2018 6.2L, UPDATE: Lifter failure at 80k miles

[lbenson]

Hi Everyone.

I went out this evening and started my truck remotely in my parking ramp as I approached it. And then I start to hear this awful sound...

My guess is a lifter is starting to fail. It has given me 7-15 seconds of squeaky sound every cold start the past 6-8 weeks. This knocking or misfire is new as of today I think. It did quiet down a little bit when the engine warmed up but I can still hear it. Parked it after a few miles and going to let it cool back off and start it again later to see if it repeats itself.

Dang thing only has 79k miles. Arg.

If anyone has any thoughts LMK. Much appreciated.

Edit: let it sit for about 2.5 hrs in 25 degree weather. Not as loud as the video but more noticeable than when it was warm.

 

[Doubeleive]

sounds more like a misfire to me
either way you can narrow it down by pulling one plug wire at a time until the sound doesn't change

 

[wsteele]

It would be really helpful if you could do a recording with your phone near the engine with the hood open. Move around side to side and front to back on each side. Maybe someone will be able to give a definitive opinion. It is really easy to go down a blind alley when noises are the diagnostic input.

 

[lbenson]

It would be really helpful if you could do a recording with your phone near the engine with the hood open. Move around side to side and front to back on each side. Maybe someone will be able to give a definitive opinion. It is really easy to go down a blind alley when noises are the diagnostic input.

Good idea. I'll do it in the AM tomorrow when the engine is totally cold.

 

[lbenson]

Sent video to my service advisor. Said it sounds like it is knocking in the lower end of the engine, but since it quiets down after the engine warms up it could be an exhaust manifold leak.

 

[Geotrash]

Lifter. Frequency is too slow (half crank rotation speed) to be bottom-end. I agree that a video from the engine bay will confirm, but I have recently acquired a lot of experience with lifter failures.

Exhaust manifold leak is also possible, but I've had failed lifters get quieter as the engine warms as well, and to my ear that's a mechanical knock. If the squeaking noise you heard was also at the same frequency as the tapping you're hearing, my money shifts even further to a lifter as the root cause.

 

[TahoeLTZ2007]

I had a noise like that on my 07 5.3 l Tahoe.
it was exhaust manifold.

 

[avalonandl]

Piston Slap

 

[Tonyv__]

My van (6.0) made this noise on cold start then settled down. My exhaust had 2 broken bolts on both sides.

 

[THarber]

Check for broken exhaust manifold bolts.

Tim

 

[robhotdog]

If you heard a Squeek I'd bet it's a bad roller on a lifter. Wont get any better. It will start eating the camshaft lobe till audible knock and misfire codes set. Have it looked at and scanned. If misfire codes are there you can forget exhaust leaks. Heads off..new cam n lifters is the only fix.

 

[lbenson]

After driving 1,000 miles since the video I finally had the truck get looked at by my dealer in Minnesota after driving from southern Indiana. Truck seemed to perform fine the whole way home, but could hear the ticking noise under light acceleration below 2,000 RPM on highway.

Engine hasn't been torn down yet to confirm but tech says it has to be a lifter failure. Can get the noise when engine is warm letting off the accelerator. Will know more hopefully by the end of next week.

We had forgotten this dealership that is servicing it (where we bought it new) gave us a lifetime powertrain warranty. Fingers crossed, but this whole job should be covered by that. My service advisor has to confirm still but he said it should be. Got really lucky with this one... I know these lifter jobs are thousands.

 

[maxpsi]

Sorry to hear that.

Hopefully, it doesn't damage any engine bearings in the process. Keep an eye on the oil pressure.

 

[ivin74]

Any updates?

 

[lbenson]

Any updates?

After sitting there for 2 weeks the tech finally pulled lifters to check and they were all perfectly normal. Ended up being two loose rocker arms on cylinders 3 and 5... Ticking noise is no more. All the pushrods were still straight and the rocker arms were torqued back to spec. No clue how those ended up loose but they were.

Little less than $300 later and all fixed. Thank goodness. Not covered by powertrain warranty as it was just a couple loose bolts....

 

[Blackcar]

I would dispute that not being covered under power train warranty. All bolts and fasteners are part of engine which is power train!

 

[lbenson]

I would dispute that not being covered under power train warranty. All bolts and fasteners are part of engine which is power train!

I would agree however the powertrain warranty specifically lists everything included (it's past the factory one, I have an unlimited time/mileage one from dealer but only includes all internally lubricated components and anything else listed on the warranty.)

I have a great relationship with my service advisor and he gave me a nice discount on my bill that time (almost 30%). I had the engine oil cooler lines and rear brakes replaced at the same time they fixed the bolts.

 

[tahoe_rst]

Hi Ibenson,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have similar noise on my new Tahoe 2022, but maybe a little bit lighter. I can hear it from the left front wheel areas and from the bottom of the engine. The ticking noise doesn't happen on the cold engine, only after driving for 10-20 mins.

I am not sure if my noise is lifter noise.

Could you please clarify few questions:
1. In your car the noise was happening on cold or hot engine?
2. Was it more loud from the bottom of the engine?
3. Do you have more videos go your noise (outside the car)? If yes, could you please share?

Thank you so much

 

[Doubeleive]

Hi Ibenson,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have similar noise on my new Tahoe 2022, but maybe a little bit lighter. I can hear it from the left front wheel areas and from the bottom of the engine. The ticking noise doesn't happen on the cold engine, only after driving for 10-20 mins.

I am not sure if my noise is lifter noise.

Could you please clarify few questions:
1. In your car the noise was happening on cold or hot engine?
2. Was it more loud from the bottom of the engine?
3. Do you have more videos go your noise (outside the car)? If yes, could you please share?

Thank you so much

I just read this post and all 3 of those questions were answered in the post