[SS_Mxsfit07]

Hey guys,

I've had my 07 SS for about 4-5 days now and I've noticed that there is a slight and faint ticking sound when the engine is idling. I've checked the oil: perfect. Even added a quart and it took all of it. Ticking didn't stop.

Took it to my trusty mechanic, and he and one of the other guys that work their said that it was a relatively "normal" thing for those cars???

Is this true or do I actually need to do something about it?

Help greatly appreciated!

 

[KG2014]

Seems like lots of people here a tick. My old car did it and it was the lifters. So it could be them.


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[sheila]

^ Don't overfill oil level.

 

[lurpygeek]

Could be piston slap.

It was very common in the 3.1 L, 3.4 L and other GM engines from the 1997 to 2003 era.

Basically, a piston or two doesn't fit the cylinder wall as well as it should and rocks as it cycles, causing a ticking sound. Usually louder on startup or on cold mornings and fading as the motor warms up. This can happen while maintaining compression and without using any oil because the rings still provide a good seal.

I had a very severe case of piston slap on a 2000 Malibu LS with the 3.1 L V6. Did a lot of looking into it and basically found that in the far long-run, the engine wouldn't last as long as an identical engine without piston slap, but in the short-term, it's not a problem. Not worth boring out the cylinders to attempt to correct it. I bought the car with 60k on it and sold it with 130k and never had any significant issues.

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Hey guys,

I've had my 07 SS for about 4-5 days now and I've noticed that there is a slight and faint ticking sound when the engine is idling. I've checked the oil: perfect. Even added a quart and it took all of it. Ticking didn't stop.

Took it to my trusty mechanic, and he and one of the other guys that work their said that it was a relatively "normal" thing for those cars???

Is this true or do I actually need to do something about it?

Help greatly appreciated!

Several observations:

If you checked the oil and it was "perfect" - why did you overill the crankcase by adding a quart of oil? If you overfill the crankcase - it can lead to oil foaming and engine damage.

Are you 100% positive the engine contains the correct weight of oil? Does the engine have an AC Delco oil filter? Aftermarket oil filters can cause all kinds of problems with engines - especially if they are partially clogged or collapsed inside. (I know someone will probably post that they have used xxxx brand of oil filter for a million miles and never had a problem......).

I would change the oil and filter (using an AC Delco filter) - then evaluate the engine ticking noise at idle. It is possible the lifters are worn from extended oil change intervals, wrong oil, incorrect (or cheap) oil filters, etc. Or - are ticking because there is low oil pressure at idle due to a worn engine or partially clogged oil filter.

Good luck.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

Hey C5,

First, "perfect" was the wrong word and I apologize for the confusion. When I said "perfect" I really should have said "fine"... basically, because whenever I checked it, the engine had run only like 8 minutes ago so the oil probably hadn't completely settled yet. SO, I just assumed that since the oil level was just above the max line, it would be okay when it finally settled....

Second. I've only had the car for 5 days, so I don't know what oil was put in it in it's last oil change, so honestly I have no idea...

Finally. The DIC says that I have 24% oil life left, and I'm planning on changing the oil sometime soon anyways. It's something thats been on my list since I got it. So, maybe that might be it cause the viscosity of the oil is so low its not lubricating properly.

Once I change my oil I will definitely post back on here and let everyone know if that fixed the issue. I know theres a TON of 8th gen Impala owners out there that have this ticking noise going on and want to know what's wrong and how to fix it... So I hope I can help!

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Hey C5,

First, "perfect" was the wrong word and I apologize for the confusion. When I said "perfect" I really should have said "fine"... basically, because whenever I checked it, the engine had run only like 8 minutes ago so the oil probably hadn't completely settled yet. SO, I just assumed that since the oil level was just above the max line, it would be okay when it finally settled....

Second. I've only had the car for 5 days, so I don't know what oil was put in it in it's last oil change, so honestly I have no idea...

Finally. The DIC says that I have 24% oil life left, and I'm planning on changing the oil sometime soon anyways. It's something thats been on my list since I got it. So, maybe that might be it cause the viscosity of the oil is so low its not lubricating properly.

