utube is your friend.

 

[Snagglefoot]

If you have time, check out my posting of a 6.0 LS being torn down. Search “ change in indicated oil pressure” posted by Snaggefoot, posting #36. It shows how far you have to go to pull a cam and lifters on a LS engine.

 

[JN94]

I had lifter tick(s) on first start of the day with my new to me low mileage 2002 LS1. Checked lifter preload. It was wrong, It took more than 1 1/4 turns of the rocker arm bolts to go from zero lash to 22 ft/lbs. In other words my pushrods were too long. They measured 7.388". Installed a set of 7.350" and all is quiet. Utube is your friend.

I'll check the lifter preload next time I'm around the vehicle.

 

[JN94]

If you have time, check out my posting of a 6.0 LS being torn down. Search “ change in indicated oil pressure” posted by Snaggefoot, posting #36. It shows how far you have to go to pull a cam and lifters on a LS engine.

Will do when I get a chance.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The fact one side has oil coming up at a lower rate is a major red flag. Might as well try your favourite cleaner, such as Valvoline R & P.

 

[JN94]

The fact one side has oil coming up at a lower rate is a major red flag. Might as well try your favourite cleaner, such as Valvoline R & P.

I'll give it a try next oci.