Tappet noise on cold Startup
Question:
Hi All Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises for about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its warm) , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 KMS on it A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably go away Any truth to that? Thanks in advance Brian
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably go > away > Any truth to that?
Do a google or yahoo search for piston slap. That’s what you got. Doc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
I think Docs right on this one but just for shits and giggles what grade of oil are you using?
Response:
I’m using what the manufacturer recommended, 5W30 Pennzoil Doc, I did that search and checked out that site. Thanks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably go > away > Any truth to that? > Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
> I’m using what the manufacturer recommended, 5W30 Pennzoil
This time of year, too light. 10w30 in winter, 10w40 in above freezing. Hatt — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
> I’m using what the manufacturer recommended, 5W30 Pennzoil > This time of year, too light. 10w30 in winter, 10w40 in above > freezing. > Hatt
Not in a 99′ engine buddy! If he dumps 10W40 in there he’ll have piston slap AND valve chatter on startup. If the manufacturer says 5W30 all year, use 5W30 all year. Doc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> — > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– > http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > —–== Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
Thanks Doc! I’m gonna stick with 5W30, but try synthetic oil to see if that makes a difference. Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably go > away > Any truth to that? > Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
Same thing with my "99 Z71, 5.3 , 75,000 miles, light tapping on start-up. I changed to Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W30 last year and haven’t noticed any change. Tapping only last for a few seconds.?? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks Doc! > I’m gonna stick with 5W30, but try synthetic oil to see if that makes a > difference. > Brian > Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises > for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its > warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably > go > away > Any truth to that? > Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
> Thanks Doc! > I’m gonna stick with 5W30, but try synthetic oil to see if that makes a > difference. > Brian
Brian, Piston slap has nothing to do with oil type or weight, it has everything to do with piston-to-bore clearances. I recommend synthetic oils to anyone and everyone, so I think you should still do that, but don’t expect a change in yer’ noisy startup. Also, it will get worse in the winter! The colder the block is in startup the louder it gets. Doc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises > for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its > warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably > go > away > Any truth to that? > Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
Ok, thanks Doc, I think I’ll make the switch to synthetic oil anyway just because its a better oil, I’ll just plug my ears for the first 30 seconds of a cold start Thanks for your help!! Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All > Recently, my 99 GMC Z71 with a 5.3L Vortec started making tappet noises for > about the first 30 seconds of a cold start-up (doesn’t do it when its warm) > , it never did it before, I hate engine noise!!, is this leading to > something more serious? do these engines have a habit of doing this? > I change my oil faithfully every 4000 miles and the truck only has 59,000 > KMS on it > A buddy of mine told me to switch to synthetic oil cause it coats the > components better especially at start-up, the tappet noise would probably go > away > Any truth to that? > Thanks in advance > Brian
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’m using what the manufacturer recommended, 5W30 Pennzoil > This time of year, too light. 10w30 in winter, 10w40 in above > freezing. > Hatt > Not in a 99′ engine buddy! If he dumps 10W40 in there he’ll have piston > slap AND valve chatter on startup. If the manufacturer says 5W30 all year, > use 5W30 all year. > Doc
You may be right Doc, but the guy who rebuilt my 88 told me they’re full of shit. Not saying that he’s not too, but he was a very well respected engine rebuilder here for years, and thats saying alot, around here. He’s 64 now, a little arrogant, and maybe with some memory lapse, but around here, when all someone has to say about you is good, you tend to take their word for it. Till you get screwed that is. He worked for mopar dealer when he started. They encouraged him NOT to change the oil if it looked anything but black, charge the customer for oil change and filter, and send them on their merry way. Thats why he became the famous, independent drag racer he is on his own merit. Then again, just this morning, I was telling a fellow worker, an ex-mechanic about my truck troubles and he said, he didn’t work for GM anymore because he wouldn’t NOT change a particular part like they told him to, but charged the customer $450.00 anyway. You can ask a hundred other wrenches that work at Car X now, they’ve all got similar stories. I’m not hear to argue, I just state my experience. Somebody don’t like it, I just wonder why. You know what I mean? Hatt — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
This data sheet may be helpful to understanding this issue. Info – Engine Knock on Cold Start #01-06-01-028 Engine Knock on Cold Start 1999-2002 Chevrolet and GMC C/K Pickup and Utility Models 2002 Cadillac Escalade (2WD) with 4.8L, 5.3L or 6.0L Engine (VINs V, T, U — RPOs LR4, LM7, LQ4) Some of the above vehicles may exhibit an engine knock noise that begins in the first 19,000-24,000 km (12,000-15,000 mi) of use. The knock noise is most often noticed during initial start-up and typically disappears within the first 5-30 seconds (may last longer in extreme cold temperatures). The noise is usually more noticeable on the initial start-up when the temperature is below 10
