Ticking/Tapping noise!

[ag21]

I drive a 2006 chevy Tahoe 5.3 V8, currently, it has 314,526 miles. It has this ticking or tapping noise... and I put some marvel mystery oil and it actually helped it! But I want to know what the root cause is! I've read it has something to do with the oil O ring pickup tube! But I do not have low oil pressure... but I do have a small oil leak!
Should I just take it to the dealer?

 

[Donal]

I drive a 2006 chevy Tahoe 5.3 V8, currently, it has 314,526 miles. It has this ticking or tapping noise... and I put some marvel mystery oil and it actually helped it! But I want to know what the root cause is! I've read it has something to do with the oil O ring pickup tube! But I do not have low oil pressure... but I do have a small oil leak!
Should I just take it to the dealer?

As the oring cannot seal the joint, the pump begins to suck in a little air and the air gets circulated into the oil galleries...If you raise the oil level a bit, the pump may not suck the air as much. The crankcase operates in a lightly negative pressure and that make matter worse. Replacing the oring is the solution. Keep the static oil level a bit higher than the operating range.

 

[ag21]

As the oring cannot seal the joint, the pump begins to suck in a little air and the air gets circulated into the oil galleries...If you raise the oil level a bit, the pump may not suck the air as much. The crankcase operates in a lightly negative pressure and that make matter worse. Replacing the oring is the solution. Keep the static oil level a bit higher than the operating range.

Thank you so much! I will get it replaced! Can you give a guesstimate on how much it will cost to replace it? Should I just get it done at the dealership?

 

[Donal]

Replacing several items while they are removed may in order. Timing chain gaskets, chain set,oring,seal, water pump, oil pan gasket set will cost around 325 plus tax, wholesale, probably twice that much at dealer prices. No idea on labor, probably need to get several estimates.

 

[OR VietVet]

With no other history on a 315k miles engine, we are just guessing. That ticking/tapping noise could be a lifter or more wearing out and bleeding off pressure and making the noise. You could do all the work that has been discussed and not fix the noise. Read thru the many threads here about what I am talking about.

Welcome to the forum and good job getting that engine over 300k miles.

 

[Blackcar]

With good oil pressure O-ring probably not problem I'm guessing milage is some of problem (wear). If anything, check with friend to find a good mom and pop shop to have them give you an idea of what they think.

 

[treehan77]

You can just remove the oil pan and do that one gasket if you’re just trying to do the oring

 

[Scottydoggs]

I drive a 2006 chevy Tahoe 5.3 V8, currently, it has 314,526 miles. It has this ticking or tapping noise... and I put some marvel mystery oil and it actually helped it! But I want to know what the root cause is! I've read it has something to do with the oil O ring pickup tube! But I do not have low oil pressure... but I do have a small oil leak!
Should I just take it to the dealer?

if you dont have low or no oil pressure the o ring is not your issue. post a vid of said tapping, can be a huge help id'ing the tap. id suspect a lifter going bad if it goes away after a minute or two on start up, its just pumping up due bleeding off pressure when it sits. or if its a cold start knocking sound would be piston slap. once gain it goes away after a couple minutes of warm up time. i only hear the piston slap bs when its pretty cold out.

 

[B-train]

With no other history on a 315k miles engine, we are just guessing. That ticking/tapping noise could be a lifter or more wearing out and bleeding off pressure and making the noise. You could do all the work that has been discussed and not fix the noise. Read thru the many threads here about what I am talking about.

Welcome to the forum and good job getting that engine over 300k miles.

Agreed. I'm leaning towards o-ring being degraded and cracked. Also to boot, I'm speculating that 325K of use has lead to some carbon/varnish buildup. Since MMO seemed to help, try running a 1/2 quart of ATF the last 500 - 1000 miles of the oil change and drop it at 3k. Rinse and repeat if noise seems to improve. There was a thread awhile back where a guy in your situation did this process and had good luck.(I'm ignorant on finding old threads, but will post if I can find it)

If no improvement, then you need parts replaced. Not sure if you put on all 325K. If you did, then you know what maintenance schedule you followed for LOF. If not, then extrapolate the miles you bought at and the maintenance you've done and go from there. I've seen many old school 5.3L go 400k without any major problems with good maintenance. The first gen 5.3L were almost indestructible

 

[OR VietVet]

May even have an exhaust manifold bolt broke off and is hearing exhaust leak spit.

 

[rockola1971]

"and I put some marvel mystery oil and it actually helped it!"

Marvel Mystery oil didnt make a leaking oring in the oil pan better.

I suspect valve train noise. Likely a lifter bleeding down. Heads have to be pulled to fix this one so better off sticking a long block with a warranty or a used engine than spending money on a well used engine. (all assuming owner wishes to keep the vehicle and drive it until the wheels fall off). Used gen 3 engines are getting harder and harder to find with low miles on them since they havent been used in new vehicles since 2007.

 

[MassHoe04]

After that many miles, I would image there is a good amount of wear on the cam lobes, lifters and valve stems. A little here, a little there... Add it all up and might be enough to make a noticeable tick or tap.

Sticky valve lifters can make noise like that too. If they stick a little, they don't keep pace with the movement of the cam lobe and valve. They tick/tap when one of those three things finally makes contact with the moving cam.

Cleaning deposits can help with ticking, if it does happen to be sticky valves/lifters.

 

[Sam Harris]

May even have an exhaust manifold bolt broke off and is hearing exhaust leak spit.

Definitely check this.. these engines virtually always have several broken exhaust manifold bolts, that make a ticking noise when cold.

 

[Fless]

Use a mechanic's stethoscope to home in on the noise.

 

[S33k3r]

Do the Tahoes have the added fun of having their oil pan dropped by the 4x4 system, like on the Suburbans and Silverados? That definitely increases labor cost.

 

[S33k3r]

I drive a 2006 chevy Tahoe 5.3 V8, currently, it has 314,526 miles. It has this ticking or tapping noise... and I put some marvel mystery oil and it actually helped it! But I want to know what the root cause is! I've read it has something to do with the oil O ring pickup tube! But I do not have low oil pressure... but I do have a small oil leak!
Should I just take it to the dealer?

If you are in the DFW area, I have a really good mechanic I can recommend to you.

 

[Sam Harris]

If you are in the DFW area, I have a really good mechanic I can recommend to you.

I’d like this info.. I’m a couple hours from DFW, but always appreciate good referrals

 

[S33k3r]

I’d like this info.. I’m a couple hours from DFW, but always appreciate good referrals

Metro Champion Auto Repair. Not only is he a good mechanic, he is honest; he may not be the cheapest guy out there, but he is not the most expensive, either -- and he stands behind his work. http://metrochampion.com/index.html

If that isn't good enough, my daughters take their cars to him and they like him.

 

[nonickatall]

I would also say: before the repair is the diagnosis.

 

[Sam Harris]

Metro Champion Auto Repair. Not only is he a good mechanic, he is honest; he may not be the cheapest guy out there, but he is not the most expensive, either -- and he stands behind his work. http://metrochampion.com/index.html

If that isn't good enough, my daughters take their cars to him and they like him.

Excellent! Thank you Sir! Honest mechanics are worth every penny.