Once I change my oil I will definitely post back on here and let everyone know if that fixed the issue. I know theres a TON of 8th gen Impala owners out there that have this ticking noise going on and want to know what's wrong and how to fix it... So I hope I can help!

I would read your vehicle owner's manual regarding checking your oil. A general rule of thumb is to turn off the engine, while parked on level ground, and wait at least 10 minutes before checking the oil. You could also check the engine oil level after the car is parked overnight.

Do NOT overfill the oil. You owner's manual will also state this. Some oil dip sticks have that warning printed on it.

If your oil life is at 24% - I would change the oil + filter (AC Delco.....) very soon.

Good luck and and let us know. I'll bet new high quality oil and a new filter will improve the noise at idle.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

C5:

Yeah I'm sure it will! And I will definitely do so! Thanks for the advice!

 

[fatrabbit]

What kind of tick?

A lot of people mistake the injectors ticking as lifter tick, a lot of people mistake a lose timing chain as lifter tick and lot of people mistake a lifter tick as as piston slap.

If I remember correctly, don't LS4 engines all have a 4 cylinder shut off? There's always been problems with AFM lifters, you may have to use a stethoscope to trace down were the noise is coming from.

 

[sheila]

^+1. Mechanics stethoscope @ Harbor Freight Tools for <$5.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

Hello all,

As I said a while back, I was going to post an update on the tick after an oil change! Well... I got the oil changed! I put 5w-30 Castrol High Mileage oil in it (considering the 147,000 miles) combined with an AC Delco filter. And what did I find out?

Tick is still just as loud as it was. Any thoughts? Comments? Would really like to find some way to get it fixed, cause I took it to another mechanic for something else and when he cranked the engine, he said is sounded like crap (only in not such a nice way).

Please help haha...

 

[sonjaab]

A lot of the "tick" you may hear at idle is the fuel injectors
pulsing and not a bad lifter

 

[Old Bones]

OK I realize my engine is totally different , I have a slight ticking but it is a small leak of one of the header pipes where it attaches to the block so one cylinder pisses out a little ticking sound. With the hood up you can tell exactly where it is.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

A lot of the "tick" you may hear at idle is the fuel injectors
pulsing and not a bad lifter

How sure are you about that? I mean, I want to be completely sure so I don't have to take it to a mechanic to get a diagnosis, you know? And if so, is there a way to make it quieter or keep it from making the ticking noise? Cause, honestly, it really doesn't sound nice at all haha

 

[kd7ctv]

How sure are you about that? I mean, I want to be completely sure so I don't have to take it to a mechanic to get a diagnosis, you know? And if so, is there a way to make it quieter or keep it from making the ticking noise? Cause, honestly, it really doesn't sound nice at all haha

Maybe try making a video where we can hear the ticking sound and uploading it. Might get better answers that way.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

Maybe try making a video where we can hear the ticking sound and uploading it. Might get better answers that way.

Good idea! I will work on that! k3:

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

Hello everyone,
Here is that video I promised. Hope it helps a little bit.

 

[1954 Chevy]

Does the ticking noise get louder when you speed up the rpm's? Try the cheap stethoscope, and listen to all the accessories and idlers that the serpentine belt runs, also.

 

[sheila]

^+1 on zeroing in on the belt driven components. If you do another video, may open the hood.

 

[SS_Mxsfit07]

Sheila,

I'm not entirely sure, but based on what I can think of right now, it only speeds up whenever I increase the rpms. I don't think it gets much louder, if at all. Like I said in the video though, I don't know why it was so quiet last night compared to how it usually is. Usually, it is SURPRISINGLY and CONCERNINGLY loud, especially on a cold start! On a cold start (except for in the video last night), it is so loud that its probably about 50% of what you can hear coming from the engine block. The only other thing that is about the same volume is the fans running. Can't hardly hear anything else.

Now, going based off of your previous comments, I'm going to assume that you mentally working towards the ticking coming from one of the serpentine belt driven components? I could also see that being a possibility, considering how the "soft" ticking last night was louder on the right side of the vehicle. Hmmmm... Maybe you have something there! :dunno::idea:

We shall see... :eusa_dance: