5.3 Tick/Knock?

[JPVortex]

If it is a lifter tick could my current oil pressure cause this?


I know 40psi idle is like the norm for these trucks. My truck on cold start idle has around 45-50psi. When warm idling it has around 35psi. When I am cruising at 1500 rpm warm it has around 45psi. And finally at around 4000rpm it has like 60psi.

Would this be too low? I feel like it’s not but just looking for a second opinion.

 

[rockola1971]

If it is a lifter tick could my current oil pressure cause this?


I know 40psi idle is like the norm for these trucks. My truck on cold start idle has around 45-50psi. When warm idling it has around 35psi. When I am cruising at 1500 rpm warm it has around 45psi. And finally at around 4000rpm it has like 60psi.

Would this be too low? I feel like it’s not but just looking for a second opinion.

Your oil pressure numbers are fine. General rule of thumb is 10psi for every 1000 rpm. We of course get much more than that at idle. Lack of oil changes (dirty oil) can cause crap buildup in your oil passages and in your lifter bodies which can cause them to stick. That crap in your oil will also eventually end up embedded into your cam, rod and main bearings if the problem is severe enough.

 

[JPVortex]

Something I forgot to note here. My oil pressure gauge does have an issue where it jumps all over the place. I don't think its a real problem with oil pressure, but a problem with the stepper motor for the gauge itself. What's your guys opinion, think it could be fluctuating due to something mechanical?(like pickup tube oring) and causing the tick or just a bad stepper? Debating if it's worth throwing a manual gauge on it.


Heres the video for this.

SORRY for swearing like a sailor lol.

 

[viven44]

Something I forgot to note here. My oil pressure gauge does have an issue where it jumps all over the place. I don't think its a real problem with oil pressure, but a problem with the stepper motor for the gauge itself. What's your guys opinion, think it could be fluctuating due to something mechanical?(like pickup tube oring) and causing the tick or just a bad stepper? Debating if it's worth throwing a manual gauge on it.


Heres the video for this.

SORRY for swearing like a sailor lol.

Don't know what's going on with the gauge... but definitely not worth installing a manual gauge with what I see there...... The gauge is responding to RPM, so you are good (and btw I am not hearing any knocking in the background.)

 

[JPVortex]

Don't know what's going on with the gauge... but definitely not worth installing a manual gauge with what I see there...... The gauge is responding to RPM, so you are good (and btw I am not hearing any knocking in the background.)

yeah the knocking cannot be heard while normal driving. Only hear it while outside near the engine or revving it while totally still in my driveway. AND in the drive thru with echoes of the walls. Was at o'l Mickey D's today and I could hear the think clicking and clacking off the wall of the drive thru lol. honestly may be an exhaust leak.

 

[2008yukonxlslt]

yeah the knocking cannot be heard while normal driving. Only hear it while outside near the engine or revving it while totally still in my driveway. AND in the drive thru with echoes of the walls. Was at o'l Mickey D's today and I could hear the think clicking and clacking off the wall of the drive thru lol. honestly may be an exhaust leak.

That’s what my 5.3 sounded like. I had 2 broken studs, rear most on both sides. I am just a hobby mechanic but the job was not bad. Lots of posts about it. Mine had tops broken off like yours so lots of stud left to grab on to. I cracked all the remaining bolts on both sides to make sure would not have a problem and ran all the flange bolts on the y pipes off. The outboard flange bolts were toughest as had to remove fender liner and get at them that way rather than from below. I used a box wrench on those and that worked. Once everything was nice and free, I put pipes back on loose just with one bolt, the easiest one from under neath, ran engine about half an hour and then with a good pair of gloves dropped the y pipes and pulled the manifolds off as I had read that having the heads full hot would ensure those broken bolts come out without breaking. I grabbed them with a vice grips and they came free quite easily. New gaskets and new ARP bolts and she been good since.

 

[JPVortex]

That’s what my 5.3 sounded like. I had 2 broken studs, rear most on both sides. I am just a hobby mechanic but the job was not bad. Lots of posts about it. Mine had tops broken off like yours so lots of stud left to grab on to. I cracked all the remaining bolts on both sides to make sure would not have a problem and ran all the flange bolts on the y pipes off. The outboard flange bolts were toughest as had to remove fender liner and get at them that way rather than from below. I used a box wrench on those and that worked. Once everything was nice and free, I put pipes back on loose just with one bolt, the easiest one from under neath, ran engine about half an hour and then with a good pair of gloves dropped the y pipes and pulled the manifolds off as I had read that having the heads full hot would ensure those broken bolts come out without breaking. I grabbed them with a vice grips and they came free quite easily. New gaskets and new ARP bolts and she been good since.

