Post DoD delete ticking

[rachealae]

My 13 Tahoe was ticking so bad, took it to get an AFM delete and it was a bent pushrod. The shop I went to is experienced in this and they did the full delete + tune this past September. It was making a squealing noise which I knew was my idler pulley, but then I started hearing a faint tick. I replaced the tensioner, pulley and the belt and I can still hear a faint tick that accelerates/decelerates with speed. I don’t know if it’s normal, something with my belt/pulley or if I’m more conscious of sounds after I fixed the truck and something is wrong. What are the possibilities of the failure after a delete?

 

[Geotrash]

My 13 Tahoe was ticking so bad, took it to get an AFM delete and it was a bent pushrod. The shop I went to is experienced in this and they did the full delete + tune this past September. It was making a squealing noise which I knew was my idler pulley, but then I started hearing a faint tick. I replaced the tensioner, pulley and the belt and I can still hear a faint tick that accelerates/decelerates with speed. I don’t know if it’s normal, something with my belt/pulley or if I’m more conscious of sounds after I fixed the truck and something is wrong. What are the possibilities of the failure after a delete?

Which lifters did they use? Some of them will bleed off oil pressure at lower RPMs and tick but there's nothing wrong. If you can, record a video with your phone and upload it to YouTube with public permissions, then link it back here.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Every tick I've ever heard on Chevy or GM small-blocks turned out was an exhaust leak, usually at the manifolds.
Check for exhaust leaks before you take the engine apart again.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

To see if it isn't belt or pulley/tensioner related you could run the motor without the belt to see if that helps.

A video of the problem would help and maybe an idea of where the sound is coming from.

 

[rachealae]

Which lifters did they use? Some of them will bleed off oil pressure at lower RPMs and tick but there's nothing wrong. If you can, record a video with your phone and upload it to YouTube with public permissions, then link it back here.

I will link a video in the comments below. Here is a picture of my invoice, sorry for the quality but I believe it says the lifters they used.

 

[rachealae]

To see if it isn't belt or pulley/tensioner related you could run the motor without the belt to see if that helps.

A video of the problem would help and maybe an idea of where the sound is coming from.

Here is a link of the sound, you can only hear it if my phone is inside the wheel well. Not above the engine.

 

[Geotrash]

I will link a video in the comments below. Here is a picture of my invoice, sorry for the quality but I believe it says the lifters they used. View attachment 396635

Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.

Update: That tick could well be:
1/ A light lifter tick
2/ An exhaust manifold leak (they are often indistinguishable)
3/ A loose spark plug
4/ An arcing plug wire

It's frequency is at half crank rotation speed, which is the key to the above. You might try to use a mechanic's stethoscope to see if you can pinpoint it.

 

[rachealae]

Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.

thanks. I attached it to the previous comment to Dustin. I checked all my manifold bolts a few weeks ago and they’re all there as well.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

I've listened to the video, I hear the sound you are talking about and I don't think there is anything to worry about. My tahoe makes a similar sound sometimes and it could be the lifters bleeding a little oil at low rpm or possibly an exhaust manifold leak.

Maybe take another video from different parts of the motor while revving the engine but I don't think there is a problem here.

 

[rachealae]

Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.

Update: That tick could well be:
1/ A light lifter tick
2/ An exhaust manifold leak (they are often indistinguishable)
3/ A loose spark plug
4/ An arcing plug wire

Its frequency is at half crank rotation speed, which is the key to the above. You might try to use a mechanic's stethoscope to see if you can pinpoint it.

thank you, I have people telling me I’m crazy and that I’m hearing things but I know my truck. I’m hoping it’s anything but the lifter as I JUST fixed them.

This may or may not be related, but sometimes I get a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust and sometimes I don’t. It’s random. I also had significant coolant loss (I would fill the reservoir every few weeks from empty) prior to the delete and it has gotten a lot better, but the reservoir still loses a little now (maybe about 1/2 qt every few months).

 

[rachealae]

I've listened to the video, I hear the sound you are talking about and I don't think there is anything to worry about. My tahoe makes a similar sound sometimes and it could be the lifters bleeding a little oil at low rpm or possibly an exhaust manifold leak.

Maybe take another video from different parts of the motor while revving the engine but I don't think there is a problem here.

My husband and dad say it’s probably normal and that I’m just hyper-aware of the sounds my car makes, which is true but I definitely hear it and don’t remember hearing it until recently.
I will take another video where I can have someone revving for me this afternoon. Thank you for your input, it’s helpful!

 

[Geotrash]

My husband and dad say it’s probably normal and that I’m just hyper-aware of the sounds my car makes, which is true but I definitely hear it and don’t remember hearing it until recently.
I will take another video where I can have someone revving for me this afternoon. Thank you for your input, it’s helpful!

Hyper-awareness of our cars is a good habit to be in. Your ears aren't deceiving you - there is definitely a light tick, for which there is an underlying cause. All of us will occasionally hear valvetrain noise like that from these engines. As Justin says, that's just how hydraulic lifters are. But it should quiet down, and if it doesn't, I do agree with him that it's not yet to the point where it requires attention, and may never be. If it were mine, I would run it and not worry but keep an ear out in the months ahead. I've done 3 cam swaps on my L94 due to failed lifters caused by poor quality aftermarket lifter trays. Yours are Summit brand so I don't worry about that. They appear to be made of the same charcoal gray plastic as the OEM and GM's supplier may well be the manufacturer.

 

[rachealae]

Hyper-awareness of our cars is a good habit to be in. Your ears aren't deceiving you - there is definitely a light tick, for which there is an underlying cause. All of us will occasionally hear valvetrain noise like that from these engines. As Justin says, that's just how hydraulic lifters are. But it should quiet down, and if it doesn't, I do agree with him that it's not yet to the point where it requires attention, and may never be. If it were mine, I would run it and not worry but keep an ear out in the months ahead. I've done 3 cam swaps on my L94 due to failed lifters caused by poor quality aftermarket lifter trays. Yours are Summit brand so I don't worry about that. They appear to be made of the same charcoal gray plastic as the OEM and GM's supplier may well be the manufacturer.

Ok awesome. I’m taking it to my mechanic Monday just so he’s aware of the noise and can see if maybe there’s a manifold leak. If not, I’ll keep an eye out like you suggest. Thank you for the helpful comments. It is very appreciated. I will update here if anything!

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@rachealae Hyper-awareness and OCD have made it very hard for me to be a car enthusiast, every small sound and leak raising my anxiety but I've learned to trust that cars are pretty tough.

When I get home from work I'll leave the engine running and open my door so that I can hear my motor before I shut it off and I would say about 50% of the time it makes a similar sound. Somewhere between a soft tick and a rubbing sound.

Also I just deleted my AFM last summer so I would agree that it is disappointing to still have a sound after all that work but the motor runs great so I stopped worrying about it. If it blows up I'll just rebuild it again.

 

[rachealae]

@rachealae Hyper-awareness and OCD have made it very hard for me to be a car enthusiast, every small sound and leak raising my anxiety but I've learned to trust that cars are pretty tough.

When I get home from work I'll leave the engine running and open my door so that I can hear my motor before I shut it off and I would say about 50% of the time it makes a similar sound. Somewhere between a soft tick and a rubbing sound.

Also I just deleted my AFM last summer so I would agree that it is disappointing to still have a sound after all that work but the motor runs great so I stopped worrying about it. If it blows up I'll just rebuild it again.

I wish I could just rebuild it if that happens to me lol
Would I be reaching if I thought this was a manifold problem? I have coolant loss and it’s NOT mixing with oil and sometimes the exhaust smokes heavy white. Also, since they did the DoD delete would they have seen if I had a crack in the head? I’m no mechanic so tell me if this is a little crazy but after doing some research I have some thoughts about it being that. Also, here is a video at cold startup , when it’s the loudest. I put it on my tire to start it up since you can’t hear it at the top.

 

[Onlyone]

These LS motors make a lot of noises on a cold start. Not to say there isn’t something wrong, but they are rather clanky. Lol

 

[rachealae]

These LS motors make a lot of noises on a cold start. Not to say there isn’t something wrong, but they are rather clanky. Lol

I’m hoping it’s just being an LS motor and nothing is wrong

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@rachealae I agree that doesn't sound great at first but it quiets up and sounds ok. Just sounds like cold and dry lifters

They should have been able to see a crack in the head if they were doing a good job.

Just drive it and enjoy it.

 

[rachealae]

@rachealae I agree that doesn't sound great at first but it quiets up and sounds ok. Just sounds like cold and dry lifters

They should have been able to see a crack in the head if they were doing a good job.

Just drive it and enjoy it.

Yes, I’m just worried after all that money spent it’s the same sound as my pushrod going when it first happened.
I’ll address it if it gets worse.

 

[Geotrash]

I wish I could just rebuild it if that happens to me lol
Would I be reaching if I thought this was a manifold problem? I have coolant loss and it’s NOT mixing with oil and sometimes the exhaust smokes heavy white. Also, since they did the DoD delete would they have seen if I had a crack in the head? I’m no mechanic so tell me if this is a little crazy but after doing some research I have some thoughts about it being that. Also, here is a video at cold startup , when it’s the loudest. I put it on my tire to start it up since you can’t hear it at the top.

That's normal startup sound, in my opinion. My 2012 sounds the same way and I have the same LS7 lifters in it that you do.