Sticky lifters?

[fwi]

My 04 Avalanche 5.3L engine has developed a ticking noise upon cold start up, it goes away within 15 seconds or so. Noticed this yesterday morning in Mojave CA where the temp was about 60 and it has done this a couple of times in the past month or so when I have been in cold areas. Oil/filter service has been done every 3K miles since new, now has 174K miles.
Anyone recommend Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam which I have been reading about, or is there another problem/solution?

 

[69a100]

Is the crankcase full? Just cause you change oil every 3k means nothing. At 174k, maybe tolerances are just outta touch some? I've heard a quart of tranny fluid before a oil change cleans tons of crud out and free things up. Good Luck

 

[khryslerkid]

Maybe these guys can help you. This is a Mopar forum...
http://chevroletforum.com/forum/

 

[mmissile]

60 is cold? LOL

 

[Darter6]

Fwi, My old Dodge truck was doing that on morning startup.Seafoam(guessing that it is no more than mineral spirits)dumped a can into the crankcase cleared it right up.In my old crap I figure what the heck and tried it. Today I just dumped a bottle of Marvel Mystery oil(bout the same as tranny fluid)in the old Chrysler and will drive it around a few days before changing the oil.If you ever want to see just how good Automatic Transmission fluid cleans,next time you got greasy black under car filth on you hands dump some on rub it all around and wipe with a cloth.Nice clean hands,
Desert Rats (Like Me) yes, anything below 60 is cold !!

 

[Ranger16]

Sticky lifters is pretty much a thing of the past. With todays oils and an overzealous oil change interval, my guess would be wear. I'd bet you'd be surprised if you pulled the pan or valve cover and looked inside. Probably clean as as whistle.

 

[5.7 hemi]

My wife had an 01' Tahoe and piston slap is very common with those engines. Pissed me off every time it started for about 30 seconds. Needless to say, it's someone else's problem now.

 

[fwi]

Maybe these guys can help you. This is a Mopar forum...
http://chevroletforum.com/forum/

No kidding? Doesn't matter if it's Mopar Chevy or Ford, basically all the same in case you didn't know but thanks for your advice.

 

[khryslerkid]

No kidding? Doesn't matter if it's Mopar Chevy or Ford, basically all the same in case you didn't know but thanks for your advice.

I love you too brother!
How many more miles to you plan on getting out of that engine?

 

[69Bee]

One thing that the LS engines do is lose the crush on the cam thrust plate gasket. When the lifter galley leaks down because of a defective seal, the lifters will tick until they bleed the air back out. I replace them when I build a LS motor as the seals are not reproduced. The thrust plates are available thru the dealer for about $20. If you have an earlier style plate with panhead type bolts, you will need to convert to the later style bolts with a tapered head.

 

[67440chrg]

I have a 2003 5.3 Silverado Z71 it has had a lifter tick on start up ever sence it had 50.000 miles on it chevy said it was normal and would stop. It never did stop it is a shi%%y dealer. It has 180000 miles and still rattles for a few seconds every start up. It is the last time I give that much money to GM. Its back to a ram next time.

 

[fwi]

It's actually my wife's Avalanche and I am just trying to keep that thing in good shape for her so that she won't start asking for a new one!
Fortunately I have this:

 

[69L48Z27]

My wife had an 01' Tahoe and piston slap is very common with those engines. Pissed me off every time it started for about 30 seconds. Needless to say, it's someone else's problem now.

This ^^^^^. It's not in the valve train. 'Normal' 5.3 noise.

 

[Ranger16]

I don't know anything about the engine in question, but I do know something about the Cadillac Northstar and I know that they had a similar problem in the pre 2000 engines. The combustion chamber had a very low clearance "squish area". If it got carboned up, the piston (on a cold start) would contact it at TDC. The piston would then rock on the wrist pin causing the skirt to slap the cylinder wall, aka piston slap. Sounded just like a collapsed lifter and would go away in about 60 seconds. The procedure to fix this malady was to simply drive it like you stole it. Take it out and give it a good whoop'in. Run it up to redline in second gear and then let it back down. You'd usually see black smoke rolling out of the pipes in the mirror. In that case you'd give it another dose until you no longer saw any black soot. It worked every time on the Northstar, can't hurt to give it a shot and see what happens.

 

[gtxno1]

Make sure you are using a good oil filter with an anti drain back valve