Thank you for the advice, about to post an update right after sending this message!

 

[JPVortex]

Update time, and it's a good one!!!

Finally got the time to pull the valve cover off and see what was happening. And what is happening, seems to be everything that should happen! Nothing seems out of place and none of the rocker arms have any up and down slop. They have a little bit of side to side movement, but pretty sure that is normal?

So it is seeming like after all, it's just a NASTY exhaust manifold leak causing a lifter tick like noise!

Here's the video I took:

 

[JPVortex]

Has FEL-PRO gotten worse in quality or something? Went to go get the valve cover gasket grommets installed on the bolts. HALF of them completely ripped in half with not a lot of pressure. Reading Amazon reviews, seems to be quite the common problem.

I now ordered MAHLE grommets, that won't be here until Wednesday, people in reviews say they're MUCH more flexible and don't tear like the FEL-PROs. FEL-PRO completely screwed me 3 days out on this one... Now it's raining and I only have the valvetrain covered with paper towels. Lets hope the hood seals are good!

 

[Fless]

@iamdub has a procedure that he says works great for the valve cover grommets:

Growing up doesn't have to suck

So far, I've narrowed it down to the RPMSpeed Cathedral Port MAX EFFORT Rocker Arms w/NOFLEX Bolt kit. My reasoning in a nutśack: 1) The factory bearing design has been very well proven 2) I'm not a fan of the bronze bushings due to the softer metal and need for retaining clips 3) I don't...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[JPVortex]

Another update here folks and not a good one.

Valve cover gaskets are in no problem. First day back to driving it, and I’ve lost 10psi of oil pressure today. Was 35-40psi at idle before and now I’m lucky to see 30psi.

I have a feeling the pickup tube oring is going bad.

 

[JPVortex]

Also to be noted, it seems to gain like 5-10psi when I have the front of the truck nosedived down.

 

[viven44]

I’m lucky to see 30psi

That is plenty of oil pressure in my opinion. When you rev it are you over 50PSI ?

Didn't you say your engine has 200K miles ? If so you are in good shape for the miles.

 

[JPVortex]

That is plenty of oil pressure in my opinion. When you rev it are you over 50PSI ?

Didn't you say your engine has 200K miles ? If so you are in good shape for the miles.

When I rev im nowhere near 50psi. At 2k rpm I have 35psi, and 4k rpm I have like 40-50psi.

No where near where I think it should. I had an 05 tahoe with 160k at 4k rpm it had like 70-75psi of pressure, at idle 45psi and 2k rpm around 50-60psi.

 

[JPVortex]

That is plenty of oil pressure in my opinion. When you rev it are you over 50PSI ?

Didn't you say your engine has 200K miles ? If so you are in good shape for the miles.

And also Im very concerned because, the pressure literally dropped 15psi today from what is has been at. So somethings wrong.

 

[viven44]

And also Im very concerned because, the pressure literally dropped 15psi today from what is has been at. So somethings wrong.

I would suspect the gauge as well on such a drastic drop.... what you have there I'm sure is no perfect gauge... on all my old trucks I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge installed.

If you are worried about that o-ring, by all means drop that pan and change it. No big deal.

 

[JPVortex]

I would suspect the gauge as well on such a drastic drop.... what you have there I'm sure is no perfect gauge... on all my old trucks I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge installed.

If you are worried about that o-ring, by all means drop that pan and change it. No big deal.

Yeah definitely going to replace it. The pan gasket is seeping anyways. Should just be an afternoon job. Not my first rodeo with that stupid job.

Lowering the front diff is the most annoying part lol.

 

[JPVortex]

Alright folks I’ve made up my mind, I do not feel like busting my ass if I don’t need to. So I’m going to put a mechanical gauge on it. Will probably put it near the oil pump, there should be a plug there

 

[JPVortex]

Oil pressure test kit I ordered with the right M16 x 1.5 adapter doesn't come till tomorrow but I did get the sending unit off today, and boy it was BAD.

Thing was oil soaked and has been leaking all down the rear of the engine. Really does look like a rear main leak from below... lol.

Hoping the sending unit is the problem! Hoping that all the oil destroyed it, but I guess I'll find out tomorrow with a mechanical gauge!

Forgot to look, but I dont think 02s have the screen for the sending unit, right?

 

[viven44]

Sounds good. Interested to see what you find. Take pics of where you tap into for the mechanical gauge, etc..... and not sure if your plan is to have a gauge permanently, if so, I'd definitely use this instead of the cheap plastic tubing that comes with the mechanical gauge

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UZ9HC2U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1